FBT Gibbons Elevates 16 to Partner Across 6 Offices

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• Business & Commercial Litigation
• Construction
• Corporate Law
• Government Services
• Labor & Employment
• Lobbying & Public Policy
• Product, Tort & Insurance Litigation
• Real Estate
• Tax

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FBT Gibbons has promoted 16 lawyers representing the firm's Charleston, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Newark, and Trenton offices to partner, effective April 1, 2026. This cohort represents a milestone for the firm, marking its first partner promotions following the formation of FBT Gibbons earlier this year.The lawyers represent the firm's Business Combinations & Capital Transactions (BCCT), Business Litigation, Construction, Government Services, Labor & Employment, Lobbying and Public Policy, Product Tort & Insurance (PTI), Real Estate, and Tax Benefits & Estates practice groups.

The new partners are:

In Charleston:

Will Swann represents clients in the health care, energy, telecommunications, beverage, and gaming industries before the West Virginia legislature. He leverages his knowledge of the legislative process and relationships with key House and Senate members to advance client priorities. Swann takes a comprehensive approach to government relations, developing strategies that navigate political dynamics, and he has significant experience with state procurement matters, including bid protests, award challenges, and related litigation.

In Cincinnati:

Kaitlyn Hawkins-Yokley focuses her practice on products liability counseling and litigation. She advises manufacturers on laws and regulations affecting consumer products, cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), California Proposition 65, and the Consumer Product Safety Act. Hawkins-Yokley also defends product manufacturers in complex tort litigation and represents clients in insurance coverage, bad faith, personal injury, and premises liability matters.

Alicia Visse-Kroger focuses her practice on all areas of immigration law, including nonimmigrant visas such as H-1B, TN, L, O-1, and E visas, as well as permanent residency, I-9 compliance, and workforce enforcement matters. She represents employers across a wide range of industries, advising on the strategic sponsorship of foreign professionals, complex immigration matters, and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

In Indianapolis:

Emily Cheng is a real estate attorney with a demonstrated track record of leading complex commercial real estate transactions encompassing leasing, finance, development, acquisitions, and dispositions. Her experience spans a wide range of commercial properties, including industrial warehouses, shopping centers, residential subdivisions, office buildings, medical offices, manufacturing facilities, and railroad corridors, in both local and national markets.

Tyler Lemen concentrates his practice in the area of construction law, including litigation, contract preparation, review and negotiation, and general construction advice to all participants in the construction industry. He has experience assisting owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in a wide range of construction litigation related matters, including construction and design defect claims, delay and payment claims, and mechanic's lien and bond claims.

Clarissa Walstrom focuses her practice on assisting clients with structuring, negotiating, and documenting complex business transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, and capital and finance matters. She advises on entity formation, restructurings, and fundraising transactions, and provides ongoing guidance on corporate governance, contracts, business succession planning, and general operational and strategic issues.

Alex Will represents municipalities, law enforcement agencies, fire protection agencies, and private companies in state and federal litigation at the administrative, trial and appellate levels. His practice includes defending constitutional and civil rights claims, advising on public safety policies, and counseling agencies on police and fire employment and disciplinary matters. Will also advises public- and private-sector employers on employment law compliance, workplace investigations, personnel policies, and resolving complex employee relations issues.

In Louisville:

Will Decker is a business litigator who represents clients in federal and state court actions, arbitrations, and mediations involving complex business issues, including contract disputes, business torts, employee non-compete agreements, trade secret misappropriation, trust and estate matters, and regulatory compliance. Will also counsels clients through internal and government investigations by advising on compliance with governing laws and developing strategies to mitigate and manage risks. Will approaches each representation with a strategic, disciplined, and results-oriented perspective.

Elizabeth Ethington advises clients on state and local tax planning, controversy, and incentives matters, handling issues ranging from strategic tax planning to administrative and judicial disputes. She also works closely with clients in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Ethington is actively involved in bar leadership and regularly writes on state and local tax issues for national and regional publications, bringing deep insight into evolving tax policy and enforcement trends.

Ryan Gallagher is a member of the firm's Franchise & Distribution team, advising franchisors, franchisees, and purchasing cooperatives on regulatory, transactional, commercial, and operational matters unique to the franchise industry. He negotiates complex domestic and international commercial agreements, leads mergers & acquisitions transactions for franchise industry participants, and assists with compliance with franchise relationship, registration, and disclosure laws. Gallagher also represents clients in supply, distribution, logistics, co manufacturing, and alcohol industry regulatory matters.

Audra Loomis advises individuals and families on estate planning, probate estate and trust administration, and wealth transfer strategies. Her practice includes planning for retirement benefit distributions, business succession, asset protection, charitable giving, federal transfer taxes, and income taxes. She has extensive experience drafting sophisticated trusts and estate planning instruments and regularly counsels clients on long term succession planning and tax efficiency. Audra also speaks and writes on topics related to wealth transfer planning.

Steve Mercer represents developers, owners, investors, lenders, borrowers, landlords, tenants, and managers in the leasing, financing, acquisition, sale, development, and management of multifamily, commercial and industrial real estate. His experience includes real estate development, corporate and partnership governance, institutional and governmental financing, TIF financing, and title, survey, zoning, and other property issues. He also advises on tax and entity structuring, joint ventures, partnership taxation, and renewable energy matters, including the purchase, sale, and leasing of oil and mineral rights.

Irina Strelkova represents employers across a broad spectrum of labor and employment matters, including litigation and administrative proceedings. She also provides strategic, proactive counseling on all aspects of the employment relationship, including workplace investigations, sensitive personnel decisions, restrictive covenants, personnel policies, and general compliance. In addition, her practice includes employment- and family-based immigration matters, assisting clients with temporary visas and permanent residency applications.

In Newark:

Genna Conti is a litigation attorney in FBT Gibbons's Newark and New York offices. Her experience includes handling complex business disputes, product liability matters, internal investigations, and white-collar criminal cases. In her civil litigation practice, Conti represents clients in connection with claims for breach of contract, non-compete, fraud, personal injury, and general products liability. In her white-collar criminal practice, she defends clients facing federal criminal charges, including charges for fraud, RICO and under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

Kevin Gilmore represents commercial clients in complex business and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout the region. His practice includes handling real estate disputes involving purchase agreements, leases, and prerogative writ actions, as well as breach of contract and business torts. Gilmore also advises clients on information governance and e-discovery matters and regularly provides guidance on discovery compliance.

In Trenton:

Courtney Johnson represents clients on a variety of issues and provides assistance with legislative advocacy, strategic counseling, professional licensing matters, and more. Her focus areas include legislative and regulatory counseling in Trenton and Washington, D.C., as well as commercial litigation in New York and New Jersey. She represents a diverse group of entities ranging from large, multinational corporations to non-profit entities and institutions of higher education.

About FBT Gibbons

FBT Gibbons LLP is a national law firm focused on serving companies operating and investing in the middle market. With nearly 800 lawyers across 25 offices, the firm is positioned to support clients ranging from large multinationals to mid-sized businesses and growth-oriented startups across the United States. FBT Gibbons provides legal counsel enriched with valuable business and market context, particularly in corporate, litigation, and regulatory matters within the energy, finance, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors. The firm is committed to delivering excellent service to its clients, colleagues, and the communities in which it operates. To learn more, visit FBTGibbons.com.