Baker Donelson is pleased to announce the arrival of Chip Presten to the Firm's Corporate Finance and Securities Group. He previously practiced with Womble Bond Dickinson.

Mr. Presten joins Baker Donelson as a shareholder in the Atlanta office where he represents clients in various aspects of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and securities matters. His practice includes the acquisition and divestiture of public and private companies; offerings of debt and equity securities; advising on fiduciary obligations and duties of directors and officers; and the preparation of annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and shareholder meeting materials. Mr. Presten represented the issuer in one of Atlanta's largest initial public offerings and two of his transactions topped the Atlanta Business Chronicle's list of major Atlanta M&A transactions. Mr. Presten also represents private equity funds and their investors in connection with fund formation issues, securities law issues, and portfolio company transactions.

"Chip is a highly regarded corporate attorney in the region and we are confident that he will be a tremendous asset to our corporate practice and to our Atlanta office, enhancing our capabilities to serve clients throughout the Southeast and beyond," said Gary Barnes, managing shareholder of the Firm's Georgia offices.

Mr. Presten's experience extends across a variety of transaction types and his transactions have involved multiple industries, including the energy industry, where he has worked with companies on the successful completion of acquisitions, project development transactions and financings totaling more than $20 billion.

A graduate of Washington & Lee University and the University of Georgia School of Law, Mr. Presten has been recognized in "The Best Lawyers in America" since 2007. He is a member of the Society of Corporate Governance Professionals, the Association for Corporate Growth, the Southern Capital Forum, and serves on the Southeast board of directors for Business Executives for National Security. Mr. Presten also serves on the Leadership Council for Zoo Atlanta as well as the board of Crime Stoppers Atlanta.