A deal team led by Nikki Lee and Neil Grayson represented Highlands Bankshares, parent company of Union Highlands Bank in Abingdon, Va., in the signing of a definitive agreement to merge with First Community Bankshares, Inc., the parent company of First Community Bank in Bluefield, Va. The combination will bring together two traditional southwestern Virginia community banks that serve the Highlands region in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Nelson Mullins team also included Ben Barnhill, Mason Gregory, Mike Bradshaw, Nick Garifo, and Mary Campbell on corporate, securities, and executive employment matters; Ken Janik on employee benefits; and Maurice Holloway on tax. Gary Brown and John Jennings also played a major role in addressing corporate governance issues in the transaction.

The aggregate deal value is approximately $91 million. Upon completion of the acquisition, the combined company will have more than $2.8 billion in assets.