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Benjamin A. Barnhill

Benjamin A. Barnhill

Partner

Greenville ONE
2 W. Washington Street
Suite 400
Greenville, SC 29601
T 864.373.2246
F 864.373.2925
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
T 202.689.2800
F 202.689.2860
ben.barnhill@nelsonmullins.com
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Ben focuses his practice on corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, bank regulatory, and executive compensation matters, with an emphasis on community banks. He represents bank and nonbank financial institutions and their affiliated companies during the organizational, capital raising, and business combination processes. Ben advises these entities on SEC registration, deregistration, and public reporting obligations. He...

Ben focuses his practice on corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, bank regulatory, and executive compensation matters, with an emphasis on community banks. He represents bank and nonbank financial institutions and their affiliated companies during the organizational, capital raising, and business combination processes. Ben advises these entities on SEC registration, deregistration, and public reporting obligations. He also has significant experience advising financial institutions as well as other companies on matters involving the interlocking spheres of executive compensation and corporate governance. Ben serves as primary outside counsel for many of his financial institution clients.

Benjamin A. Barnhill

also has significant experience advising financial institutions as well as other companies on matters involving the interlocking spheres of executive compensation and corporate governance. Ben serves as primary outside counsel for many of his financial institution clients.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Recent engagements for financial institutions: 
    • Handle bank mergers, branch acquisitions or divestitures, joint ventures and other transactional matters, including corresponding regulatory applications
    • Serve as securities counsel for financial institutions as well as sales agents/underwriters in public and private equity and debt offerings
    • Assist both financial institutions and affiliated individuals (as independent counsel) with structuring and negotiating compensation arrangements, including employment agreements, change in control agreements, severance agreements, equity plans, cash bonus plans, and SERPs
    • Negotiate formal and informal regulatory enforcement actions, including against affiliated individuals of financial institutions
    • Serve as independent counsel for directors and officers of financial institutions, including those subject to FDIC receivership
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Recent engagements for financial institutions: 
    • Handle bank mergers, branch acquisitions or divestitures, joint ventures and other transactional matters, including corresponding regulatory applications
    • Serve as securities counsel for financial institutions as well as sales agents/underwriters in public and private equity and debt offerings
    • Assist both financial institutions and affiliated individuals (as independent counsel) with structuring and negotiating compensation arrangements, including employment agreements, change in control agreements, severance agreements, equity plans, cash bonus plans, and SERPs
    • Negotiate formal and informal regulatory enforcement actions, including against affiliated individuals of financial institutions
    • Serve as independent counsel for directors and officers of financial institutions, including those subject to FDIC receivership

Media

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association
  • South Carolina Bar Association
    • Corporate, Banking & Securities Law Section Council, Chair/CLE Coordinator (2025-26)
    • Corporate, Banking & Securities Law Section Council (2020–present)
  • District of Columbia Bar Association

Community

  • Former Member, Furman University President's Advisory Council Executive Committee
  • Former Member, Greenville Symphony Association Board of Directors

Ben focuses his practice on corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, bank regulatory, and executive compensation matters, with an emphasis on community banks. He represents bank and nonbank financial institutions and their affiliated companies during the organizational, capital raising, and business combination processes. Ben advises these entities on SEC registration, deregistration, and public reporting obligations. He... also has significant experience advising financial institutions as well as other companies on matters involving the interlocking spheres of executive compensation and corporate governance. Ben serves as primary outside counsel for many of his financial institution clients.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Recent engagements for financial institutions: 
    • Handle bank mergers, branch acquisitions or divestitures, joint ventures and other transactional matters, including corresponding regulatory applications
    • Serve as securities counsel for financial institutions as well as sales agents/underwriters in public and private equity and debt offerings
    • Assist both financial institutions and affiliated individuals (as independent counsel) with structuring and negotiating compensation arrangements, including employment agreements, change in control agreements, severance agreements, equity plans, cash bonus plans, and SERPs
    • Negotiate formal and informal regulatory enforcement actions, including against affiliated individuals of financial institutions
    • Serve as independent counsel for directors and officers of financial institutions, including those subject to FDIC receivership

Education

  • New York University, LLM, Taxation (2002)
  • University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (2001)
    • Articles Editor, ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal
    • Carolina Legal Scholar
  • Furman University, BA, History, cum laude (1998)
    • Recipient, Alfred S. Reid Award

Admissions

  • South Carolina
  • District of Columbia

Practice Areas

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • American Bar Association
  • South Carolina Bar Association
    • Corporate, Banking & Securities Law Section Council, Chair/CLE Coordinator (2025-26)
    • Corporate, Banking & Securities Law Section Council (2020–present)
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Former Member, Furman University President's Advisory Council Executive Committee
  • Former Member, Greenville Symphony Association Board of Directors