Holland & Knight Continues Atlanta Growth with Addition of Top Corporate M&A Partner Anne Cox-Johnson
ATLANTA (September 28, 2026) – Holland & Knight continues to strengthen its market-leading Corporate, M&A and Securities Section nationwide with the addition of Anne Cox-Johnson, a recognized leader and trusted corporate advisor, as a partner in the Firm's Atlanta office. The addition of Ms. Cox-Johnson follows recent Atlanta-based arrivals, including Gaming Partner Joshua Kirschner and Regulatory Partner Jill Keller Hengen. Ms. Cox-Johnson was previously a partner with McDermott Will & Schulte.
Holland & Knight's Atlanta office has grown by more than 12 percent in the past year. The growth reflects the Firm's continued investment in Atlanta, one of the country's fastest-growing legal markets.
With more than 30 years of experience, Ms. Cox-Johnson advises public and private companies, boards and private equity-backed companies on complex transactions and related business, governance and strategic matters, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategic investments and corporate transformations. Her clients span across a broad range of industries, including beverage and consumer products, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications and retail. Ms. Cox-Johnson has been consistently recognized as a leading Corporate/M&A attorney in the Chambers USA guide since 2024.
"Atlanta is one of the most dynamic legal markets in the U.S., and Holland & Knight's continued investment here reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of clients across the Southeast and beyond," said Chris Dillon, executive partner of Holland & Knight's Atlanta office. "The addition of Anne, along with our other recent arrivals, underscores the caliber of talent that is drawn to our Firm and is a reflection of the strength and momentum we've built in this market. We are thrilled to welcome Anne and look forward to the depth and perspective she brings to our clients and our team."
"Our Atlanta office continues to expand, and Anne's decision to join the Firm is a testament to the platform we've built here," said Ivan Colao, Practice Group Leader for Holland & Knight's Corporate – South Practice Group. "Her experience representing public companies and boards in billion-dollar mergers, strategic acquisitions, divestitures and going-private transactions, including significant matters for some of the world's most recognized consumer brands, will further enhance our ability to serve companies and private equity sponsors on their most complex transactions. We are delighted to welcome her to the Firm."
"I am excited to join Holland & Knight at a time of continued growth for the Firm's Atlanta office," Ms. Cox-Johnson said. "The Firm has assembled a broad bench of talent in this market, backed by the full resources of a national platform. Today's clients want advisors who can combine deep experience in public and private company transactions with multidisciplinary capabilities across industries and markets, and that is exactly what Holland & Knight delivers. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to help clients achieve their goals."
Ms. Cox-Johnson earned a J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and a B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee. She is admitted to practice in Georgia and New York.
Recently recognized as the Private Equity Law Firm of the Year by the Global M&A Network and M&A Law Firm of the Year by M&A Advisor, Holland & Knight regularly ranks among the leading M&A and private equity law firms in reputable, benchmarking league tables published by Bloomberg, LSEG, Mergermarket, PitchBook and The Deal. Through the HK Deal Flow℠ program, Holland & Knight facilitates deal leads for clients and prospective clients by matching acquisition or capital raising opportunities with buyers and investors.