Akerman Opens Charlotte Office with Project Finance Leaders
Akerman is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking its 26th location in the United States and its second in North Carolina. This opening — Akerman’s second in five months, following the Wilmington, Delaware, office launch in July — advances the firm’s national growth strategy, aligning with robust client demand in high-growth markets for renewable energy, infrastructure, and digital technology.
Leading the Charlotte office is Josh DeBottis, an experienced project finance partner and former head of Moore & Van Allen’s Renewable Energy Project Finance team, with a background in renewable energy project financing and tax credits. Joining him is tax partner John McCaffrey, whose work with investment tax structures will further enhance Akerman’s project finance and tax capabilities.
McCaffrey primarily represents investors in connection with the tax aspects of investments in renewable energy assets, including solar, wind, and storage projects, across a wide variety of structures, including sale-leaseback and partnership-flip transactions, along with tax credit transfer transactions under the Inflation Reduction Act.
“Akerman’s reputation for sophisticated work and superior client service aligns with the ambitious goals of both Charlotte’s business community and the clean energy industry nationwide.” said DeBottis. “We’re excited to expand Akerman’s reach here and deliver impactful results across key sectors driving national economic growth.”
Akerman’s Charlotte expansion highlights the firm’s strategic focus on energy and infrastructure. A leader in data center and energy sectors, Akerman continues to grow its project finance capabilities to meet the demands of a post-carbon, digital economy. The new office broadens Akerman’s reach while strengthening its national capabilities in renewable energy, data center infrastructure, electric vehicle infrastructure, and telecommunications, fiber, and wireless facilities. Josh will serve as co-chair of Akerman’s Renewable Energy and Electric Power Practice with James Grice, who also serves as co-chair of Akerman’s Energy and Infrastructure Sector Team and as chair of its Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure Practice.
Akerman Chairman and CEO Scott Meyers emphasized the firm’s commitment to growth through strategic talent acquisition: “Charlotte’s thriving energy and tech sectors make it an ideal location to broaden our high-caliber services. DeBottis and McCaffrey bring exceptional experience and thought leadership in renewable energy finance and tax structuring, strengthening our core offerings in project finance, data centers, and infrastructure.”
Establishing a physical presence in this market is a natural extension of Akerman’s longstanding history of providing Charlotte-based clients with a full complement of legal services, including consumer financial, corporate, litigation, real estate, tax, and labor and employment services, among others.
The team’s arrival underscores Akerman’s focus on leveraging tax credits and financing options for renewable projects. “Enhancing our project finance expertise for lenders and developers is a strategic priority,” said Corporate Practice Co-Chair David Birke. “Josh and John’s collective experience will support the firm’s cutting-edge work in corporate and real estate-driven energy transactions.”
Akerman is currently operating at 101 S. Tryon Street. In 2024, Akerman marked its 14th consecutive year of record revenue growth, launching eight new sector teams and attracting renowned laterals with deep industry expertise. This expansion reinforces Akerman’s commitment to growth, innovation, and excellence across U.S. and global markets, offering clients a sophisticated, multidisciplinary approach to meet their evolving business needs.
Akerman | https://www.akerman.com/en/