Experienced M&A Attorney Craig Samuel Joins Carlton Fields’ Business Transactions Practice

ATLANTA, GA – Craig Samuel has joined Carlton Fields’ Business Transactions Practice as a shareholder in the firm’s Atlanta office. He was most recently a shareholder at Hartman Simons & Wood LLP.

Samuel focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, corporate finance, and complex real estate transactions. He represents a diverse client base — including private equity funds, national franchisors, family offices, real estate investors, middle-market business owners, and lenders — and assists them with middle-market transactions, including strategic acquisitions, cross-border investments, and corporate restructurings.

“We are excited to welcome Craig to the firm,” said Jordan August, chair of the firm’s Business Transactions Practice. “His experience and practical insight strengthen our ability to support private equity funds, family offices, and business owners through every stage of a transaction.”

Samuel’s work includes representing sell-side business owners and buy-side private equity funds in M&A transactions; representing equity partners in commercial real estate joint ventures; advising lenders and borrowers in acquisition, construction, and mezzanine loan financings and restructurings; and negotiating commercial real estate purchases, leases, land swaps, and development agreements. He also counsels venture-backed startups on fund formation and Series A financings and serves as outside corporate counsel to several private equity-backed portfolio companies.

“Carlton Fields offers a substantial platform that aligns perfectly with the direction I want to take my practice,” said Samuel. “The firm’s deep bench of talent and full-service capabilities mean my clients can access the specialized resources they need under one roof.”

Samuel obtained his J.D. from Emory University School of Law and a B.S. from Xavier University.

©2026 Carlton Fields, P.A. Carlton Fields practices law in California through Carlton Fields, LLP. Carlton Fields publications should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information and educational purposes only, and should not be relied on as if it were advice about a particular fact situation. The distribution of this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship with Carlton Fields. This publication may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication or proceeding without the prior written consent of the firm, to be given or withheld at our discretion. To request reprint permission for any of our publications, please use our Contact Us form via the link below. The views set forth herein are the personal views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the firm. This site may contain hypertext links to information created and maintained by other entities. Carlton Fields does not control or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this outside information, nor is the inclusion of a link to be intended as an endorsement of those outside sites.