Partner
John Babcock
Specialties
Corporate, Tax
Contact
Winston-Salem, NC
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Bio
John Babcock has over 35 years of experience in corporate and tax law matters, mergers and acquisitions, and general business and financing transactions.
John represents clients regarding all aspects of entity formation, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and commercial business and lending transactions.
John graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1982. He received his J.D. in 1985 from Wake Forest University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1987.
John has served for many years as an adjunct professor of law at Wake Forest University Law School, where he has taught courses in business planning, partnership taxation, and corporate taxation. He is also the current Chair of the North Carolina Business Law Section’s Subcommittee on LLC’s, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities and a member of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company.
- LL.M. Taxation 1987 New York University Law School
- J.D. 1985 Wake Forest University School of Law; Magna Cum Laude
- B.S.A. Finance 1982 University of Michigan-Dearborn; With Distinction
- North Carolina, 1986
- American Bar Association, Member, Business Law Section
- American Bar Association, Member, LLC’s, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities Subcommittee
- North Carolina Bar Association, Chair of the LLC’s, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities Subcommittee, Business Law Section; Past Secretary and Treasurer and two-time council member of the North Carolina Business Law Section
- North Carolina Bar Association, Member, Tax and Business Law Sections
- Current Member – Board of Directors for Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company
- Volunteer – served on Local Board of Directors for the William G. White YMCA
- Executive Vice-President – North Carolina Youth Soccer Association, 2012-2015
- Represented stakeholders in a complex cross-border transaction involving the sale of a large portfolio of international companies, coordinating with multiple parties to negotiate transaction terms, allocate sale proceeds, and address regulatory and tax considerations across multiple jurisdictions.
- Represented the sellers in a multimillion-dollar membership interest sale involving a medical device contract manufacturing company acquired by a subsidiary of an international public company.
- Represented a business owner in the sale of a controlling interest in a company providing specialized infrastructure and hospitality solutions for professional sporting events.
- Advised a manufacturing and distribution company in the acquisition of an Ohio-based business, including the purchase of related real estate, to support strategic expansion into new markets.
- Represented the seller in a multimillion-dollar asset purchase transaction involving the transfer of business operations and assets to a strategic acquirer.
- Advises business owners, investors, lenders, and corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, corporate governance matters, commercial financing transactions, and business succession planning.
- Represents borrowers, investors, and lenders in commercial loan transactions, capital raises, and other corporate finance matters.
- Serves as outside counsel to privately held businesses across a variety of industries, providing strategic guidance on entity formation, governance, contract negotiation, and growth initiatives.
Chambers USA (Corporate/M&A, Band 3), 2024-present
Legal Elite®, as rated by Business North Carolina Magazine, multiple years
Legal Elite® Top Rated Lawyer for Business Law, 2018
Legal Elite Hall of Fame, 2019
Best Lawyers in America, 2006-present
Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Corporate Law, 2010, 2016, 2025
Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Mergers and Acquisitions, 2017, 2019, 2021
Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Business Organizations (Including LLCs and Partnerships), 2022
Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Commercial Finance Law, 2026
Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, 2026
Super Lawyers®, 2007-2017, 2019-present
AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 rating in Martindale-Hubble
Awards & Recognition:
- Chambers USA (Corporate/M&A, Band 3), 2024-present
- Legal Elite®, as rated by Business North Carolina Magazine, multiple years
- Legal Elite® Top Rated Lawyer for Business Law, 2018
- Legal Elite Hall of Fame, 2019
- Best Lawyers in America, 2006-present
- Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Corporate Law, 2010, 2016, 2025
- Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Mergers and Acquisitions, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Business Organizations (Including LLCs and Partnerships), 2022
- Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Commercial Finance Law, 2026
- Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, 2026
- Super Lawyers®, 2007-2017, 2019-present
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 rating in Martindale-Hubble
18 Waldrep Wall Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Editions of Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch
Eighteen Waldrep Wall attorneys are recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
Waldrep Wall Recognized in Chambers USA 2026 Guide
Waldrep Wall is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized in Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Healthcare in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide, with eight attorneys also earning individual rankings across Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/M&A, and Healthcare, including a Band 1 ranking for Tom Waldrep. Highly regarded throughout the legal industry, Chambers and…
Best Lawyers® Names Three Waldrep Wall Attorneys 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in the Triad Area
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC attorneys John W. Backcock (Commercial Transactions / UCC Law in Triad), J. Dennis Bailey (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants in Triad), and James Lanik (Litigation – Bankruptcy in Triad) were recently recognized by Best Lawyers as 2026 “Lawyer of the Year.” Only a single lawyer in each practice area and…
Best Lawyers® Honors 14 Waldrep Wall Attorneys for 2026
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC is pleased to announce that 14 of its attorneys have been included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Attorneys on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and…
Waldrep Wall and Eight Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2025 Legal Guide
Chambers and Partners released its USA 2025 Legal Guide, and Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC was ranked as a leading firm, Band 2 in Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Band 3 in Healthcare. Eight Waldrep Wall attorneys were also individually ranked. Chambers and Partners is the leading independent professional legal research company…
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Recognized as 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers®
Waldrep Wall Babcock and Bailey PLLC is pleased to announce that Super Lawyers® has selected nine Waldrep Wall attorneys for its 2025 annual list for North Carolina. Super Lawyers honors outstanding attorneys in each state in various practice areas and firm sizes through a proprietary selection process that combines independent…
Our Firm and Eight Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2024 Legal Guide
Chambers and Partners released its USA 2024 Legal Guide on June 6, and Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC was ranked as a leading firm, Band 2 in Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Band 3 in Healthcare. Eight of our attorneys were also individually ranked. Congratulations to everyone on their continued success! Bankruptcy/Restructuring:…
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Recognized as 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers®
Several of the Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys were recently selected to the 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers! Congratulations! Tom Waldrep: Business Bankruptcy Jim Wall: Health Care Dennis Bailey: Pl Medical Malpractice: Defense John Babcock: Business/Corporate Kevin Sink: Business Bankruptcy Jim Lanik: Business Bankruptcy Jennifer Lyday: Business Bankruptcy Ciara…
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2024 Legal Elite
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Tom Waldrep, John Babcock, Kevin L. Sink, Jennifer Lyday, Ciara L. Rogers and Diana Santos Johnson were recently selected by Business North Carolina Magazine to the 2024 23rd Class of Legal Elite. Since 2002, Business North Carolina Magazine has honored Tar Heel lawyers…
Several WWBB Attorneys Receive Prestigious Best Lawyers in America® Recognition
Several of the Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys were recently awarded in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers in America®, the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year® and the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™. Best Lawyers in America® John…
WWBB Attorneys Present at 2023 PALS Seminar
Several of our attorneys attended the Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar (PALS) last week in Las Vegas. Tom Waldrep and John Babcock spoke on a panel titled “Texas Two Step Bankruptcies (Canon 7).” Jennifer Lyday and Ciara Rogers spoke on a panel titled “Fraud, Deceit and Misrepresentation Are Not Excused as…
Several WWBB Attorneys Attend the 2023 PALS Seminar
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys John Babcock, Kevin Sink, Tom Waldrep, Jennifer Lyday, Jim Lanik, and Ciara Rogers (pictured top to bottom and left to right) represented our firm at the 2023 Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar (PALS) in Las Vegas this week.
Tom Waldrep, Kevin Sink, and John Babcock Receive Prestigious Recognition
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Tom Waldrep, Kevin Sink, and John Babcock were recently selected by Business North Carolina Magazine to the 2023 22nd Class of Legal Elite. Since 2002, Business North Carolina Magazine has honored Tar Heel lawyers by publishing Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite, a listing…
Several WWBB Attorneys Receive Prestigious Recognition
Several of the Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys were recently selected to the 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers or 2023 North Carolina Rising Stars List! Congratulations! Tom Waldrep: 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyer Jim Wall: 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyer Dennis Bailey: 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyer John…
Several WWBB Attorneys Receive Prestigious Recognition
Several of the Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys were recently awarded in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and the third edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™. The Best Lawyers in America® Thomas W. Waldrep, Jr.: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights /…
