A.P. Carlton, Jr. - Partner

Email - acarlton@allenpinnix.com

A.P. Carlton, Jr. is a partner and has a long career in general corporate law with an emphasis on corporate governance, regulated industries, corporate and public finance, financial and nonprofit institutions, and public policy.  A.P. Carlton, Jr. is past president of the American Bar Association (ABA), having served as President of the ABA 2002-2003 and having served as Chair of the ABA’s House of Delegates, 1996-1998.  A.P. Carlton, Jr. has long been active in the civic life of Raleigh and the state of North Carolina and is past chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. A.P. Carlton, Jr. has been named to Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” in 2008 as one of North Carolina’s top business attorneys and is also listed as a Banking “Super Lawyer” in North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine for 2008.  A.P. Carlton, Jr. is listed in Who’s Who in American Law as well as Who’s Who in America.


PRACTICE

Public Policy; Complex Public-Private Financial Transactions; Economic, Institutional, and Community Development


FOCUS

Corporate Governance; Regulated Industries; Financial and Nonprofit Institutions


EDUCATION

University of North Carolina School of Law, JD, 1975
University of Dayton, MPA, 1973
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BS, Business Administration, 1969


STATE ADMISSIONS

North Carolina, 1975


COURT ADMISSIONS

U.S. Court of Military Appeals
Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts, U.S. District Court
Fourth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. Supreme Court


SELECTED EXPERIENCE

  • For over 25 years A.P. Carlton, Jr. has actively advised boards of directors of publicly held, non-publicly held, and large non-profit corporations on all aspects of corporate governance, shareholder/member relations, government regulation and public policy.
  • Currently serving as lead counsel for one of the largest public-private development partnerships in North Carolina’s history (the development of a $150 million regional water system by Smithfield Foods, Inc., in partnership with the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewage Authority).
  • As president of the ABA (2002-2003), A.P. Carlton, Jr. spear headed the ABA’s corporate governance law reform effort and acted as the ABA’s spokesperson on corporate reform; while president (CEO) of the ABA, A.P. Carlton, Jr. successfully directed a board of governors’ independent investigation of the largest unauthorized cost overrun in ABA history.
  • Served as organization counsel for over a dozen newly chartered publicly held North Carolina financial institutions since 1985; in 2006, A.P. Carlton, Jr. was lead counsel for the successful organization of the first de novo commercial bank in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands in 20 years (Merchants Commercial Bank, St. Thomas).
  • Foundation Counsel and a founder of North Carolina’s largest and only statewide community foundation (North Carolina Community Foundation, Inc., 1989-present).
  • Served as general counsel and corporate secretary of a publicly held bank holding company for four years (Bancshares of North Carolina, acquired by a predecessor to Bank of America in 1982).
  • In 1984, A.P. Carlton, Jr. became one of the first North Carolina lawyers in 50 years to serve as bond counsel for North Carolina Local Government units.  Listed as a nationally recognized bond counsel by The Bond Buyer’s Municipal Marketplace since 1984.
  • Served as registered lobbyist in both Raleigh and Washington D.C. representing the North Carolina Banking Industry for three years (Counsel, North Carolina Bankers Association, 1976-1979).


BACKGROUND

  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington Board of Trustees, 1997-2005, chair 2004-2005.
  • Elon Law School Board of Advisors, current.
  • National Board of Advisors of the North Carolina State University Enterprise Risk Management Institute.  A.P. Carlton, Jr. is a member of the American Law Institute and the National Association of Bond Lawyers; an affiliate member of the North Carolina Bankers Association; a member of the Advisory Committee of the University of North Carolina Banking Law Institute; a fellow of the American Bar Foundation; and a member of the Board of Governors of the Capital City Club of Raleigh.
  • Honorary LL.D. degrees from Stetson University (2002) and University of Denver (2003).
  • Served as secretary and general counsel to Bancshares of North Carolina (1979-1982); as counsel to the North Carolina Bankers Association (1976-1979); as adjunct professor of law at the Campbell University School of Law (1981-1983); and served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps form 1970-1973.
  • Eagle Scout and former member of Executive Committee of Occoneechee Council, BSA.
  • A.P. Carlton, Jr. is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell.*

* CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale- Hubbell certification procedure’s standards and policies.