Mark C. Kanaly

• Represented First Foundation Inc. (NYSE: FFWM) in its $785 million merger with FirstSun Capital Bancorp (NASDAQ: FSUN).
• Represented MidwestOne Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOFG) in its $864 million merger with Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NYSE: NIC).
• Counsel to Northpointe Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: NPB) in its $150 million initial public offering.
• Counsel to CoastalSouth Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: COSO) in its $50 million initial public offering.
• Represented The First Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: FBMS) in its $1.2 billion merger with Renasant Corporation (NYSE: RNST).
• Counsel to FB Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK) in its $381 million acquisition of Southern States Bancshares (NASDAQ: SSBK).
• Counsel to FineMark Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: FNBT) in its $585 million acquisition by Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH).
• Counsel to the placement agent in Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc.’s (NASDAQ: BWB) private placement of $80 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.625% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2035.
• Counsel to the initial purchaser in First National of Nebraska, Inc.’s (OTCPK: FINN) private placement of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.250% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2035.
• Counsel to Bank First Corporation (NASDAQ: BFC) in its $174 million acquisition of Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc.
• Counsel to FCB Financial Corp. in its $104 million merger with Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE).
• Counsel to First IC Corporation (OTCEM: FIEB) in its $206 million sale to MetroCity Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCBS).
• Counsel to Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (NYSE: CBAN) in its $86 million acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: TCBC).
• Counsel to Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: BFST) in its acquisition of Waterstone LSP, LLC, focused on implementing and managing the U.S. Small Business Administration's loan programs.
• Represented Piedmont Bancorp, Inc., in its $267 million acquisition by United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI).
• Counsel to Duke Realty Corporation (NYSE: DRE) in its $26 billion acquisition by Prologis (NYSE: PLD). This was the largest REIT merger transaction of 2022.
• Counsel to Franklin Financial Network (NYSE: FSB) in its $611 million merger with FB Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK).
• Counsel to The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBMS) in its $210 million merger with Heritage Southeast Bancorporation, Inc. (OTCQX: HSBI).
• Counsel to Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE: SNV) in its $2.9 billion acquisition of FCB Financial Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: FCB), as well as in its $150 million tender offer in respect of outstanding subordinated debt.
• Counsel to Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc. (NYSE: IVR) in its public offerings of common stock, preferred stock, and debt securities totaling more than $5 billion.
• Counsel to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta in its SEC registration and reporting.
• Counsel to each of FB Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK), Bank First Corporation (NASDAQ: BFC), and MetroCity Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCBS) in their initial public offerings (IPOs), as well as underwriters’ counsel in C1 Financial, Inc.’s (NYSE: BNK) IPO.
• Counsel to SmartFinancial, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMBK) in its acquisition of Progressive Financial Group, Inc.
• Counsel to NexTier, Inc. in its acquisition of Mars Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: MNBP).

Mark Kanaly is co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Corporate Area, which includes its Corporate & Securities, Finance, Financial Services, Health Care, Investment Funds, and Real Estate groups. Previously, Mark served as chair of the firm’s Partners Committee and chair of the firm’s Financial Services & Products Group.

Mark represents corporate clients, with a focus on players in the financial services arena. Mark assists these companies with mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, public and private capital raising transactions, corporate governance, and a host of related regulatory matters.

Throughout the economic cycle, Mark has worked on some of the most innovative and recognized transactions in the country. He regularly counsels boards of directors regarding strategic planning, regulatory entanglements, and internal corporate governance matters.

Mark is a nationally recognized speaker on various corporate topics, and his comments are regularly covered in the business press. Mark is listed as a leading attorney for Banking & Finance: Regulatory and for Financial Services Regulation: Financial Institutions M&A in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^®, for his work in Banking & Finance, Corporate, Securities/Capital Markets Law, and Financial Services Regulation Law as well as being listed as Atlanta “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Financial Services Regulation Law for 2025.

Bar Admissions

• Georgia
• Texas

Education

• University of Oklahoma (J.D., 1996)
• University of Pennsylvania (B.S.E., 1993)