Lizanne Thomas
Partner

Partner-in-Charge
Atlanta

Contact

(T) +1.404.581.8411
(F) +1.404.581.8330

Education

  • Washington and Lee University (J.D. 1982; Managing Editor, Law Review); Furman University (B.A. cum laude 1979)

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia

Lizanne Thomas is Partner-in-Charge of the 150-lawyer Atlanta Office, and she also heads the Firm's global corporate governance team. While her roots are as an M&A lawyer, Lizanne practices, teaches, and lives corporate governance. She participates in more than 100 board meetings per year as counsel to a number of public companies. She has lectured on Dodd-Frank to leading business organizations, companies, and universities throughout the world. She represents special committees in going private and other control transactions, as well as internal investigations involving issues from financial restatements to allegations of executive misconduct. Lizanne is experienced in public and private mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, takeover preparedness, and executive compensation as well.

Lizanne is a member of the Board of Directors of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) where she serves as chair of the Governance Committee, member of the Compensation Committee, and previously served as co-chair of the Special Committee charged with investigating a variety of allegations relating to the company.

Active in the community, Lizanne serves on the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Research Alliance, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Ballet and in various leadership roles for the Woodruff Arts Center, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta and the United Way Tocqueville Society. She is a Trustee of Furman University and former president of the Law Council for Washington & Lee University.


Honors & Distinctions

  • Guide to the World's Leading Corporate Governance Lawyers (published by Expert Guides)

    Legal 500 US (2007)

    PLC Which lawyer? (2009)

    Who's Who Legal (2009)

    The Best Lawyers in America (2007-2012)

    Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2005-2011)

    Georgia Super Lawyers (2004-2011)

    "Top 50 Women Attorneys" in Georgia (2006-2011)

    Alpha Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, honorary member (2011)

    Atlanta Business Chronicle "Who's Who in Law 2011"
Lizanne Thomas