TBJ Names Jessica West 40 Under 40 Leadership Award Winner

The Triangle Business Journal has named Smith Anderson attorney Jessica West as a recipient of a 2021 40 Under 40 Leadership Award. Now in its 21^st year, the award recognizes 40 people under 40 years of age who make significant contributions to their respective industries and their communities. This year’s class was selected from a pool of more than 200 nominations.

Jessica focuses her practice on diverse corporate and commercial transactions, including debt and equity financings, private equity investments, investment fund formations, mergers and acquisitions and other complex commercial transactions. In 2020, Jessica was involved with numerous multi-million dollar debt financing matters, including: mezzanine debt financings for private equity firms in support of leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations; a second line financing deal in support of a recapitalization; and a multi-million dollar fund-level line of credit.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Jessica enjoys giving back and has a special affinity for community arts programs and education. She currently serves on the board of directors for the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, which builds better communities through support and advocacy of the arts. Jessica also provides pro bono work on legal matters, including contracts for artists and school programs in connection with Wake County arts programs online. She recently advised the Council regarding administration of CARES Act funds that were provided by Wake County. Additionally, 2020 marked Jessica’s sixth year of serving on the board of Artspace, the nonprofit visual arts center with exhibits, events and classes for all ages in downtown Raleigh.

Jessica also supports Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) through monetary donations and pro bono work. LANC’s mission is to provide "free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity." Remarkably, Jessica and her husband Peter, also an attorney, used their 2017 nuptials as an opportunity to encourage donations to LANC by asking guests to contribute to the organization rather than purchase wedding gifts.

The full list of award winners is available for journal subscribers here.

The Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) is the leading source of business news and events covering all industries in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. The Business Journals report on local and national issues that impact businesses and are a division of the American City Business Journals (ACBJ), the largest publisher of metropolitan business newsweeklies in the United States.