N.C. Lawyers Weekly Has Eye on Byron Kirkland as a “Managing Partner to Watch”

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (NCLW) has named Smith Anderson’s Byron Kirkland as one of North Carolina’s “Managing Partners to Watch.”

"If a law firm’s success was measured only by its wealth, Byron Kirkland’s tenure as Smith Anderson’s managing partner would be a triumph," NCLW reports, citing the firm's growth. 

NCLW notes that under Byron’s leadership, Smith Anderson has evolved into a diversity, equity and inclusion leader in North Carolina’s legal community, boosted by the rigorous 18-month Mansfield Certification program, designed to help boost inclusivity, access and diversity in leadership and legal departments.

"Kirkland has shown that success is earned in many ways, including work-life balance for employees," NCLW writes. "Success also is reflected in the firm’s five-year strategic plan that strengthens client service, boosts team cohesiveness and efficiencies and provides first-class professional opportunities for attorneys."

A corporate lawyer for over 35 years, Byron was elected Managing Partner of Smith Anderson in January 2020 and is a member of the firm's Management Committee. He has extensive experience in private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law and securities matters. He represents emerging and established companies, both privately and publicly held, across diverse industry sectors including pharmaceutical services, information technology, clean technology, medical device, biotechnology, communications and manufacturing.

Byron regularly advises clients with regard to general business, capital-raising financing and corporate law matter and has an active venture capital and private equity fund practice, representing venture capital and private equity funds. He regularly assists funds with their portfolio company investments, acquisitions and fund formation matters.

The entire list of Managing Partners to Watch can be viewed here.