Caryn Coppedge McNeill

Caryn McNeill leads Smith Anderson’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice group. Caryn receives a Band 1 ranking in Chambers USA. Clients say she is a “seasoned expert, incredibly knowledgeable and intelligent” (Chambers USA 2021). The firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group is also highly credentialed, having consistently received the highest ranking (metropolitan Tier 1) from U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” since 2010 and recently been ranked in Band 1 of Chambers USA Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. Caryn regularly advises public and private companies on all aspects of the design, implementation and administration of employee benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements, including stock option plans and other types of equity-based compensation arrangements. A significant part of her practice is devoted to counseling and negotiating on behalf of clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions.

Caryn is a Past President of the North Carolina Bar Association, a former Board Chair of Ravenscroft School, an elected member of The American Law Institute (ALI) and member of Smith Anderson’s Management Committee.

Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America®
  
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2010-2025)
  • Best Lawyers® 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2024 Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Raleigh
• Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2021-2024)
• North Carolina Super Lawyers (2014-2024)
• North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
  • Class of 2024 Icons & Phenoms 
  • "Women of Justice" Award Recipient (2019)
  • "Leaders in the Law" Honoree (2017)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated
• Triangle Business Leader Media's Pro Bono Impact Award
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Elected Member, The American Law Institute (ALI)

Education

• Duke University, J.D., 1991
• Davidson College, B.A., with honors in English, 1988
• Holton-Arms School, 1984

Bar & Court Admissions

• Board of Visitors, Davidson College (2022-present) 
• President, North Carolina Bar Association (2017-2018)
• Elected Member, The American Law Institute 
• Carolinas Chapter of The ESOP Association
• National Association of Stock Plan Professionals
• Triangle Benefits Forum
• Chair, Board of Trustees, Ravenscroft School (2015-2017)

• Represented a Nasdaq-listed bank holding company with employee benefits matters related to its assumption of all customer deposits and certain other liabilities, and acquisition of substantially all loans and certain other assets, of a bridge bank, as successor to the failed bank subsidiary of a Nasdaq-listed bank holding company, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as receiver for the bridge bank.
• Represented a North Carolina mutual insurance holding company with employee benefits matters in connection with its merger with a Minnesota mutual insurance holding company, combining two of the nation’s leading providers of medical professional liability insurance in the first-ever merger by a North Carolina-domiciled mutual insurance holding company, resulting in a combined company with over $2 billion in consolidated assets.
• Represented a North Carolina bank and its parent with respect to the employee benefits aspects of an approximately $220 million merger with another bank.
• Advised a multinational Fortune 500 provider of product development and integrated healthcare services on benefits-related matters in its merger with a NYSE-listed global information and technology services company, creating a leading information and tech-enabled healthcare service provider. The equity market capitalization of the joined companies was more than $17.6 billion at closing.
• Advised a special materials company on the acquisition of a leading manufacturer of wear-resistant metallic and ceramic alloy coatings.
• Advised a special materials company on the purchase of substantially all of the assets of a leading manufacturer of value-added ferrotitanium, titanium sponge, titanium powders, and specialty forms.
• Advised a leading utilities, solar, and electrical contractor in a definitive agreement to be acquired by an independent sponsor for an undisclosed amount of cash and equity.
• Provided employee benefits advice to a global LED lighting and semiconductor manufacturing company in connection with its agreement to sell $850 million of assets to a publicly traded German company. The parties terminated the sale before closing due to regulatory considerations.
• Represented a global provider of biopharmaceutical services in its $1.1 billion initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange, including design and preparation of new stock incentive plan and annual management incentive plan, and assistance with related disclosures.
• Served as company counsel with respect to ESOP’s participation in $2.04 billion aftermarket auto parts industry merger.
• Advised a global contract research organization and drug development services company in a definitive agreement to acquire a provider of decentralized and traditional clinical trial-related services.
• Advised a global contract research organization and drug development services company in a definitive agreement to acquire a provider of mobile-connected self-service platform solutions for decentralized clinical trials.
• Advised an online gaming company in a definitive agreement to acquire an online 3-D modeling company.
• Advised an online gaming company in an acquisition of a UK-based pioneer in the "kidtech" market.
• Advised a contract research organization in a definitive agreement to acquire a specialized contract research organization for the biotechnology industry.
• Advised a private equity fund and its contract research solutions portfolio company in their acquisition of a statistical programming, consulting, and data management company.
• Represented a pharmaceutical company being acquired by a global biopharmaceutical company and negotiated related 280G treatment and future severance protection and incentive arrangements for seller’s employees.
• Advised a public biotherapeutic company about the 409A issues associated with extending the term of expiring options and the correction of same.
• Represented an institutional ESOP trustee in connection with the purchase of 100% of the stock of a chemical supplier.
• Advise multiple companies about a variety of issues associated with the administration of their qualified retirement plans, including creating investment policy statements, reviewing investment performance and replacing investment options; analyzing fiduciary issues related to changes in employer contributions or other plan design issues due to changes in economic circumstances; and correcting operational failures arising in day-to-day plan administration.
• Advised a semiconductor and LED company on employee benefits aspects of the divestiture of its lighting products business unit for an initial cash payment of $225 million plus the potential to receive an earn-out payment based on the business’s post-closing performance.
• Advised a publicly traded health services company on the employee benefits aspects of its acquisition of a health services division of a privately held company for $105 million in cash.
• Advised a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan-owned company providing support services to the poultry industry in an acquisition by a private equity-backed buyer for approximately $21 million in cash and equity.
• Advised a private equity fund on the employee benefits aspects of its acquisition of a specialty pharmaceutical company.
• Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a leading digital patient recruitment company.
• Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a leading contract research organization and contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in cell and gene therapy.