Davis J. Fussell

Davis focuses his practice on advising private and public companies and their leaders on corporate governance matters, domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts and other general corporate needs. He also assists companies in navigating regulatory processes, including those related to pending or completed mergers and acquisitions, and fulfilling compliance obligations. These matters involve a wide variety of industries, such as life sciences, financial services, manufacturing, communications and entertainment.

Recognition

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America, Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2025)

Education

• University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., with highest honors, 2019
  • Chancellors’ Scholar
  • Valedictorian
  • Order of the Coif
  • Member, North Carolina Law Review
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with highest distinction, American Studies, with minors in Business Administration and History, 2016
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Honors Carolina Laureate

Bar & Court Admissions

• North Carolina Bar Association
  • Legal Feeding Frenzy Committee (2017-2018)
• Wake County Bar Association

• Represented a Nasdaq-listed bank holding company in its acquisition of an NYSE-listed bank holding company for shares valued at approximately $5.3 billion.
• Represented a North Carolina mutual insurance holding company in 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.
• Advised a private equity fund in its acquisition of a contract research organization focused on the ophthalmology industry for an undisclosed amount.
• Advised a global contract research organization and drug development services company in its acquisition of a provider of mobile-connected self-service platform solutions for decentralized clinical trials.
• Advised a mobile solutions provider in selling assets comprising its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) services business to a wireless network provider.
• Represented a Nasdaq-listed bank holding company in 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.
• Advised a group of family-owned, affiliated companies on the sale of substantially all of the assets of an equipment sales, service and rentals dealership and associated real estate to a multi-state equipment dealer.
• Advised a global contract research organization and drug development services company in its acquisition of a provider of decentralized and traditional clinical trial-related services.
• Represented one of the largest providers of community-based intellectual and/or developmental disability services in its acquisition of a regional home health services company.
• Advised an online gaming company in its acquisition of an online 3-D modeling company.
• Represented a semiconductor company on the sale of a business division to an electronic products manufacturer for up to $300 million.
• Advised an international research-oriented healthcare group in its acquisition of worldwide product rights to a rare disease therapy.
• Represented a fourth-generation, family-owned insurance agency in the sale of substantially all of its assets to a national insurance and financial services firm.
• Represented the largest privately-held U.S. manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages on its acquisition of certain exclusive franchise rights.
• Represented a Research Triangle Park-based technology company in its acquisition by a wholly owned subsidiary of a Nasdaq-listed semiconductor supplier company.
• Represented a Nasdaq-listed bank holding company in a public offering of subordinated notes for aggregate proceeds of $350 million.
• Represented a Nasdaq-listed bank holding company in a public offering of depositary shares representing interests in preferred stock for aggregate proceeds of $345 million.
• Represented a private investment firm in the formation of a life sciences-focused venture capital fund and in the private placement of $55,200,000 of limited partnership interests in such fund.
• Represented public companies in connection with initial public offerings, confidentially marketed public offerings, registered direct offerings, equity lines and at-the-market offerings.
• Advised NYSE- and NASDAQ-listed companies with securities filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, NYSE and NASDAQ listing requirements and related public disclosure and corporate governance matters.