A Remarkable Attorney: Byron Kirkland Named a “Leader in the Law”

Byron Kirkland, a Smith Anderson corporate and private equity attorney and the firm’s managing partner, has been named a Class of 2022 “Leader in the Law” by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Honorees represent the most influential individuals within our state’s legal community.

“For over 30 years, Byron Kirkland has led Smith Anderson’s corporate and private equity practice and has been called ‘instrumental in the firm's growth,’” NCLW reports. “The practice area is a perfect fit for him. He has maintained a lifelong affinity for corporate law and mergers and acquisitions.”

Bryon has extensive experience in private equity and venture capital transactions, domestic and international 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. 

NCLW highlights some fun facts about Byron: His biggest personal accomplishment is “convincing my wife to go out with me on our first date.” His biggest professional accomplishment: “Living up to the standards of my colleagues.”

Byron accepted the honor on April 14 at a recognition event at the Marriott Greensboro Downtown.

Byron has held a variety of leadership roles at Smith Anderson, including serving as leader of the firm’s Private Equity Practice group and co-chair of the firm’s Corporate team. He is a member of the firm’s Management Committee, and as managing partner, he continues to practice law and support clients full-time. Byron’s accomplishments under his leadership as managing partner have been the continuing development of a new firm strategic plan, with Diversity and Inclusion as a pillar; hands-on involvement with the hiring of attorneys and career development programs; and, despite the pandemic, the hiring of additional attorneys and staff.

Subscribers to NCLW can see the entire “Leaders in the Law” special sections here.

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North Carolina Lawyers Weekly is the state’s leading weekly legal newspaper reporting news, court opinions, verdicts and settlements and other issues of importance for North Carolina’s legal community.