Crain’s Raleigh-Durham Interviews Caryn Coppedge McNeill on Her NCBA Presidency Plans

On June 24, Smith Anderson Partner Caryn Coppedge McNeill became the 123rd president of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) during the organization’s annual meeting in Asheville. In Crain’s Raleigh- Durham’s article, New N.C. Bar Association President Prioritizes Pro Bono, Virtual Legal Advice, Caryn shared her plans for the year ahead and offered some insight into why pro bono work is so important to her and her law firm.

“Fostering pro bono services has never been more crucial for North Carolina, as some 80 percent of qualified citizens go without the legal services they desperately need,” Caryn said. “The decline in funding for legal aid organizations, along with the rising poverty population in the state, make it imperative that we do everything in our power to help meet the legal needs of our neighbors.”

Asked about her plans for expanding virtual pro bono programs, Caryn said the projects fit comfortably in NCBA’s wheelhouse. “These projects capitalize on a number of our strengths as an organization, from the statewide reach of our membership, to the sheer number of our members, to our ability to recruit, organize and support volunteers,” she added.

Caryn has practiced her entire career at Smith Anderson, where she leads the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group, which has consistently received the highest ranking from “Best Law Firms,” the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers since 2010. A significant part of her practice is devoted to counseling and negotiating on behalf of clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions.

Read the article and Caryn’s full responses here.