Andrew M. Benton

Andrew Benton is an attorney in Smith Anderson’s corporate, transactional and finance groups. His practice focuses on commercial lending and other finance transactions, corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions. Andrew also devotes time to pro bono work with the Guardian ad Litem program.

Andrew enjoys running half-marathons, reading old books and exploring small towns in North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

Education

• University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., with high honors, 2021
  • Order of the Coif
  • Chancellors’ Scholar
  • Class Rank: 4th
  • Comments Editor, North Carolina Law Review, Vol. 99
  • IAPP Westin Scholar Award, 2021 (outstanding privacy law student)
  • Millard S. Breckinridge Prize in Law, 2021 (outstanding tax law student)
  • Gressman and Pollitt Oral Advocacy Award
• North Carolina State University, M.A., in American History, summa cum laude, 2016
• Western Carolina University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2013

Bar & Court Admissions

Certifications

• International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
• Board of Directors, North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE)
• North Carolina Bar Association

• Advised a global semiconductor company on the sale of its radio frequency (RF) product line for $75 million in cash plus stock valued at approximately $60 million.
• Advised the owner and operator of a petroleum marketing, convenience retailing, and quick service restaurant business and the owners of related real estate on sale to a private equity firm.
• Advised a U.S. clinical research organization on the purchase of all of the equity of a specialty UK-based clinical research organization.
• 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.
• Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a leading digital patient recruitment company.