Robert E. Duggins

Rob Duggins co-leads the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions group and practices corporate law.  He has advised public and private buyers and sellers in a variety of industries, notably pharmaceutical services, technology and electronics, and regularly advises boards of directors on related matters of corporate governance. His recent experience includes both domestic and cross-border work in acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. In Chambers USA, clients say he is "masterful at getting into the specifics of a particular issue and solving it, as there is little that he hasn't seen," a "… very smart and committed lawyer" and is "hands-on, practical and provides good advice."

Rob also advises sell-side clients on strategic planning and preparations in advance of potential acquisitions and has worked with and advised multiple buy-side clients on developing systematic programs to leverage efficiencies across multiple acquisitions and to integrate and harmonize execution between in-house legal departments and transaction lawyers from the firm. 

In addition to his M&A practice, Rob is the partner in charge of Smith Anderson’s Knowledge Management program and the firm’s Corporate partner in charge of pricing and client service.

Recognition

• Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A (2015-2026)
• Business North Carolina Legal Elite, Corporate Law (2022)
• IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms, M&A, "Highly Regarded" (2021, 2023-2025) 
• The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Corporate Law (2013-2026)
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2013-2026)
• North Carolina Super Lawyers (2015-2021, 2023-2026)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated

Education

• University of North Carolina, J.D., with honors, 1990
• North Carolina State University, B.S., Computer Science, 1987

Bar & Court Admissions

Academic Appointments

Adjunct Professor, UNC School of Law (2022)

• American Bar Association
• North Carolina Bar Association
  • Business Law Section Council
    • Secretary-Elect
    • Chair, Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets Committee
• Wake County Bar Association
• Former Member, Board of Directors, Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education
• Elder, past Clerk of Session, Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church
• Former Member, Board of Directors, Trinity Academy of Raleigh

• 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 semiconductor and global solid state LED lighting manufacturing company in an agreement to purchase the assets of the radio frequency (RF) power business of a publicly traded semiconductor company for €345 million in cash.
• Represented a global solid state LED lighting and semiconductor manufacturing company in connection with its announced agreement for its $850 million sale of assets to a publicly traded German semiconductor company. The transaction was terminated before completion due to regulatory considerations.
• Advised a semiconductor and LED company on 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 the world’s largest provider of biopharmaceutical development and commercial outsourcing services in its acquisition of a health-information analytics and technology services company focused on healthcare providers.
• Represented a public specialty pharmaceutical company in its $150 million acquisition of a private specialty pharmaceutical company.
• Represented a global solid state LED lighting and semiconductor manufacturing company in connection with its $525 million stock acquisition of a manufacturer and distributor of commercial lighting products.
• 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.
• Represented a global solid state LED lighting and semiconductor manufacturing company in a Hong Kong joint venture to sell mid-power lighting class LED packaged products.
• Represented a global solid state LED lighting and semiconductor manufacturing company in connection with its strategic alliance with a manufacturer and distributor of specialty lighting control products.
• 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 specialty contract research organization as U.S. counsel in its purchase of a European contract research organization.
• Represented venture-backed laboratory software company in its $30 million acquisition by a global supplier of medical products.
• Advised a privately-held food processing technology company in an agreement to sell the assets of its two wholly-owned subsidiaries for $25 million in cash at closing with a $20 million cash earnout.
• Represented subsidiary of a company focused on investment and collaborative transactions in biopharmaceuticals and related industries in connection with its collaboration agreement with a global pharmaceutical company to conduct multiple clinical trials.
• Represented a human resources computer software company in its $100 million acquisition by a private equity firm.
• Represented a leading provider of pharmacy-based patient care solutions and medication synchronization services to independent and chain pharmacies in its approximately $41 million sale of the company to a publicly traded buyer.
• Represented a company in the sale of its contract drug manufacturing organization business. This transaction was awarded the Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($10-$25 million) award at the 2019 M&A Advisor Awards.
• Represented an international manufacturer of integrated fueling systems for fueling stations in its strategic collaboration with a specialty software company.
• Represented a global provider of biopharmaceutical development services and commercial outsourcing services in connection with its collaboration agreement with a Fortune 150 company to develop a project management platform.
• Represent a global solid state LED lighting and semiconductor manufacturing company in a wide range of supply, distribution, collaboration and other commercial arrangements with industry partners.
• Advised an enterprise storage management company in its sale to a private equity sponsor.
• Advised a leading contract research organization in a definitive agreement to acquire a provider of contract research, clinical and regulatory and other consulting services.