A. McLean Waters

McLean Waters is an attorney with Smith Anderson’s Corporate & Transactional practice group, where he focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, assisting clients with a variety of corporate matters as they navigate complex business transactions.

During law school, McLean was a student attorney with the Startup NC Law Clinic, where he counseled new startups on various legal matters. McLean also served as a judicial intern and extern for Justice Tamara Barringer of the North Carolina Supreme Court, where he drafted petition memoranda and bench briefs. Furthermore, he served as a Notes Editor for the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology and was an active pro bono volunteer, contributing his time to support access to legal services.

Outside of work, McLean enjoys hiking, reading, cooking and volunteering with Durham/Chapel Hill YoungLife and his local church.  McLean is an avid sports fan and enjoys cheering for the Tar Heels in all sports.

Education

• University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., with high honors, 2025
  • Order of the Coif
  • Certificate of High Merit, Tax Policy (2025)
  • Jerry L. Wordsworth Fellowship in Entrepreneurship
  • Notes Editor, North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology, Vol. 26
  • Student Attorney, Startup NC Law Clinic
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2020
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Bar & Court Admissions

• Committee Member, Durham/Chapel Hill YoungLife
• Christ Central Church, Durham