Suggestions
Merrill Mason
Partner, Smith Anderson
Merrill Mason is a prominent attorney and the owner at Smith Anderson, a law firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He leads the firm's Start-Ups practice group and specializes in representing technology and life sciences companies, focusing on start-up businesses and venture capital transactions. His extensive experience includes co-founding Hutchison + Mason in 1996, where he played a key role in expanding the firm to 20 lawyers.
Mason is also dedicated to mentoring emerging entrepreneurs and law students, having served as an adjunct instructor at both the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School and the UNC School of Law. His contributions to the field have been recognized through various accolades, including being named "Lawyer of the Year" for Venture Capital Law in Raleigh by Best Lawyers® in 2020 and consistently being listed in The Best Lawyers in America from 2007 to 2025 for multiple practice areas.123
In addition to his legal practice, Mason is actively involved in the entrepreneurial community, providing pro bono legal advice to start-ups through initiatives like the 1789 Venture Lab at UNC. He has also participated in various speaking engagements and has published articles on topics relevant to entrepreneurship and venture capital.23
