Suzanne R. Griffin 
Partner
Education

Northwestern University, JD, 1989

University of Illinois, BS, 1986

Professional and Community Activities

American Agricultural Law Association, Member

North Carolina Pork Council, Member

Wake Education Partnership Advisory Board, 2002 – 2005

Playspace, Board of Directors, 2003 – 2006

Junior League of Raleigh, Sustainer

Our Lady of Lourdes School, Home and School Association, Fundraising Chair, 2004 – 2006, and Principal's Advisory Board, 2006 to present, Chair, 2007-present

Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women, Member and Membership Committee Chair, 2009, Membership Officer 2010, 2011 and Chapter Delegate 2011

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Member

Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors, 2006

Colorado Air Quality Control Commissioner, 2001 – 2002

North Carolina Bar Association

Wake County  Bar Association

Notable Accomplishments
Jurisdictions Licensed
301 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1900, Raleigh, NC 27601t: 919.783.1034|
P.O. Box 1801, Raleigh, NC 27602-1801f: 919.783.1075|

With the benefit of both in-house and law firm experiences, Suzanne brings a unique business perspective to clients and client matters.  She was Deputy General Counsel to RBC Bank (USA) from 2006-2009 where she provided primary legal support for Commercial Lending, Corporate Real Estate and Mergers & Acquisitions.

Suzanne first joined Poyner Spruill in 2002 as a partner.  Prior to joining the firm, she spent eight years in-house with Continental Grain Company, a privately held, international agri-business company.  During her tenure, she supported foreign and domestic operating divisions and subsidiaries in a legal capacity as well as at the Vice-President level as a member of senior management teams. 

Representative Experience

  • Acquisition of 39 branches having $3.5 billion in loans and deposits from an Alabama financial institution as a regulatory divestiture
  • $1.6 billion acquisition of publicly traded bank holding company with ten bank subsidiaries in three states  
  • Legal representative on cross-functional team charged with integration of 10 separate banks on 2 separate conversion dates
  • Negotiate settlement of breach of contract dispute resulting in $7m payment to client
  • Represented client in branch expansion throughout the Southeast with 36 de novo leases executed in less than two years
  • Represented financial institution in acquiring naming rights to sports arena, home of both professional hockey and college basketball teams
  • $37m asset sale of animal feed manufacturing division including 12 manufacturing facilities in nine states
  • Represented private company in a transaction involving contribution of cattle feedlots located in four states to a newly-formed entity, jointly owned by the private company and a public company, and independently financed

Firm Management Responsibilities

Suzanne is Co-Chair of Poyner Spruill's Financial Services Practice Area. 

Prior Legal Experience

Suzanne began her legal career as an associate with the law firm of Arnstein & Lehr in Chicago, Illinois.  Over the course of five years at Arnstein & Lehr, she represented a variety of lenders, closely-held companies and individuals in the areas of real estate, corporate and estate planning.
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