Suzanne Griffin

Suzanne R. Griffin

Partner

Areas of Experience

Services
Banking, Credit & Financial Services
Emerging Technology
Real Estate
Sustainability and Renewable Energy
Industries
Banking
Real Estate

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

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 27601	t: 919.783.1034	\|	email
P.O. Box 1801, Raleigh, NC 27602-1801	f: 919.783.1075	\|	vcard

Suzanne returns to Poyner Spruill as a partner in the firm’s Financial Services and Real Estate Groups. She spent almost three years as Deputy General Counsel to RBC Bank (USA) from 2006-2009 where she provided primary legal support for Commercial Lending, Corporate Real Estate, Mergers & Acquisitions and the Trust Department as well as for various subsidiaries including NBC Securities, Inc. and RBC Capital Advisors, Inc.

Suzanne first joined Poyner Spruill in May, 2002 and was a partner from 2002 – 2006. Prior to joining the firm, she spent eight years as in-house counsel to 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 a member of senior management teams.

Representative Experience

Lease work related to a de novo program in which our client, assisted by a major international brokerage firm strategically identified new branch locations throughout the Southeast and negotiated a form of development agreement, lease and ancillary agreements as needed to ensure delivery of the client’s proto-type building on a long-term lease. Approximately 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
Represented major livestock producers in all aspects of business needs including corporate, credit facilities, real estate, and contractual matters
$37m asset sale of animal feed manufacturing division including 12 manufacturing facilities in nine states
Established joint ventures and handled worldwide distribution agreements
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
Acquisition of 39 branches having $3.5 billion in loans and deposits from an Alabama financial institution as a part of a divestiture required by regulatory authorities
$1.6 billion acquisition of publicly traded bank holding company with ten bank subsidiaries in three state

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.