Anna S. Mills

Anna’s attention to detail and experience as an in-house attorney makes her an ideal legal counsel for large and mid-size companies.  In addition, her business law expertise enables her to assist start-ups and small businesses.

Anna was recently honored as a recipient of the Tribute to Women of Influence (TWIN) Awards presented by the YMCA of Asheville.

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

• Works with in-house counsel to economically manage company entities, contracts, UCC filings and other company legal concerns.
• Guides clients through the legal issues inherent in selling or buying a business and serves as North Carolina counsel in multi-state acquisitions.  Past representations have included:
  • The transfer of all company-owned stores for a national company
  • Multiple acquisitions by a national company of businesses with a total value in excess of $90 million
  • The sale of a corporate division of a regulated company
  • Purchases and sales of small and mid-sized businesses
• Counsels companies and lenders in lending transactions.  Provides domestic and cross-border legal opinions for companies and lenders.  Sample representations have included:
  • Counsel to company receiving an $18 million credit facility
  • NC counsel for a company receiving a $98 million credit facility
  • NC counsel for a foreign bank issuing a €119 million credit facility
  • NC counsel for a Canadian company receiving a $7 million CAD credit facility
  • Counsel to banks issuing commercial loans
• Assists family businesses with contracts, leases, company sales, corporation and LLC laws and other commercial law matters.
• Counsels start-ups about choosing a corporation or LLC, contracts, leases and other business law issues.

PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS

• Panelist, "Managing Your Business Through Transition, Succession and Exit Strategies," 2013 Industrial Executives Forum, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Flat Rock, N.C., April 18, 2013
• Speaker, "Celebration of Women in Business," Western Carolina University, April 10, 2013
• Speaker, "Contracts 360°," Feed Your Mind Series, April 9, 2013.
• Chair & Moderator, “An Introduction to Venture Capital Legal Opinions," ABA Business Section Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2013
• Guest Speaker, “Report on Survey of Law Firm Practices,” ABA Business Section Fall Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 16, 2012
• Speaker, "Ask Anna: Legal Issues for Startup Businesses," Asheville Startup Weekend, August 24, 2012
• Sidewalk Session Facilitator, "Contracts in Agricultural Businesses," Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Projects' 2012 Business of Farming Conference, Swannanoa, N.C., February 25, 2012
• Speaker, “Understanding Third Party Legal Opinions,” CLE Webinar, ABA, December 2011
• Speaker, “Using Contracts in Your Art-Based Business,” Illuminated Artistry: A Workshop for Artists and Artisans Where Creativity and the Law Intersect, Asheville, N.C., August 2011
• Speaker, “10 Tips for Starting a Business,” A-B Tech Young Entrepreneurs Camp, July 2010
• Co-Author, “Statement on Professionalism for North Carolina Business Lawyers,” N.C. Bar Association, Business Section, 2009
• Speaker, “Entity Formation,” N.C. LEAP, September 2009
• Speaker, “Due Diligence,” Basics of Business Law, CLE Program, N.C. Bar Association, May 2008

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Bar Association, Business Section
  • Legal Opinions Committee:  Director of Membership, Member of Survey of Law Firm Opinion Practices Subcommittee
  • UCC Committee
  • Middle Market and Small Business Committee
• North Carolina State Bar
• North Carolina Bar Association, Business Section
  • Vice Chair, 2013 - 2015
  • Legal Opinions Committee, 2009 – Present
  • Co-Chair, Ethics Committee, 2007 – 2009
  • Council Member, 2004 - 2007
• Tennessee State Bar
• 28th Judicial District Bar

RECOGNITIONS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Tribute to Women of Influence (TWIN) Awards honoree presented by YWCA of Asheville, 2012
• NC LEAP (North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program), Chair, 2010 – 2011
• Board of Trustees, Asheville Art Museum

Favorite Food
Kid's size burrito at Neo Burrito and tacos at Over Easy Cafe

Favorite Exercise
Hot Yoga

Recent Reading
The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction, David M. Gwynn

Favorite Artists

Jan Van Eyck, Alex Katz, Francesco Clemente, Cy Twombly, Rebecca Snoderly, Kora Manheimer

Most Recently Viewed Art Exhibits
Angels, Demons, and Savages: Pollock, Ossorio, Dubuffet, The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.

Guilty Pleasures
Reading The Wall Street Journal, watching UNC basketball and SEC football