Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
North Carolina
Education
Duke University, J.D., 2016; Executive Articles Editor, Alaska Law Review
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with highest distinction, 2012; Phi Beta Kappa; Irene F. Lee Award (outstanding woman in graduating class)
Profile
Morgan Abbott represents clients in a broad range of corporate and transactional matters with a focus on tax-exempt and nonprofit organizations, health care, education and general corporate law. She advises a range of exempt organizations, including public charities, private foundations, health care systems and universities, on governance and tax matters, regulatory and ethical compliance, grantmaking, joint ventures and other strategic partnerships, applications for tax-exempt status, reorganizations, dissolution and general corporate matters. Morgan understands that proactive governance, compliance and risk-management programs allow corporations and organizations to focus on value creation and external impact. She draws on her first career in international nonprofit management and social entrepreneurship to help her clients find practical business and legal solutions.
Morgan counsels emerging company clients throughout their life cycles, from early stages through angel and venture financing rounds and exit events. She also assists clients in fund formations, investment management and private investment transactions. Morgan calls on her litigation experience to comprehensively advise her corporate clients on risk management.
Honors & Awards
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, Rising Star, nonprofit organizations, 2021
- North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2019
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, The Honorable Gerald B. Tjoflat, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2016-17
Experience
Experience
Nonprofit Organizations and Foundations
Advises charitable organizations in all aspects of their formation including incorporation, applications for state and federal tax exemptions, creation of compliance and risk management programs, and charitable solicitation licensing and compliance.
Served as outside general counsel to the largest conversion foundation on a per capita basis in the United States.
Represented a nonprofit health system in its $1.5 billion acquisition by the nation's largest hospital operator.
Conducts governance reviews and internal audits for grantmaking foundations, family foundations, supporting organizations, health care systems, hospitals, secondary schools and professional accreditation organizations.
Represents a health system and its supporting organization in dissolution and distribution of assets, including representation before the North Carolina attorney general and Superior Court to modify purpose and management restrictions of restricted funds pursuant to the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act.
Advises on tax requirements for private foundations, supporting organizations, program-related investments, the structuring of charitable gifts, donor-advised funds and governance of endowment funds.
Counsels foundations and tax-exempt organizations on all aspects of their management, including governance, strategic planning, corporate reorganizations and tax reclassifications, risk management strategies, tax matters in resource development programs, joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and grantmaking programs and agreements.
Advises nonprofit board members regarding conflicts of interest, fiduciary duties, risk management and other aspects of board governance.
Startups and Venture Capital
Advises emerging growth companies through each stage of the company’s life cycle, including initial company formation and early-stage commercial agreements, corporate governance, commercial contracts, angel and venture capital equity and convertible debt financings, tax matters and general business consultation.
Fund Formation and Investment Management
Advises tax-exempt institutional investors, including university endowments, public pension funds, private foundations, community foundations and family foundations regarding investment management and tax matters and in connection with various traditional and program-related investments.
Litigation
Counseled nonprofit and corporate clients in negotiations and litigation involving employment and noncompetition agreements, executive compensation, discrimination, whistleblower complaints and misappropriation of trade secrets.
Secured injunctive relief on behalf of Gov. Roy Cooper in a case involving proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution.
Served as counsel to a global corporation in a multi-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina and procured a $111 million judgment against three defendants for fraud, conspiracy, unfair trade practices and RICO violations.
News & Events
News
- Feb. 4, 2021
- Jan. 15, 2021
- May 20, 2020
- Aug. 23, 2018
- Jan. 29, 2018
- Jan. 24, 2018
- Nov. 16, 2017
Events
Via webinar
Feb. 9, 2021Via webinar
April 16, 2020
Insights
- July 6, 2020Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- April 14, 2020Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- April 3, 2020Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- Jan. 7, 2020Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- June 14, 2018Campbell Law Review
- Dec. 20, 2017Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- May 2015Alaska Law Review
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys
- Robinson Bradshaw Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Member
Community Affiliations
- The Amani Children's Foundation, Board of Directors
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Young Alumni Leadership Council, Co-Chair
- Duke Law School, Women's Law Student Association, Mentor
- Duke Law School, Triangle Regional Alumni Board
- UNC Presbyterian Campus Ministry, College Small Group Leader