Grayson Hale is a corporate attorney who represents companies, private equity investors, and management teams in mergers and acquisitions, ownership transitions, financings, and ongoing business matters. In his M&A work, he counsels on both the buy and sell side and often serves as outside general counsel to businesses navigating complex strategic and operational decisions, often serving as a long-term strategic advisor to his clients.
Grayson founded and leads the firm’s Architecture, Engineering, and Construction practice (A/E/C), where, for over twenty years, he has represented hundreds of regional, national, and international engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, geology, and other professional services firms, as well as general contractors, in mergers and acquisitions. He also regularly advises firms and private equity investors on structuring their operations in compliance with regulatory professional and entity licensing requirements across the United States and other business matters. Grayson has extensive experience in assisting A/E firms with obtaining North Carolina professional licensure compliance using pre-1969 grandfather corporations, as well as New York grandfathered corporations.
As a founding partner of Morningstar Law Group, Grayson brings hands-on management experience that informs his advice to clients operating professional services businesses. Coupled with his accounting background, this experience allows him to provide practical, business-oriented counsel grounded in how companies actually operate, rather than legal advice in a vacuum.
Prior to founding Morningstar Law Group, Grayson practiced for 14 years as a lawyer and partner with national and international law firms in Dallas, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina.
When he’s not practicing law, Grayson enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, the mountains, a little tennis and trying to beat the unbeatable game of golf.
- Legal 500’s North Carolina Elite, Corporate and M&A, 2026
- Best Lawyers: Mergers & Acquisitions Law (2019-2027), Corporate Law (2019-2027), Business Organizations – Including LLCs and Partnerships (2021-2027), Commercial Transactions / UCC Law (2022-2027)
- Business North Carolina Legal Elite: Business and Corporate Law (2011-2013); Hall of Fame, Business Law (2013)
- Super Lawyers (2014-2023, 2026)
- Super Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyer North Carolina (2015-2016, 2019)
- Triangle Business Leader: Impact Lawyer (2010), Top Lawyer
- Represent each year two dozen or more different architecture, engineering, geology, surveying, landscape architecture and related professional firms in structuring their transactions and negotiating their mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions throughout the United States. Deal sizes range from $1MM to over $500MM.
- Represented engineering firm in $130,000,000 sale pursuant to an F reorganization to a private equity purchaser. Completed multiple dozen “F” reorganization transactions as buyer or seller’s counsel.
- Represented international professional services firms in stock acquisitions of United States based engineering, surveying and other professional service firms.
- Represented private equity firms and numerous sellers in initial platform acquisition and numerous private equity purchaser add-on acquisitions using F reorganizations, stock purchases and merger transactions.
- Represents regional, national and international architecture, engineering, and related professional service and contractor firms in structuring their firms for compliance with states licensing boards and in particular, the North Carolina licensing board laws, including representing buyers and sellers of North Carolina pre-1969 grandfather corporations.
In addition to a variety of published articles, Grayson is a frequent speaker at local, regional and national business and legal conferences.
- “M&A Hot Topics”, Capital Strategies and M&A Forum Conference, Panelist (2024)
- “Q&A Ask The M&A Experts, Matheson Financial Group M&A Forum for A/E/C Industry. Panelist (2023)
- “M&A: Legal & Tax Considerations,” Zweig Group, 2023 M&A Next Symposium. Panelist (2023)
- “Annual Dodgeball: What do you want to know?” Capital Strategies and M&A Forum for A/E/C Industry. Panelist (2021; 2022)
- “Anatomy of a Deal.” 2019 Capital Strategies and M&A Forum for A/E/C Industry. Panelist (2019)
- “Joint Ventures.” The University of North Carolina: Kenan Flagler School of Business, Master Business Administration Program. Guest Adjunct Professor (2018)
- “It’s An Auction – M&A Case Study.” Capital Strategies and M&A Forum for A/E/C Industry. Panelist (2017)
- “Determining the Value of a Firm.” Capital Strategies and M&A Forum for A/E/C Industry. Panelist (2017)
- “Expecting the Unexpected to Avoid Landmines in M&A and Organic Growth.” A/E/C Growth & Ownership Strategies Conference. Speaker (2016)
- “What Does an ‘Of Counsel’ Position Look Like.” Mapping Your Retirement: Practicing Without Fear, NC Bar Association CLE. Speaker (2016)
- “Lessons Learned from M&A’s Gone Wrong.” Capital Strategies and M&A Forum for A/E/C Industry. Speaker (2016)
- “Negotiating a Successful M&A Deal – Understanding the Rule and “Retrospective (Winter 2015)
- “Strategic Alternatives for Partial ESOP Companies.” Capital Strategies and M&A Forum. Speaker (2015)
- “Managing Risk and Insurance During Ownership Transition.” Capital Strategies and M&A Forum. Speaker (2015)
- “Ropes Course: Navigating Mergers & ” American Council of Engineering Companies, NC Annual Meeting (2014)
- “Corporate and Employment Law Developments,” NC Bar Association: Corporate Counsel Section Annual Meeting (2014)
- “Ownership Transition ” American Council of Engineering Companies, NC Small Business Forum (2013)
- M&A/Capital American Council of Engineering Companies Annual Convention, CFO Council Forum (2012)
- “Keys to Successful M&A and Minefields to ” Zweigwhite, AEC Mergers & Acquisitions Summit (2011)
- “North Carolina’s Mini-Brooks Act: How it Works; How to Comply,” K&L Gates LLP Seminars (2010)
- “Private Placements: Raising Capital with Regulation ” Raising Capital Forum (2010)
- “Capital Ideas.” Association for Corporate Growth (2009)
- “M&A From A To Z: Ingredients in Acquisition Alphabet ” NC Bar Association CLE (2009)
- “How to Effectively Utilize Your ” NC Bar Association CLE (2008)
- “Buying and Selling a Business and Business ” NC CLE Seminar (2008)
- “Negotiating the Terms of Your ” Association for Corporate Growth (2008)
- “Grappling with Mergers, Acquisitions and ” Association of Corporate Growth (2007)
- “Buying and Selling a Business, M&A Structuring and Tax ” Lorman (2007)
- “Issues in Mergers & Acquisitions ” Grant Thornton & Kennedy Covington Joint Seminar (2006)
- “Intellectual Property in M&A,” Grant Thornton & Kennedy Covington Joint Seminar (2006)
- “Selected Issues In Negotiating Venture Term Sheets.” First Flight Venture Center (2005)
- “Term Sheets in Venture Capital Financings.” Council for Entrepreneurial Development, FastTrac Program (2004)
- “M&A Structuring: Methods of Buying & Selling A ” Grant Thornton & Kennedy Covington Joint Seminar (2004)
- “Costly, But Common Mistakes in M&A ” Grant Thornton and The Staubach Company Joint Seminar (2004)
- North Carolina State Bar (2002)
- Arkansas State Bar (2003)
- Texas State Bar (1998)
- American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC): Legal Forum Member. NC Member.
- March of Dimes: NC Board of Directors (2008-2017). Treasurer and Chair, Finance Committee (2009-2017)
- Association of Corporate Growth: Board of Directors, Raleigh Durham Chapter (2009-2013). Programs Committee (2009-2013). Membership Committee (2005-2008).
- University of Arkansas Alumni Association: Founder and President, Triangle Chapter (2005-2008)
- NC Bar Association: Business Section
- Council for Entrepreneurial Development: Member
- Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce: Leadership Raleigh graduate
- United Way: Fundraising Account Executive