---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000893538-22-000157"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SM"
cik: "0000893538"
company_name: "SM Energy Co"
filed_at: "2022-12-30T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T21:45:07.867491+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# SM Energy EVP & General Counsel David Copeland to retire; James Lebeck named successor

## Summary
- David Copeland resigns as EVP & GC effective Dec 31, 2022; stays in advisory role until July 1, 2023.
- Copeland receives $800,000 in two annual $400k installments for non-compete and non-solicitation covenants.
- James Lebeck appointed SVP & General Counsel; expected start on or before Jan 30, 2023.
- Lebeck previously served as VP & Chief Legal Officer at Encino Energy, and earlier at SM Energy as Deputy GC.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000893538-22-000157
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SM
- cik: 0000893538
- company_name: SM Energy Co
- filed_at: 2022-12-30T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/893538/000089353822000157/0000893538-22-000157-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/893538/000089353822000157/sm-20221229.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000893538-22-000157
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000893538-22-000157.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000893538-22-000157.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  David Copeland resigned as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at SM Energy Co.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Executive Vice President and General Counsel
  source text: On December 30, 2022, SM Energy Company (“ Company ”) announced that David Copeland, its Executive Vice President and General Counsel, has advised its Board of Directors of his intention to resign from his current position effective December 31, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/893538/000089353822000157/0000893538-22-000157-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.