KJK’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group focuses on the entire life cycle of our clients’ businesses, including formation and capitalization of start-up companies, day-to-day business needs, private equity funds and independent sponsors, venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), restructurings and recapitalizations, and succession planning for closely held businesses.
We assist our clients with a wide range of matters, including:
- Counseling on corporate governance and structure
- Advising on shareholder agreements
- Negotiating contracts with customers, suppliers and distributors
- Drafting confidentiality agreements
- Dealing with government agencies on regulatory matters
Legal Services
- Business Succession Planning
- Business Contracts
- Contract Preparation, Negotiation & Compliance
- Distribution & Supply Agreements
- Corporate & Regulatory Compliance
- Corporate Governance & Board Counseling
- Domestic & International Joint Ventures
- Labor & Employment
- Employment & Consulting Agreements
- Equity Compensation Plans
- Executive Compensation
- Fund Formation & Capitalization
- Fund Formation Capabilities
- Recapitalizations
- General Counsel Services
- Intellectual Property
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Roll-Up Transactions
- Private Equity
- Securities
- Primary & Secondary Public Transactions
- Private Placements
- Securities Compliance
- Securities Litigation
- Securities Offerings & Private Equity Financing
- Shareholder, Operating & Partnership Agreements
- Tender Offers & Proxy Contests
- Venture Capital
- Workouts & Restructurings
Corporate & Securities Practice Group
Securities Attorneys
KJK’s Securities attorneys are known for their hands-on in-house counsel approach. We represent companies of all sizes ranging from start-ups seeking angel investors to large, publicly traded companies.
COrporate & Securities
Representative Experience
Our Securities attorneys have extensive experience counseling our clients on a wide array of securities issues, including:
- Debt and equity financing
- Capital formation via both public offerings and private placements
- ’34 Act reporting for public companies, directors, officers and other “control” persons
- State “blue sky” compliance
- Tender offers
- Proxy contests
PRIVATE EQUITY/VENTURE CAPITAL
- Representing a private equity company in the purchase, operation and eventual sale of an aviation cargo and logistics business operating at multiple domestic and international airports
- Helping a client to form a private equity fund to invest in middle market wholesale distribution and logistics organizations across North America, and to acquire, divest and refinance multiple portfolio companies
- Acting as counsel to the private equity buyer of a leading repackaging and distribution company, including its senior and mezzanine financings
- Advising a client in the acquisition of a leading manufacturer and Internet retailer of ventilation hoods for commercial kitchens
- Representing a private equity sponsor in the purchase, growth by strategic acquisition and eventual sale of a portfolio company that repairs landing gear components for commercial airlines
MANUFACTURING
- Representing a publicly held maker of friction materials and parts in a sale of the company for $400 million
- Advising a publicly held manufacturer with net sales in excess of $200 million in the formation and acquisition of businesses located in the United States and abroad
- Assisting with the $35 million sale of a designer and manufacturer of actuators, valves and manifolds for various industrial markets
- Representing one of the largest manufacturers of poultry hatchery and incubation equipment in the world in its sale to a European concern
RETAIL/SERVICE INDUSTRIES
- Counseling one of the largest regional beer and wine distributors with over $100 million of acquisitions of competing distributors
- Representing the owners of a nationwide direct marketer of women’s apparel, cosmetics and accessories, health-related merchandise and discount buying clubs in a leveraged buyout
- Advising a nationwide wooden pallet logistics, management and brokerage services business in its sale to a competitor
- Representing an OTCQX-listed company in its merger with companies owning 17 shopping centers
HEALTH CARE
- Advising stockholders of a company providing billing services to the health care industry in a $90 million sale and recapitalization transaction
- Representing a client in a $75 million sale of a leading seller and repairer of surgical and medical instruments
- Counseling a client in a $35 million sale of a national physician practice
Energy
- Representing a NYSE-listed natural gas utility with operations in four states in its $200 million acquisition by BlackRock
- Assisting a publicly held natural gas utility with over $40 million in strategic acquisitions of other natural gas utility businesses
- Counseling a start-up synthetic oil company regarding its capitalization, energy marketing agreements and protection of proprietary technology
EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
- Advising buyers and sellers in the sale of over $30 million of pre-school businesses in the State of Ohio
- Representing the corporate needs of a multi-state regional chapter of a large national, faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in need
- Acting as local corporate counsel to a religious congregation of women of faith
TECHNOLOGY AND STARTUPS
- Acting as counsel to the developer of a life insurance policy management software system
- Representing a provider of web-based data services for financial institutions in its first several rounds of equity financing
- Acting as counsel to a leading provider of web-based employment screening solutions
“I don’t know what I would have done without KJK when I was selling my business. KJK’s skilled team guided me through a complex series of transactions during the sale. Now, I rely on them daily as we work to invest that capital into new ventures.”
Ansir Junaid
Chairman | PWC Group
years of experience
M&A deal volume
team members
Learn More about Our Client Offerings:
Global Lawyer
When critical issues arise around the world, our clients can rest easy knowing that they have access to highquality legal counsel from these market leaders, including complimentary 30-minute initial consultations. Let KJK’s membership in Meritas give you confidence that your interests at home and abroad will be given the same attention as your KJK matters.
Private Equity
KJK has significant experience representing private equity firms in both managing their investments and in handling day-to-day matters as general counsel to portfolio companies.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
KJK’s Corporate attorneys have handled billions of dollars in acquisitions and sales of companies in a range of industries, including aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, technology, retail and more.
CRITICAL BUSINESS CONTRACTS
KJK’s outsourced General Counsel services include negotiation of corporate contracts, including consulting agreements, licensing agreements, terms and conditions, master service agreements and non-disclosure agreements.
Public Companies
KJK’s Securities team regularly represents publicly traded companies in all aspects of their business, including preparing and filing disclosure statements, defending against proxy contests and representing shareholders in going-private transactions.
Complimentary Service:
Board Meeting Attendance
Including a trusted legal advisor at your board meetings is invaluable. One of our Corporate attorneys will attend these meetings to provide a fresh perspective, flag critical legal issues or serve as an impartial mediator for board discussions. We freely and happily participate in your organization’s board meetings, help set the agenda and facilitate the governance process.
Corporate & Securities
Read Our Blog
Corporate Transparency Act Revisited: Timeframes
We have made it to Part 3 of our three-part series on the Corporate Transparency Act’s final rule. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released the final rule on Sept. 30, 2022. This article covers important timeframes to keep in mind as the rule rolls...
Corporate Transparency Act Revisited: Reporting Requirements and Exemptions
On Sept. 30, 2022, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a final rule related to the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). In Part 1 of our refreshed, three-part series of articles on the CTA, we covered FinCEN’s new guidance on the beneficial...
Is ESG Good for Your Business?
ESG in a Nutshell The goal of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programs is simple: minimize risk, increase shareholder value and contribute to solving societal problems; but do so in a way that is at the same time good for your business, society and the...
Corporate & Securities
ATTORNEYS
Steven C. Bersticker
CO-CHAIR
Kevin T. O'Connor
PARTNER
Christopher J. Hubbert
CO-CHAIR
Jessica L. Wiedemann
OF COUNSEL
Demetrius J. Robinson
PARTNER
Samir B. Dahman
PARTNER
Jon J. Pinney
MANAGING PARTNER
Alex E. Jones
PARTNER
Peggy S. Beistel
Associate
Steven C. Bersticker
Partner
Charles H. Bolton
Transaction Analyst
Samantha M. Cira
Associate
Samir B. Dahman
Partner In Charge Columbus
Christopher J. Hubbert
Partner
Ari H. Jaffe
Of Counsel
Alex E. Jones
Partner
Steven A. Marrer
Partner
Maribeth Meluch
Partner
Scott A. Norcross
Partner
Kevin T. O’Connor
Partner
Jon J. Pinney
Managing Partner
Paige M. Rabatin
Associate
Alan M. Rauss
Partner
Demetrius J. Robinson
Partner
James J. Scherer
Associate
Theodore C. Theofrastous
Partner
Matthew T. Viola
Partner
Jessica L. Wiedemann
Of Counsel
Andrew J. Wilber
Partner
Contact
CLEVELAND OFFICE
1375 East Ninth Street
One Cleveland Center, 29th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44114-1793
COLUMBUS OFFICE
10 West Broad Street
One Columbus Center, Suite 1900
Columbus, OH 43215