An experienced corporate and business attorney, Mary Beth’s practice focuses on representing technology-based companies from formation through liquidity event.
Her practice includes advising clients with respect to angel financings, venture capital financings, and mergers and acquisitions. She also provides general corporate advice to her clients on such matters as capital structure, corporate governance, shareholder agreements, equity and executive compensation, licensing agreements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and other intellectual property matters. In addition to representing companies, Mary Beth also represents venture capital funds and other institutional investors in connection with their investments in portfolio companies.
Mary Beth is a current member of the firm’s Advisory Committee, a former member of the Associate Committee, and previously chaired the Start-up and Venture Capital Practice Group.
Affiliations
Kids4Peace, Board Member
Speaking Engagements
Moderator, M&A Transaction Readiness, 2019 VC and M&A Forum
Panelist, Funding Environment in New England, The Startup Coalition
Panelist, Legal Skills Bootcamp for the Transactional Attorney, Massachusetts Bar Association
Moderator, M&A Transaction Readiness, 2018 VC and M&A Forum
Panelist, Trends in the Funding Environment in New England, The Startup Coalition
Speaker, Management Carve-Out Plans in M&A Transactions, Boston Bar Association
Panelist, Venture Backed M&A: Special Considerations, American Bar Association
Guest lecturer at Tufts University
Guest lecturer at Babson’s MBA program
Panelist, Shattering the Bamboo Ceiling, The Business Coalition / Showa Boston Institute
Speaker, Raising Money From Friends and Family – How to Do it Right, The Enterprise Center at Salem State University
VIDEO: Mary Beth Kerrigan discusses representations and warranties in M&A transactions.
VIDEO: Mary Beth Kerrigan describes post-closing indemnifications in M&A transactions.
Publications
The Price of Growth: Founders’ Dilution, Xconomy
Voting Agreements: Designation and Removal of Directors
Delaware Decision Calls Into Question the Value of Preferred Stockholder “Blocking Rights”
Merger Price Upheld in ‘American Idol’ Transaction
Exits for Venture-Backed Companies: Is the Timing Right?
Chen v. Howard-Anderson: Summary Judgment Granted to Defendant Directors In Connection With Sales Process
Forum Selection Clauses
Top Ten Issues in M&A Transactions
Fiduciary Duty Obligations to Common Stockholders: Management Carve-Out Plans
Disclosure Obligations for Stockholder Notices
Motivating and Retaining Employees with a Bonus/Carve-Out Plan
The Price of Growth – The Lifecycle of a Company from a Founder’s Dilution Perspective
Outside the office
Mary Beth is a long-time Patriots fan (Brady is innocent) and Red Sox fan. Outside the office, Mary Beth enjoys running, skiing and spending time with her family at locations such as the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.
News & Events
News
-
2022 M&A Deals
Mergers & Acquisitions: A Transaction Recap
March 24, 2023 -
2022 VC Deals
A Snapshot of Venture Capital Transactions
March 24, 2023 -
The Price of Growth
The Lifecycle of a Company from a Founder's Dilution Perspective
February 22, 2023 -
Morse Women Attorneys Webinar Series
November 8, 2022 -
Top Ten Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions Transactions
July 6, 2022
Events
-
2019 VC and M&A Forum
May 2, 2019 -
Corporate Venture Capital: Unique Opportunities and Special Considerations for Startup Companies
May 3, 2018 -
2018 VC and M&A Forum
March 29, 2018 -
Issuance of Founders’ Equity: What’s the Right Slice of Pie?
December 7, 2017 -
Behind the Curtain: An inside look into the operations of VC firms
November 7, 2017
Representative Matters
- Represented IVES Group, Inc., a leading provider of relational online market intelligence, due diligence, and risk assessment tools, in connection with its sale to Ideagen plc.
- Represented Family Law Software, the leading workflow software for family law legal practices, in connection with its sale to Centerbase.
- Represented Philips, a global healthcare technology company, in connection with its acquisition of Medumo and in connection with multiple investments in portfolio companies.
- Represented Meeting Play, a pioneer in hybrid event technology, in connection with its investment by Sunstone.
- Represented Koya Leadership Partners, a search firm focused on non-profits, in connection with its sale to Diversified Search.
- Represented Cytel, a global provider of software and services to the life sciences industry, in connection with its acquisition of multiple companies, including Laiya Consulting, Purple Squirrel, MTEK and Axio Research.
- Represented Custom MMIC, a leading supplier of microwave integrated circuits, in connection with its sale to Qorvo.
- Represented Gutbrain Ventures, a Boston venture capital firm, in connection with its investment in various portfolio companies.
- Represented HLM Venture Partners, a Boston venture capital firm, in connection with its investment in various portfolio companies.
- Represented Blue Earth Diagnostics, a molecular imaging diagnostics company, in connection with its sale to Bracco Imaging.
- Represented ZiipRoom, Inc., an innovative developer of productivity and connectivity software for meeting rooms, conferences and devices, in connection with its sale to Bose Corporation.
- Represented Continuum Innovations LLC, a global innovation design firm, in connection with its sale to EPAM Systems, Inc.
- Represented Silverlink Communications, Inc., a proven leader in engagement management technology for healthcare organizations, in connection with several rounds of venture capital financing from investors including Sigma Partners and HLM Venture Partners, and its ultimate sale to Welltok.
- Represented Azimuth Systems, Inc., a leading provider of automated, real-world mobile performance test solutions, in connection with several rounds of venture capital financing from investors including North Bridge Venture Partners and Kodiak Venture Partners, and its ultimate sale to Anritsu.
- Represented Aveksa, Inc., a leading provider of business driven identity and access management solutions, in connection with its sale to EMC.
- Represented Prospectiv Direct, Inc., a leader in online performance marketing, as general outside counsel and in connection with its sale to Affinion.
- Represented Pixtronix, Inc., a creator of multimedia display screens, as general outside counsel, in connection with several rounds of venture capital financing and in connection with its sale to Qualcomm.
- Represented Entagen, LLC, an informatics company offering semantic search and navigation software and customer development services, as outside general counsel and in connection with its sale to Thomson Reuters.
- Represented Kepha Partners, a Boston venture capital firm focused on pre-seed, seed and Series A companies, in connection with its investments in various portfolio companies.
- Represented Help Scout, a provider of help desk support for businesses, in connection with venture capital financings from investors including the Foundry Group and Converge.
Education
- New England School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
- Tufts University, B.A., magna cum laude
Admissions
- Massachusetts Bar
Practice Areas
- Corporate
- Licensing & Strategic Alliances
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Startups & Emerging Companies
- Venture Capital