As leader of the firm’s Corporate Services practice group, Jennifer Byrne is responsible for coordinating with the firm’s managing partner to strengthen the group’s planning, execution and operational practices in alignment with the firm’s strategic goals. She concentrates her law practice in mergers and acquisitions, securities and corporate finance, general corporate issues, emerging companies and corporate governance. She has extensive experience representing domestic and international companies from numerous industries, including manufacturing, retail, biotechnology and life sciences, technology, health care, hospitality, animal health and agtech, aerospace, finance and professional services. As outside corporate counsel to businesses, Jennifer provides counsel on day-to-day transactions as well as high-stakes disputes and transformative relationships. In that role, she is adept at efficiently coordinating experience from other segments of the firm, such as intellectual property, lending, real estate, employment and litigation. She also serves as co-leader of the firm's Emerging Companies practice area.

Mergers and Acquisitions
Jennifer provides guidance in a broad spectrum of transactions throughout the deal process, from pre-transaction planning to post-closing indemnification claims and disputes. This work includes taking the lead on stock and asset purchases and dispositions, mergers, restructurings, management buyouts, tender offers, going private transactions and other related transactions.

She also serves as Missouri local counsel to out-of-state entities engaged in significant transactions involving Missouri companies.

Securities and Corporate Finance
Jennifer has broad experience advising publicly traded companies about securities offerings, Securities Exchange Act reporting issues, national securities exchange listing issues and various compliance and disclosure issues. She also counsels privately held companies raising funds through private placements of securities, compensating employees through equity-based compensation and financing their growth and operations through debt financing.

General Corporate
Jennifer draws on her accounting and business background to assist clients in successfully achieving their financial and business goals through investments, joint ventures, strategic alliances, licensing and distribution arrangements, technology agreements, supply agreements, employment agreements and commercial contracts. She also advises clients about noncompete agreements and the protection of trade secrets and other intellectual property. In addition, she counsels businesses on succession planning initiatives.

Emerging Companies
Jennifer works closely with the startup community, serving as corporate counsel for emerging companies and entrepreneurs in navigating formation, ownership, financing, employment and intellectual property issues and negotiating with venture capital and private equity funds. Jennifer also represents investors in performing due diligence on emerging companies and negotiating investment documents.

Corporate Governance
As a trusted adviser to boards of directors, committees and management, Jennifer counsels clients regarding fiduciary duties, governance and compliance issues (including records retention policies), strategy, anti-takeover mechanisms, buy-sell issues, executive compensation and shareholder disputes.