919.865.2804
keheman@wyrick.com
Bio
Ken practices in the area of corporate and securities law, including company formation, venture capital financings, venture capital fund formation, private placements, public offerings, mergers & acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. His practice focuses on technology-related industries, including life sciences and information technology. Ken’s experience includes representing start-up and emerging growth companies, public companies, underwriters, and venture capitalists. Ken is the firm’s Life Sciences industry team leader and served on the firm’s Executive Committee 2008-2018.
Ken joined the firm in 1998 from New York where he practiced at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP. Ken graduated with honors and distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
- Listed among The Best Lawyers in America: Biotechnology Law, Corporate Law, Venture Capital Law (2007-2024); Mergers & Acquisitions Law (2014-2024)
- Best Lawyers® Raleigh 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
- Best Lawyers® Raleigh 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” Venture Capital Law
- Listed among Business North Carolina Magazine Legal Elite: Business (2022)
- SEBIO Board of Directors (2017-2019)
- Southeast Life Sciences Association Board and Executive Committee
- Council for Entrepreneurial Development, Board of Directors (2011-2017)
- Co-Chair, CED Biotech Conference 2006, SEBIO Conference 2018
- Carolina Kickstart External Advisory Board
- Coach, UNC Launching the Venture and Research to Revenue Courses
- American Bar Association, Private Equity and Venture Capital Sections
- North Carolina State Bar and New York State Bar
- Represented strategic investor in multiple early-stage equity investments in U.S. and overseas life sciences start-ups aggregating over $300 million in proceeds.
- Served as outside counsel to Oncology focused university spin-out drug development company in $12 million Series A Financing.
- Represented strategic investor in $50 million Series B Investment in a genomic engineering company.
- Represented acquirer of two early-stage oncology-focused drug development companies for aggregate $150 million plus milestones of up to $500 million.
- Served as outside counsel to university spin-out genomics therapeutics company in $10 million Series B financing.
- Represent a variety of strategic investors in a series of investments in life sciences/agricultural venture capital funds/incubators/accelerators aggregating more than $400 million in capital commitments.
- Represented strategic investors and life sciences companies in multiple option to acquire transactions.
- Served as outside counsel to drug development company from formation through $50 million private placements, IPO, follow on offerings, and ultimate sale for $300 million.
- Served as outside counsel to early-stage university spin-out oncology company in $5,000,000 seed financing
- Represented consortium of venture capital funds and corporate strategic investors in a series of investments agricultural technology start-ups aggregating over $25 million in proceeds.
- “Navigating the Structured Acquisition of the Life Sciences Company,” Life Sciences Leader
- “Planning for the Exit”, Nature Biotechnology
- Speaker, “Early Stage Financing” NC Biotech Center, Entrepreneurship Essentials Program
- Speaker, “Strategic Equity Investments,” VACO CPE Conference
- “Venture Capital Considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions” (co-author), Handling Mergers and Acquisitions in High-Tech and Emerging Growth Environments, Practicing Law Institute
- “The Turbulent Waters of Director Liability,” Business North Carolina
- Speaker, “Early Stage Investing,” UNC Technology Development Boot Camp, Chapel Hill, NC
- “Equity Compensation,” NC Bar Association Business Law and Corporate Counsel Section Joint Annual Meeting
- “Equity Compensation Running the Gauntlet,” Business North Carolina
- Speaker, “Legal Basics for Start-Ups: The Life Science Venture,” The One Day Start-Up, Duke Fuqua School of Business, Durham, NC
- Speaker, “Incorporation and Founder Stock,” UNC BioStart Commercialization Webinar Series
- Panelist, “Bridges Over Troubled Water and M&A ‘a la carte’: Financing and Exiting,” BIO International Convention, Chicago, IL
- Moderator “Venture Capital Panel” SEBIO Annual Investor Conference 2013, 2014
