Firm News

Kegler Brown is delighted to announce the appointments of Paul Hess and Jen Vessells to serve as co-chairs of the firm’s Mergers + Acquisitions practice. With their extensive experience and proven track record in leading business transactions, Paul and Jen are set to lead the firm's M+A endeavors to new heights.

Paul Hess, a longtime director with the firm, has an extensive background in M+A, corporate law, securities, and board governance matters, and is well-situated to offer comprehensive counsel to clients of all sizes. Paul's advisory experience spans from assisting startups to leading public companies through large, transformative transactions across diverse industries. His prowess in guiding clients through the complexities of raising capital, navigating successful mergers and acquisitions, and ensuring sound corporate governance practices exemplifies his commitment to client success.

Jen Vessells, also a director in the firm's M+A, corporate, and emerging business areas, brings a wealth of expertise in guiding private companies through a variety of succession planning strategies and transaction structures, including ESOPs. Her adeptness in advising companies throughout various stages of corporate transactions, coupled with her role as outside general counsel for businesses with regional and global footprints, underscores her strategic counsel and invaluable contributions to clients.

"We are thrilled to appoint Paul Hess and Jen Vessells as co-chairs of our Mergers + Acquisitions practice," stated Chris Weber, managing director at Kegler Brown. "Their exceptional leadership qualities, coupled with their profound legal acumen and dedication to client service, will undoubtedly bolster our firm's capabilities and enhance the value we deliver to our clients."

Paul and Jen's appointment underscores Kegler Brown's commitment to providing top-tier legal services tailored to meet the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic marketplace. As co-chairs, they are poised to lead the M+A practice toward continued excellence and innovation, further solidifying Kegler Brown's position as a trusted legal partner for businesses navigating complex transactions.

Kegler Brown’s M+A practice has received industry praise for years. In its most recent appearance in Chambers USA, an annual publication ranking lawyers and law firms across the country, the firm was described as having “notable areas of strength, including midmarket M&A, private placements, and corporate governance,” and an interviewed source stated “Kegler Brown attorneys approach the problem as if they were part of your business. It is a very unique culture, and one of the main reasons I enjoy working with the team.”

About Kegler Brown

Kegler Brown’s mergers and acquisitions practice area regularly represents clients, both public and private, in the purchase and sale of businesses. We cover a wide range of transactions, with a primary focus on serving the middle market. Our attorneys lead multi-disciplinary teams capable of handling all aspects of complex domestic and cross-border transactions.

Many of the attorneys in our M+A practice have earned industry-wide recognition for responsive client service. We have been noted for excellence in the practice of law by all major research-based and peer-review rating services in various local and national publications.

We advise clients worldwide that are engaged in middle-market transactions, providing best-in-class advisory services and flawless execution at affordable rates. We primarily serve businesses and their owners in strategic growth acquisitions and exit transactions, and advise publicly traded companies focused on middle-market transactions as part of their corporate growth plans.