Kris Kemp advises public and private companies on strategic merger and acquisition transactions, securities offerings, and compliance matters. He works closely with private equity firms, portfolio companies and venture-backed companies on investments, recapitalizations and other transactions. His corporate practice also includes providing capital structure advice to emerging and growth companies.
Kris is ranked in Band 1 for Corporate/M&A in Tennessee by Chambers USA, one of only three attorneys in the state to achieve this prestigious ranking. He also is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation, and was named “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for Securities Regulation (2023) and Securities/Capital Markets Law (2020).
A significant portion of his clients are concentrated within the healthcare sector, but he also regularly works with companies in a number of other industries, including financial services, insurance, and retail. His practice involves a broad spectrum of corporate and securities matters, including:
Mergers & Acquisitions – Advise sellers and buyers in both public and private company transactions and has represented clients in numerous private equity and venture-backed purchase and sale transactions, including public and private debt and equity placements.
Private Equity – Advise private equity and venture capital fund sponsors and portfolio companies in a broad range of strategic transactions, recapitalizations and restructurings.
Public Company Advisory – Represent both NYSE- and Nasdaq-listed companies on a variety of corporate governance, SEC compliance matters and in capital market transactions.
Special Healthcare M&A Counsel – Provide specialized healthcare M&A support to private equity firms, coordinate with national and international transaction counsel by utilizing an approach designed to provide the client and its other advisors with seamless access to deep healthcare industry knowledge and experience.
Listed in Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, 2013-2024 Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Securities Regulation, Nashville, 2023 “Lawyer of the Year,” Securities/Capital Markets Law, Nashville, 2020 Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2010-2025 Securities/Capital Markets Law, 2010-2025 Securities Regulation, 2010-2025 Listed in The Legal 500, M&A Powerlist: USA Region, 2023-2024 Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rated NC State College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Distinguished Alumnus Award Represented a financial and strategic advisory firm focused primarily on the healthcare industry, in its sale to a healthcare and higher education management consulting and advisory services firm. Represented a family-owned hospitality business, in its acquisition of a brewery business and taproom. Represented a registered investment advisory firm based in Brentwood, Tennessee, that provides investment management services to nonprofit healthcare, cultural, and other institutions in its sale to a wholly owned subsidiary. Represented one of New England’s premier physician-led organizations dedicated to excellence in clinical care, education and research, career advancement, inclusivity, and well-being in its acquisition of a provider of world-class healthcare simulation for a broad spectrum of providers. Represented a preferred underground utility contractor in the Southeast and Texas, in its sale to a leading provider of infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation and technology-enabled water solutions. Represented the nation’s largest mutual insurer of physicians in its acquisition of a leading medical professional liability insurance company. Represented a rapidly growing mortgage and technology-enabled mortgage solutions company in its recapitalization for $48 million. Represented a technology-enabled healthcare services company in its acquisition of a remote patient monitoring and alert company from its parent company. Represented a leading independent eye care company in its acquisition of an independent, Michigan-based, full-service optical laboratory. The transaction expanded the network with the addition of a state-of-the art, 24,000-square-foot facility. Represented a provider of non-emergency medical transportation, personal home care and nutritional meal delivery in its acquisition of non-emergency transport software assets from a logistics tracking and supply chain management mobile application. Represented the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States in their agreement to acquire a family-owned farm and ranch retailer with 167 stores located across 11 states in the Midwest for $320 million in cash. Represented the founder of a leading solar-power components maker in connection with an initial public offering (IPO) of 88.5 million shares of Class A common stock for a total net proceeds of more than $2.2 billion. Represented one of the largest suppliers of end-to-end pharmaceutical samples management services and portfolio company and its affiliates in its acquisition of a Florida-based, full-service, direct-to-patient (DTP) pharmacy. Represented the only member-owned medical liability insurance company in West Virginia in its sale to one of the leading providers of medical professional liability insurance in the country. The transaction added support to policyholders and expanding their geographic footprint in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. Represented an independent provider of analytics-driven, technology-enabled marketing and communications solutions in its acquisition of an entertainment and influencer marketing agency. Served as regulatory and deal counsel to a leading national specialty pharmacy and a significant provider of infusion pharmacy management services in their sale to a platform company. Represented the nation’s largest manager of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) programs for state government agencies and managed care organizations in its $80 million acquisition of a single source, NEMT benefit management company focused on delivering services to managed care organizations and governmental entities throughout the United States, as well as the extension of its revolving credit facilities from $200 million to $225 million. Represented a nationwide healthcare services organization and a Florida-based subsidiary of a multinational chemical company in its sale of their home infusion assets to a provider of specialty acute and chronic home infusion therapies. Represented client in its merger to create a newly combined company, one of the largest independent home and alternate site infusion services providers in the United States. Represented a nationwide healthcare services organization and a Florida-based subsidiary of a multinational chemical company in an acquisition to expand the client’s respiratory-therapy products and services in eight states. Represented client in an acquisition that added more than 3,200 facilities across 45 states, including the 20 largest for-profit skilled nursing facility chains, to the client’s portfolio. Represented client in its sale of the assets of a specialty pharmacy unit for $40 million and the subsequent closing of the pharmacy operations, which was an important step in the client’s plans to monetize non-core assets as part of its broader turnaround efforts. Served as co-counsel in the sale of a medical distribution company for $800 million; the deal was part of the continuing effort by management to respond to changes in healthcare supply and device distribution. Represented client in connection with the refinancing of its existing term loan and revolving credit facilities totaling $650 million. Represented a leading provider of healthcare price and quality transparency solutions in its sale to a healthcare- focused private equity firm. Represented client in its acquisition of a Nashville-based healthcare data analytics and insights company. The addition furthers the client’s goal to build a portfolio of diverse healthcare technology services. Represented a leading manufacturer of balance of systems solutions in an investment that helped the company expand its international business on its current portfolio, in addition to joining the energy-storage market. Represented a technology-enabled services company that develops revenue growth strategies for hospitals in its merger with a data-driven healthcare digital marketing platform. The merger creates the first two business units of new parent company, which is focused on assembling a syndicate of best-in-class technology, data and marketing solutions to deliver market-specific and patient-level intelligence that helps hospitals find, attract and retain commercially insured patients. Represented a provider of comprehensive personal care services to approximately 34,000 consumers through 110 locations across 24 states in an acquisition of a provider of home care. Represented a healthcare supply chain company in its acquisition of a national full-line home healthcare wholesaler. Represented the management team of one of the nation’s largest diversified media, information and services companies in its sale to an educational and informational TV production and syndication company providing family entertainment. Represented the premier provider of adult day health services in the U.S. in its sale of three adult day care centers in Illinois. Represented the largest rural lifestyle retail store chain in the United States in its acquisition of an Arizona-based retailer of pet supplies and services with 136 stores in 25 states, for $145 million. Represented client, which, together with other investors, acquired a leading provider of merchant acquisition services, credit card/debit card transaction processing services, and payment solutions. Represented client in its sale to a private equity firm. Represented, a Nashville, Tennessee-based investment company that provides capital, operational support and mentoring to early-stage companies across the United States, in a $7 million investment. Represented a leading provider of business centers, electronic displays and other customer-facing technology within hotels in its sale to a private equity firm that invests in middle market companies with between $25 and $150 million in revenue. Represented a leading provider of innovative and intelligent customized payment solutions in its acquisition of a wholly owned subsidiary for an aggregate purchase price of $302.5 million in cash. Advised the management team of one of the country’s largest Medicare Advantage coordinated care plans in its merger agreement for approximately $3.8 billion. Represented client in a merger that created a newly formed entity that is the largest private hospitalist company in the United States with nearly 1,000 affiliated hospitalists and extenders practicing in more than 100 healthcare facilities nationwide. Represented a New York-based specialty insurance company in its merger to create a combined group with more than $1 billion in total assets, more than $625 million in investment assets, and more than $250 million in shareholders’ equity. Advised the largest organization of independent medical, surgical and dental supply distributors in North America, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, in its sale to a Chicago-based private equity firm. Advised an integrated technology-based solutions company serving the financial services industry and based in Atlanta, Georgia, in its merger transaction. Advised the world’s largest parking company in its going-private transaction with a consortium of private equity firms. The transaction included a multi-party shopping process with more than 15 bidding groups and ultimate sale for aggregate consideration of approximately $900 million. Represented an independent committee in considering strategic transactions, including a management buyout through a going-private transaction. The independent committee solicited bids from interested parties, and client ultimately was sold to a strategic buyer.
