Jeffrey M. Keehn
Partner
Jeff Keehn is a corporate attorney who focuses on Maryland corporation law, particularly as it relates to real estate investment trusts (REITs) and registered investment companies. Jeff guides REITs in initial public offerings (IPOs), equity and debt offerings, mergers, hostile takeover attempts, corporate governance, spin-offs, and other transactions. He also represents other business clients in a wide range of corporate law matters, including stockholder meetings, duties of directors, investor rights, conflicts of interest, securities transactions, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and board and committee evaluations.
Related Practices
Related Industries
Experience +
Experience
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Government Experience
Representative Matters
- Served as independent counsel to special committees of the boards of directors of several publicly traded companies, in their consideration and negotiation of strategic alternatives or mergers
- Served as Maryland counsel to a Nasdaq-listed data center REIT in its $15 billion acquisition by a consortium of institutional investors
- Served as Maryland counsel to an NYSE-listed REIT in its $12 billion acquisition of a self-storage REIT
- Served as Maryland counsel to a REIT in its $200 million initial public offering, and $150 million and $180 million follow-on equity offerings
- Served as Maryland counsel to several open-end mutual fund complexes in reorganizations and issues related to Maryland law
- Served as Maryland counsel to a privately held marketing technology firm in a preferred stock offering of $75 million
- Served as Maryland counsel to several REITs in at-the-market offerings and forward sale transactions
- Served as Maryland counsel in the spin-offs of two publicly traded REITs
- Served as Maryland counsel to a REIT in defense of an unsolicited hostile takeover attempt by a competitor
- Served as Maryland counsel to a mortgage REIT in its merger with a special-purpose acquisition company
- Served as Maryland counsel in the first listing of Hong Kong Depository Receipts by a Maryland corporation on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
- Served as counsel to a large hospital system in the overhaul of bylaws and governance documents for a dozen hospitals and affiliates
- Served as counsel to a major BlueCross/BlueShield insurer in relation to board composition and governance matters
Insights +
Insights
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Thought Leadership
November 04, 2024
Protecting REITs under Maryland Law
Protecting REITs under Maryland LawJanuary 18, 2023
Officer Exculpation – Delaware and Maryland
Officer Exculpation – Delaware and MarylandOctober 20, 2022
Bylaw Amendments Related to the New Universal Proxy Rules
Bylaw Amendments Related to the New Universal Proxy RulesRecent News
June 12, 2024
Venable LLP Practice Areas Ranked Top Tier in Legal 500 United States
Venable LLP Practice Areas Ranked Top Tier in Legal 500 United StatesAugust 08, 2022
Venable Client ZeroFox and L&F Acquisition Corp. Announce Closing of Business Combination
Venable Client ZeroFox and L&F Acquisition Corp. Announce Closing of Business CombinationSeptember 01, 2016
Venable represents Merkle Group Inc. in Sale of Majority Stake to Dentsu Aegis Network
Venable represents Merkle Group Inc. in Sale of Majority Stake to Dentsu Aegis NetworkCredentials +
Credentials
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Education
- J.D. cum laude University of Baltimore School of Law 2006
- Member, University of Baltimore Law Review
- M.B.A. University of Georgia 2003
- B.B.A. Emory University 1998
Bar Admissions
- Maryland
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Committee on Corporation Law, Maryland State Bar Association
Recognition +
Recognition
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- Legal 500, Media, Real Estate - Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), 2024