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Kerra J. Melvin

Partner
About

Kerra Melvin’s practice focuses on securities and corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate counseling, with an emphasis on the representation of emerging growth companies and venture capital firms. In addition to advising clients on general corporate governance matters, Kerra has experience in corporate formations, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and venture capital fund formation and operational matters. Kerra represents early stage, venture-backed companies, as well as venture capital funds and other corporate investors and acquirers.

Bar admissionsWashington

EXPERIENCE

Transactional Experience

Selected Financings

  • Eclypsium US$25 million Series B financing
  • Alitheon US$10 million Series A financing
  • Boox US$9.3 million Series A financing
  • Launch Therapeutics Series A financing
  • Rhino HealthTech US$5 million Series Seed financing and US$6.7 million extension Series Seed financing
  • TomboyX US$17 million Series B financing
  • Adaptive Biotechnologies $345M Initial Public Offering

Selected Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Sale of Stratos Genomics to Roche Molecular Systems
  • Sale of Twistle to Health Catalyst
  • Sale of Cornerstone Advisors to Pathstone
  • Sale of AnsweriQ to Freshworks
  • Sale of LeaveLogic to Unum Group
  • Sale of SignalSense to Splunk
  • Acquisition of Sequenta by Adaptive Biotechnologies

Kerra represents or has represented such companies as:

  • Alitheon
  • Boox PBC
  • Eclypsium
  • Launch Therapeutics
  • Plus
  • Reischling Press
  • Rhino HealthTech
  • Soovu Labs
  • Stratos Genomics
  • TomboyX

Kerra represents or has represented such venture capital firms and investment banks as:

  • Madrona Venture Group
  • Maveron 
  • PenderFund Capital
  • Qiming
  • Rx3
  • SCP
  • SignalFire
  • Wave Capital
Education
  • J.D., University of Washington School of Law 2013
    Editor in Chief, Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts
    with honors
  • B.S., Business and Information Technology, Montana Tech of The University of Montana 2009
    Valedictorian

Bylines

  • "Technology, Travel Companies & Taxation: Should Expedia Be Required to Collect and Remit State Occupancy Taxes on Profits from Facilitating Hotel Room Rentals?," 8 Wash. J.L. Tech. & Arts 43 (2012)
  •  Co-author, "Understanding Section 280G and Golden Parachute Payments," The Venture Alley (September 5, 2012)

Prior Experience

Previously, Kerra worked as a Summer Associate at DLA Piper.

Kerra also served as a legal extern with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, as a law clerk with the United States Department of Justice—Tax Division and as a tax research assistant for the United States Senate Finance Committee.

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