Kim Decker represents U.S., international and non-profit clients with a wide array of business and transactional needs. Kim takes a uniquely practical, business-focused approach because she understands that her clients need her to provide solutions, not roadblocks. As a result, Kim successfully counsels clients through mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance issues, contracts and negotiations, raising capital, risk assessment and management, public company compliance obligations and bank regulatory issues, partnering with her clients to give practical advice that helps them achieve business goals.
General Counsel
Kim has the rare perspective of having serviced clients and assessed their legal goals and needs as “in-house counsel.” Kim has provided general counsel services to clients, both on site and virtually, filling in for legal departments experiencing gaps in coverage as well acting as “outside” general counsel to many of her smaller, privately held company clients who do not have in-house lawyers. As a result, Kim is in tune with the different service style and legal issue management process that is required in a corporate or private company setting. In addition, Kim’s broad legal experiences make her valuable in this role as she is able to spot issues in a wide variety of areas.
Securities
Kim chairs the firm’s Securities practice and assists companies with public and private debt and equity offerings and the associated registration, exemption and “Blue Sky” requirements. For public company clients, Kim provides advice on all aspects of 1934 Act compliance (annual meetings, proxy solicitations, Sarbanes Oxley, corporate governance requirements, annual and quarterly reports, Section 16, current reports on Form 8-K, etc.).
Mergers and Acquisitions
Kim assists public and private companies as well as non-profit clients with mergers and acquisitions, including both stock and asset transactions, as well as reorganizations. Kim has seen a wide variety of deals and structures, including complex earn-outs, management buy-outs, venture capital investments and the exercise of a so-called “fiduciary out” to pursue a competing transaction.
Banking
In addition to providing general counsel, securities and mergers and acquisitions services to financial institutions, Kim handles financial institution and holding company formations, branch acquisitions, minority investments in financial institutions and regulatory compliance issues for Federal Reserve, FDIC and OCC regulated financial institutions of all shapes and sizes.
Kim’s clients consist of regional, national and international companies, and she has represented public company clients companies listed on all existing stock exchanges. A sampling of clients Kim has represented include an international $1.5 billion, NYSE-listed specialty steel fabricator, a multi-state bank holding company with $18 billion in assets, a regional, NASDAQ-listed telecommunications provider, and an international specialty paper manufacturer. However, a large portion of her client base consists of privately held, regional companies. Kim negotiates a wide variety of complex contractual issues for regional and multinational corporate clients in industries including telecommunications, manufacturing, distribution and education. Kim is a frequent presenter on the topics of contractual issues, the Uniform Commercial Code and administration.
RECOGNITIONS
- Central Penn Business Journal, “Women of Influence”
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Legal Intelligencer’s “Top Women in Law” (2016)
MEMBERSHIPS
- Lancaster Bar Association
- York County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
PRESENTATIONS
- “ESG, DEI and Why You Should Care,” Association of Corporate Counsel’s In-House Lawyer All Day CLE program (2022)
- Featured speaker, NACD’s The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight and Cybersecurity (October 2017)
- “Common Legal Issues You Need to Know”, PA Treasury’s Small Business Initiative at York College (October 2016)
- “Legal Issues Involved in Growing your Business “, PA Treasury’s Small Business Initiative at York College (October 2016)
- “Negotiating Indemnification Clauses, Representations and Warranties and Other “Standard” Contract Terms”, Barley Snyder Business Seminar (October 2015)
- “Loan Sales”, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (November 2013)
- “Corporate Governance: Practical applications and ideas”, Barley Snyder Business Seminar, (October 2013)
- “Dodd-Frank: What’s happening now and what’s to come”, ACC Seminar: What Keeps You up at Night? (September 2012)