As part of the ongoing build-out of its Corporate Practice, Cozen O’Connor today announced veteran Minnesota attorney Katheryn A. Gettman, who brings nearly two decades of experience as an internal/external corporate counsel, has joined its Minneapolis office. Gettman joins as a member and comes to the firm from Messerli Kramer. In the past two weeks, eleven prominent attorneys have joined the firm’s Corporate Practice, including corporate and technology attorney Frank A. Pugliese, who joined the New York City office, and nine attorneys from Baer Crossey McDemus LLC, a nationally recognized tech and corporate law boutique, who joined the Philadelphia office.

Gettman provides both legal and business guidance to corporations, executives, and private business owners, primarily by acting as their outside general counsel. She advises on mergers and acquisitions, stock sales and asset acquisitions, private placement offerings, and subscription agreements. She also represents investors, handling all aspects related to the private placement and investment of funds, including securities purchases.

With both an M.B.A and B.B.A., she also advises on a wide range of general business matters, from vendor and customer contract negotiations, credit facilities, operations and project financing, and competitor disputes, to intellectual property and software license- master services and web-based services agreements. Her clients are as diverse as her background and include those operating in the healthcare, software, manufacturing, grocery, and investment industries.

“Katie’s background includes serving as both general counsel and a member of the executive team at a highly acquisitive corporation. In that role, she had to wrestle with many of the same business issues our corporate clients face every day,” said Thomas G. Wallrich, who manages Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis office. “As a result, she can quickly size up an issue not just from the legal perspective, but from the business perspective as well. That ability to grasp the big picture makes her a major addition to our team and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the firm.”

Public companies also rely on Gettman’s experience with executive board governance matters, including SEC and exchange rule compliance, Rule 144 and other stock transfer restrictions, 8-Ks, 10-Qs, 10-Ks, and other financial reporting.

“As a full-service firm, Cozen O’Connor offers a legal scope and depth that goes beyond my skill set,” Gettman said. “The ability to interact with and source the firm’s many talented attorneys will help me provide more efficient and timely legal services. The firm’s national footprint also gives my clients access to counsel in other jurisdictions without having to engage another law firm. I’m so happy to be here.”

Gettman earned her M.B.A. and J.D. from Willamette University and her B.A. and B.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.