Keema Givens

Keema Givens is an associate in the firm’s Private Equity group. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, and general corporate and securities matters. Keema represents public and private companies in a variety of US and cross-border transactions, with an emphasis on advising private equity funds in the purchase, ongoing representation and sale of portfolio companies. Her experience includes structuring, negotiating, documenting and closing complex transactions, including mergers, stock and cash acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, spin-offs, de-SPACs, take-privates, joint ventures, internal reorganizations, incentive equity arrangements and other strategic matters.

Keema advises clients across a broad range of industries, including technology, communications, energy, utilities, healthcare and life sciences, consumer products, retail, manufacturing, industrials and aerospace. Her representations have included, among others:

• Webster Equity Partners in its sale of a majority stake in CenExel Clinical Research, Inc., a leading clinical research site network focused on complex therapeutic areas, to BayPine LP
• The Halifax Group in its leveraged buyout of Universal Air Conditioner, a designer and distributor of aftermarket HVAC equipment
• A global technology and leading semiconductor company in its acquisition of an Israel-based developer of real-time continuous optimization software*
• PPL Corporation, a leading energy company, in its:
  • $10.8 billion sale of its U.K. utility business, Western Power Distribution Plc, to National Grid, a multinational electricity and gas utility company*
  • $3.8 billion acquisition of The Narragansett Electric Company, Rhode Island's primary electric and natural gas utility, from National Grid*
• Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare company, in its:
  • acquisition of Apixio, Inc., a healthcare analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology solutions company*
  • acquisition of Magellan Health, Inc., a behavioral healthcare company, at an enterprise value of $2.2 billion*
• Hexaware Technologies Limited, a leading global provider of digital products and solutions, in its acquisition of Softcrylic LLC, a data consulting company, including the structured acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of an affiliate*
• Amicus Therapeutics, Inc., a global biotechnology company, in its announced, but terminated, ~$400 million sale of its gene therapy business to ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp IV (a SPAC), through a de-SPAC transaction and associated ~$200 million PIPE financing transaction for the once-prospective formation of a next-generation genetic medicines company*
• CAR Group Limited (f/k/a carsales.com Ltd) (“CAR”), a digital marketplace company, in connection with its:
  • $624 million acquisition of a 49% stake in Trader Interactive, LLC (“Trader Interactive”), a leading online advertising and marketing solutions company, and a call option grant to CAR*
  • subsequent $809M acquisition of the remaining 51% of Trader Interactive, triggered by CAR’s exercise of its option*
• Digital Media Solutions LLC, a digital marketing solutions company, in connection with its $757 million business combination with Leo Holdings Corp. (a SPAC) through a de-SPAC transaction to form Digital Media Solutions, Inc. (“DMS”), a leading provider of technology enabled digital performance advertising solutions*
• DMS in its:
  • acquisitions of Aimtell, Inc. (“Aimtell”) and PushPros.com, Inc. (“PushPros”), sister companies specializing in mobile and web-based push notification technology and solutions (as part of this transaction, DMS also acquired affiliated entity Aramis Interactive, LLC, a network of owned-and-operated websites that leverages the Aimtell technology and PushPros relationships)*
  • acquisition of the assets of Crisp Marketing, LLC (d/b/a Crisp Results), a digital performance advertising company*
• GIC, a Singapore foreign sovereign wealth fund, in its ~$15 billion (including assumed debt) take-private of STORE Capital Corporation (a REIT), alongside Oak Street, a division of Blue Owl and one of the largest investors in net lease real estate*
• A leading computer drive manufacturer and data storage company in connection with its decision to split the company*
• A satellite-based product and solutions company in its negotiations of satellite procurement and services agreements*
• A semiconductor company in its proposed, but terminated, acquisition of a hardware and software solutions company through a targeted auction sale*
• A global transportation solutions company in connection with its intercompany arrangements and related party transactions, structured to optimize corporate tax structures in light of transfer pricing and related considerations*
• A global business solutions provider (target company) in connection with a proposed, but terminated, sale by a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) of its minority stake in the target company and the sell-down of certain securities of the target company*
• A leading management consulting firm in its proposed, but terminated, acquisition of a private equity-owned integrated hardware and software solutions company*
• An investment firm in its proposed, but terminated, acquisition of a data analytics and market research solutions company and associated formation of a pooled investment vehicle*
• A private equity firm in its proposed, but terminated, acquisition of a stake in a foreign-owned company and associated formation of a pooled investment vehicle*
• A non-energy company in connection with its tax-advantaged transactions in the renewable energy sector, including investments for the operation of refined coal processing plants to generate federal income tax credits based on production level*

*Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

Keema’s pro bono practice focuses on advising nonprofit organizations on various corporate and contractual matters, including (i) entity formation, mission development and corporate governance; (ii) formation and operation of venture capital funds, venture builders, incubators and accelerators; (iii) mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions; (iv) and corporate reorganizations, internal restructurings and related party transactions. Keema has counseled pro bono clients on (i) debt, equity and hybrid investments; (ii) grants and stock donations; (iii) fiscal sponsorships and strategic partnerships; (iv) innovative funding structures for students and nonprofits, including income-contingent and long-term equity capital; and (v) tax exemption applications and compliance.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Keema was an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

During law school, Keema served as the President of the Business Law Society, a Senior Editor for the Howard Human and Civil Rights Law Review and a Contracts Teaching Assistant.

Student Honors Intern, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2018).

Summer Legal Associate, Morgan Stanley (2017).

Judicial Internship, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Honorable Judge Emmet Sullivan

Panel Member, Howard University School of Law Alumni Panel for First-Gen Orientation Program (2025).

Scholarship Judge, inaugural Student Freedom Initiative (SFI”) FREEDOM Video Competition (2024). Keema previously assisted in the formation of SFI, a nonprofit that works to reduce the racial wealth gap by providing students at Minority Serving Institutions with a student-centric, pay-it-forward alternative to educational debt, as well as career pathways and institutional capacity-building. Its innovative Student Freedom Loan Agreement and related programs help increase students’ social and economic mobility while reinvesting repayments to support future generations. Learn more at https://studentfreedominitiative.org/.*