Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli has welcomed Andrew J. Merken as a new shareholder to the firm’s Boston office. Merken is a highly experienced venture capital, general corporate, M&A and securities attorney with a focus on corporate and transactional matters for a wide variety of clients covering the entire business life cycle, from start-up to seed and venture stage to growth stage and exit. He has particularly deep experience in the life sciences industry (biotech, medical devices, digital health, pharmaceuticals and health care), and his hiring reflects the firm’s continued expansion of its Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies Practice and its dedicated Life Sciences Team.

“Life sciences continues to be an area of growth for Polsinelli as we serve clients across their transactional, intellectual property, health care regulatory, litigation and real estate needs,” said Patrick C. Woolley, Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department and Life Sciences Team. “There are few industries that see this level of innovation, movement and growth, and we have built a sophisticated team helping clients navigate those complex situations. We just recently added biotech Counsel Brian Larivee in Boston and are pleased to expand our team there again with Andy.”

“Andy is a great addition to our dedicated practice focused on the entire ecosystem around venture-backed and early-stage companies, especially in the life sciences sector, which is a major focus for us here in Boston,” said Matthew Eckert, Co-Chair of Polsinelli’s Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies Practice.

Merken added: “I am beyond thrilled to have joined such an entrepreneurial, client-centric and collaborative firm. Polsinelli’s resources, in terms of its talented professionals, geographic reach, and specialty areas, will allow me to better support my clients as their needs grow and get more complex. I am looking forward to introducing my clients to the Polsinelli team and to making the transition for them as seamless as possible.”

Prior to joining Polsinelli, Merken served as co-chair of the Life Sciences practice and also the Securities & Capital Markets practice at a Boston-based firm. In addition to working with entrepreneurs and growth companies, he also represents venture capital funds, angel investors, family offices and private foundations in investing in and/or collaborating with their portfolio companies and has also represented investment banks in public offerings, private placements and M&A transactions. Beyond his broad and deep client base in the life sciences and high-tech industries, Merken helps guide clients in industries such as energy, consulting, real estate, professional services and food services. He received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and holds a B.A., cum laude, from Tufts University.

Merken is deeply committed to supporting industry, professional and non-profit organizations, currently serving as a member of the board of advisors of the Derby Entrepreneurship Center at Tufts, the board of directors of the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) New England Chapter, the council (board of directors) of the Boston Bar Association and is helping to restart the Penn Law Alumni Boston chapter.

With a focus on the emerging company market, Polsinelli has helped launch and grow hundreds of businesses. Recognized by Pitchbook as one of the most active law firms by deal volume in the US and globally, Polsinelli’s interdisciplinary team is experienced and equipped to guide clients through every stage of growth, from pre-launch to initial funding, through IPOs, mergers and exits.

Polsinelli’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice is focused on representing investment funds and venture-backed companies across a range of industry verticals, with a special concentration on disruptive technology, consumer, food and beverage, health care and biotech/life sciences. While primarily focused on growth and later-stage equity, we routinely represent seed funds and start-ups, and other pre-Series A companies. The team’s approach and processes allow clients to receive thorough and diligent counsel, but with the speed, pace and economics that venture capital requires.