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Kenneth J.
Najder

Position
Partner
Office
New Orleans

Ken Najder is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He represents public and private companies regarding a variety of corporate and securities law matters.


Ken concentrates his practice on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital transactions, joint ventures, and corporate governance.

Ken’s securities law practice includes counseling public companies regarding their disclosure obligations, private placements for venture-stage companies, and public debt offerings and tenders. Ken has acted as lead securities counsel to companies in offerings that have raised nearly $30 billion.

In recent years, Ken has represented a wide array of buyers and sellers of businesses — ranging from small, privately held ventures to large, publicly traded companies — in several industries, including the telecommunications, technology, chemicals, media, shipping, construction, food, oil and gas, energy, engineering, consulting, banking, financial services, and manufacturing sectors.

Ken advises clients on a broad range of corporate law and governance issues, and regularly acts as board counsel to public and private companies, including advising on executive compensation and corporate restructurings. He also has extensive experience designing anti-takeover defenses and with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Ken and Jones Walker were featured in The American Lawyer as architects of CenturyLink's anti-takeover measures, thwarting Alltel's 2001 hostile bid, and as co-counsel to CenturyLink in connection with its 2009 acquisition of Embarq and its 2011 acquisitions of Qwest and Savvis.

He is an adjunct professor of law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he teaches a class on securities regulation.

Noteworthy

  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Securities Regulation, New Orleans, Louisiana (2021)
  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Corporate Law, New Orleans, Louisiana (2018 and 2020)
  • New Orleans Magazine, Top Lawyer (listed annually since 2017, also listed in 2013)
  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Corporate Law and Securities/Capital Markets Law, New Orleans, Louisiana (2016)
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Securities & Corporate Finance (listed annually since 2013)
  • Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A (listed annually since 2010)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation (listed annually since 2005)
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell

Publications

  • "Every Minute Matters: How Good Meeting Minutes Protect Companies and Their Directors from Bad Outcomes," Louisiana Bar Journal, June/July 2021
  • "The Role of Minutes in Protecting Companies and Their Directors," Private Company Director, April 2021
  • "Sustainability-Linked Bonds: A New Way to Connect Business, ESG Goals," New Orleans CityBusiness, February 15, 2021
  • "A Short Primer on the Heated Debate Over Corporate Governance," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Client Alert, November 2, 2020
  • "Beyond the Blog — COVID-19 Recap — October 25, 2020," Jones Walker LLP Disaster Prep & Recovery Client Alert, October 25, 2020
  • "Louisiana Legislature Adopts Amendments To Louisiana Business Corporation Act," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Client Alert, October 19, 2020
  • "SEC Amends Rule 15c2-11, Enhancing Retail Investor Protections and Modernizing the Standards Governing Quotations for OTC Securities," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Client Alert, October 8, 2020
  • "The Role of Minutes in Protecting Companies and Their Directors," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Client Alert, September 16, 2020
  • "It’s Time to Review Your Bylaws and Anti-Takeover Protections," Jones Walker LLP Banking & Financial Services Newsletter, July 30, 2020
  • "It’s Time to Review Your Bylaws and Anti-Takeover Protections," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Client Alert, July 21, 2020
  • "SEC Simplifies Disclosure Requirements for Certain Registered Debt Offerings," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Client Alert, April 8, 2020
  • "Louisiana's Governor Signs Proclamation Regarding Virtual-Only Shareholder Meetings," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Client Alert, April 1, 2020
  • "NYSE Amends Proposed Corporate Governance Rules," Jones Walker LLP Corporate and Securities EZine, May 8, 2003
  • "SEC Proposes Audit Committee Standards," Jones Walker LLP Corporate & Securities EZine, January 2003

Presentations

  • "Buying & Selling a Business in Uncertain Times," Sterling Education Services, Inc. Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 4, 2009

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Association for Corporate Growth – Louisiana Chapter, Director 2008 to date; Officer (2010–to date)
  • Lakeshore Crime Prevention District, commissioner (2005–to date)
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Various other Community Associations, Director/Officer (1997–to date)
black and white headshot of Kenneth J. Najder
New Orleans
201 St. Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA 70170-5100
D: 504.582.8386
F: 504.589.8386
Emailknajder@joneswalker.com

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law
    JD, 1985
    Journal of Law and Politics, Member, Editorial Board, 1983-1984, and Senior Editorial Board, 1984-1985
  • University of Virginia
    BA, BS, summa cum laude, 1982
    Phi Beta Kappa; Echols Scholar

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana

Related Practices

  • Corporate
  • Corporate Governance
  • Emerging Companies
  • Maritime Restructuring
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Public Companies
  • Securities
  • Telecommunications & Utilities
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