Vedder Price

Joseph H. Kye

Shareholder

Joseph H. Kye is a Shareholder at Vedder Price.

Mr. Kye practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, corporate, securities and business law. He focuses on middle-market, public and private company transactions and financings. His experience includes structuring, negotiating, documenting and closing all forms of mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital financings, public and private debt and equity offerings, structured financings, joint ventures, international financings and transactions, private equity fund formations, and other corporate and business transactions. He has represented all categories of transactional parties, including sellers, acquirers, management teams, issuers, underwriters, venture capital and private equity funds, family offices and public, private and distressed companies. Mr. Kye serves as the outside general counsel to various closely held corporations.

He has advised companies on a variety of acquisition, financing, and general business and legal issues, including matters involving real estate, securities laws, health care, intellectual property, employee contracts and compensation arrangements, bankruptcy and technology licensing.

Mr. Kye speaks on corporate and M&A matters, including presentations at The Entrepreneurship Institute’s Presidents’ Symposium and the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting. Mr. Kye regularly teaches continuing legal education classes in such areas as mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital and corporate governance/fiduciary duties.

Mr. Kye has previously served on the firm’s hiring committee, the firm’s Diversity Committee and as the Co-Chair of the firm’s summer Associate Program. 

Legal 500 United States has recognized Mr. Kye in the Mergers, Acquisitions and Buyouts—M&A: Middle-Market (sub-$500m) and the Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate and Commercial—M&A: Middle-Market (sub-$500m) categories. He has also been selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in Mergers & Acquisitions from 2013 to 2023.

Mr. Kye is the Chair of the board of directors of Urban Gateways, a Chicago-based non-profit that provides educational services to underprivileged children.  Mr Kye is a member of the Board of Directors of the Chinese American Service League, a Chicago-based non-profit that provides social services and support to immigrant families.  Mr. Kye is also a member of Economic Club of Chicago and a member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle.

Joseph H. Kye

Shareholder

Education

  • University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1997
  • Northwestern University, B.A., 1992

Joseph H. Kye

Shareholder

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, 1997

Affiliations

  • Chairman of the Board of Directors, Urban Gateways
  • Member, Board of Directors, Chinese American Service League
  • Member, Economic Club of Chicago
  • Member, Illinois State Bar Association
  • Member, Korean American Bar Association
  • Member, Northwestern University Leadership Circle

Joseph H. Kye

Shareholder