Kenneth Liao

Partner | Corporate

About

Ken has extensive experience in corporate and legal roles for companies ranging from early-stage startups to some of the largest public companies in the world. He regularly works with Founders and executive leadership teams to bring practical legal advice to reduce corporate risk and increase company revenue and profitability.

  • His practice focuses on fractional or outside General Counsel work for early stage and middle market companies, providing advice on business formation, shareholders, partnership and operating agreements, as well as employment agreements and a wide range of commercial agreements, including licensing, supply and distribution agreements especially for technology and cannabis related companies.

    Prior to joining Pierson Ferdinand, Mr. Liao was the Co-Founder and COO of a Fintech startup and Managing Partner of his own law firm. Mr. Liao has also guided numerous startups through their growing pains, through the development of products, business models, revenue streams, securing financing, and finally securing strategic exits for the founders.

    Before switching to the business side, Mr. Liao practiced at Reed Smith LLP and K&L Gates LLP where his practice focused on technology and brand licensing for a number of world-famous brands in technology, retail, apparel, sports, food and beverage, and other industries, negotiating IP rights for household names in numerous jurisdictions around the world. He also maintained a strong secondary focus on technology and trademark centric mergers and acquisitions for deals ranging from several million dollars to billions of dollars. Mr. Liao has also negotiated billions of dollars worth of technology outsourcing agreements on behalf of both operating companies and outsourcing companies.


Practices

  • Cannabis, Hemp & CBD

  • Commercial Transactions

  • Emerging Companies

  • Global Media, Entertainment & Sports

  • FinTech and Blockchain

  • Franchising

  • Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Outsourcing

  • Private Equity and Venture Capital

  • Technology

Admissions

  • New York

  • New Jersey


Education

  • Fordham University, JD, 2014

  • New York University, BA, 2008

Law Firm Experience

  • Reed Smith LLP

  • K&L Gates LLP


Corporate Experience

  • MUNEX360 Inc., Co-Founder and COO

  • Credit Suisse AG, Outsourcing and Commercial Contracting Manager