Overview
Kristian (Krist) Werling represents private equity and strategic investors in a wide variety of transactional matters in the healthcare and life sciences industry. In this capacity, he works with cross-disciplinary teams to conduct legal due diligence and execute acquisitions and divestitures, as well as provide ongoing legal services to portfolio companies. Krist is a co-head of the Firm’s Private Equity Practice Group.
Clients look to Krist for his ability to lead teams of lawyers that develop creative transaction structures that enable deals to close. In the healthcare services arena, Krist has particular experience with transactions and joint ventures involving physician practice management, ambulatory surgical centers, specialty hospitals, dermatology, pain management and anesthesia physician practices and dental practice management companies.
Krist had several years of experience serving as in-house counsel to Hospira, Inc., a generic specialty pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer that was sold to Pfizer.
Results
- Windrose Health Investors in the acquisition and sale of Celerion and Medical Knowledge Group as well as its investments in Trumpet Behavioral Health and Lykan Biosciences
- Baxter International in a wide variety of transactions including the acquisition of a portfolio of hemostasis product lines from Mallinckrodt, multiple undisclosed acquisitions of liquid injectable pharmaceutical products, the acquisition of Chatham Therapeutics and strategic licenses with ScinoPharm Taiwan and Merrimack Pharmaceuticals
- Ampersand Capital Partners in the acquisition of New England Peptides, Peptides International, Canopy Biosciences, Zellwerkraft, Adaptas/ETP Ion Detect and Applied Kilovolts, Genome Diagnostics and Sanova Dermatology
- A leading regional Dental Services Organization (DSO) in its sale to a middle-market private equity fund
- Summit Partners in transactions with AdvoServ, Covenant Surgical Partners, Patient Care Management (PCM) and Abode Healthcare
- Calera Capital in its investment in United Dental Partners and Bay State Physical Therapy
- Quad-C Management in its investment in Prism Vision Group and Pharm Olam
- Wildcat Capital Management in its investment in Spring Fertility Management
- Chicago Pacific Founders in its investment in Pinnacle Dermatology
- Frazier Healthcare in its formation of and investment in United Digestive
- Pouschine Cook Capital Management in the acquisition and sale of Golden State Dermatology Management and the acquisition of Southern Dental Alliance
- Enhanced Healthcare Partners in the formation and acquisition of Eventus WholeHealth Management and add-on acquisitions for Prospira PainCare
- Hospital for Special Surgery and Northwestern Medicine in a variety of strategic innovation investments and joint ventures
- Spindletop Capital Management in its investments in San Antonio Pain Management and Sanova Dermatology
- Neurovance in its sale to Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
- Amulet Capital Partners in the formation and investment in Children’s Choice Dental Management
- Alpine Investors in of its investment in Summit Dermatology Partners and the formation of Midwest Vision Partners and acquisition by Midwest Vision Partners of Specialty Eye Institute
- Advent International, a global private equity fund, in the due diligence of inVentiv Health, Inc.
- Surgical Institute of Reading in a strategic transaction with United Surgical Partners
- Aligned Modern Health, a chiropractic physical medicine, acupuncture and functional medicine provider in multiple financing rounds
- OncoMed, an oncology-focused specialty pharmacy, in its sale to Pharmerica
- H.I.G. in the acquisition of Symbion, Inc., a national chain of ambulatory surgery centers by H.I.G. portfolio company, Surgery Partners
Recognitions
- Chambers USA 2021
- The Legal 500 US 2017 and 2019
- LMG Life Sciences, Life Sciences Star, 2016, 2018, 2019
- LMG Life Sciences’ 2015 “Collaboration Deal of the Year,” for representation of Baxalta in a global license and collaboration with Merrimack Pharmaceuticals
- The M&A Advisor, Top 40 Under 40 Legal Advisors 2015
Community
- North Park University Board of Trustees
- American Health Lawyers Association, former chair of the Life Science Practice Group, and editor in chief of the second edition of The Fundamentals of Life Sciences Law: Drugs, Devices, and Biotech
Credentials
Education
Northwestern University J.L. Kellogg School of Management, MBA, 2010
University of Illinois College of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 2002
North Park University Chicago, BA, cum laude, 1999
Admissions
Illinois
