Overview

Kris Ormseth helps clients succeed with their most important transactions. His practical nature, creative problem-solving, years of experience and calmness under pressure help clients achieve positive results in challenging situations. Kris has received numerous awards and rankings as a Corporate and M&A attorney—including 20 consecutive years in Best Lawyers® and its 2024 Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Boise—because he is effective. He listens well. He has an intuitive understanding of what business clients want. With strong interpersonal skills, he quickly builds rapport and respect on both sides of the negotiating table. Most of all, his fanatic focus on what actually matters to his clients helps cut through distractions and navigate to success.

Kris’s skills and experience have led him to several leadership positions. He served as chair of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s and Children’s Alliance, and the Business & Corporate Law section of the Idaho State Bar. Kris was managing partner of the Boise office of Stoel Rives from 2003 to 2009 and from 2012 to 2015.

Kris also serves as outside general counsel for many successful businesses. His practical nature and years of experience both as a corporate lawyer and in hands-on management positions prior to Stoel Rives give him a unique skill set to excel in that role. Kris loves to help business owners craft efficient and effective solutions to their legal challenges.

Education

University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall), J.D., 1991

Stanford University, B.A., 1983

Admissions

Idaho

Experience

Kris focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, LLC agreements and joint ventures, private equity investments and financings, business succession planning, shareholder agreements and other corporate governance matters, and general business advice. He has extensive experience on a wide range of legal and business issues, including advising boards of directors and assisting distressed companies in workout and restructuring transactions. His clients span a range of industries, including agribusiness, energy, technology, health care, manufacturing, real estate development, and financial services.

Agribusiness

  • Representation of the country’s leading supplier of shelf-stable potatoes and beans in the acquisition of two potato processing facilities and related assets in Blackfoot, Idaho.
  • Representation of national food processing company in acquisition of innovative processing line and intellectual property.
  • Advised founder of bovine health monitor technology on various corporate matters.
  • Advised food manufacturer in recapitalization and private equity raise.

Energy

  • Representation of solar developer in sale of 80MW project to affiliate of a global solar panel manufacturer.
  • Led legal transaction team on sale of 120MW solar generating facility in Southern Idaho.
  • Representation of wind farm developer on sale of wind farm operation and long-term property lease.
  • Representation of landowner on sale of wind farm real property.

Development and Natural Resources

  • Representation of real estate developer in Reg D offering for residential condominium development in downtown Boise.
  • Advised real estate developer on structuring joint venture and equity raise for historic redevelopment.
  • Representation of private equity concern with respect to management transition in midstream oil and gas company.
  • Worked with management of oil and gas company to develop new employee incentive program and revised LLC agreement.
  • Representation of large Idaho home builder in sale to national firm.
  • Representation of major construction company in developing employee stock purchase program.
  • Representation of contractor in ownership succession issues.
  • Advised parent company on sale of ski resort and related assets.
  • Representation of major hospital system in structuring real estate ownership joint venture.
  • Representation of homeowner group in sale of key resort assets to new developer.

Healthcare

  • Representation of iVinci Partners, LLC d/b/a VisitPay in a $300 million merger agreement with R1 RCM, Inc.
  • Advised private equity concern on investment in integrated health care provider.
  • Representation of healthcare technology company in negotiating and documenting numerous SaaS licenses.
  • Advised healthcare software developer in structuring and documenting reseller agreement with large national enterprise.
  • Representation of healthcare software company in Series B raise among existing and strategic investors.
  • Advised major hospital system on governance and transactional issues.

Financial and Professional Services

  • Advised successful financial services firm in developing new shareholder agreement.
  • Developed ownership succession model and documentation for professional services firm.
  • Representation of leading attorney in dissolving existing partnership and establishing new firm.
  • Representation of financial advisors in corporate governance and LLC agreement matters.
  • Representation of pioneer pet insurance business in acquisition by leading financial services institution.

Manufacturing and Other

  • Advised next generation family members on ownership transition and governance issues for family-owned business.
  • Representation of tool and die manufacturer in sale of assets.
  • Representation of manufacturer in sale of significant equipment manufacturing division.
  • Advised retailer on sale of real property assets and shareholder recapitalization plan.

Insights

Insights & Presentations

  • Presenter, Pacific Northwest Regional State Tax Seminar, Boise, ID, November 10, 2017

Recognition

  • Named by Best Lawyers® as Mergers & Acquisitions Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Boise, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024; and Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Boise, 2014, 2018, 2021, and 2024
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America® (Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law), 2006–present
  • Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Idaho) by Chambers USA (Corporate/Commercial), 2004–present
  • Listed in Mountain States Super Lawyers® (Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities), 2007–2010, 2013–present
  • Idaho State Bar Association Denise O’Donnell-Day Pro Bono Award, Recipient, 2022
  • Stoel Rives LLP Andrew Guy Pro Bono Award, Recipient, 2021
  • Named one of Idaho’s Leaders in the Law by Idaho Business Review, 2013

Affiliations

Professional

  • Idaho State Bar, Business & Corporate Law Section, former Chair

Civic

  • Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, Chair, 2015
  • Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Board of Directors, 2005–present; President, 2010
  • Treasure Valley YMCA, Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Industries

  • As stated by a corporate client, “I consider Kris an invaluable strategic adviser who spots risks and opportunities as a true business partner. He provides the perfect balance of high-quality work with effectiveness as a negotiator.”

    Another client says he is “highly professional and a superb adviser on both business and legal issues. He’s got an exceptional mind—I am always glad when I follow his advice.”     

    Chambers USA
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