Kelly R. Ford practises corporate and securities law, specializing in private mergers & acquisitions and private equity transactions. Kelly represents Canadian and US financial and strategic buyers and business owners with the acquisition and sale of businesses operating in principally the resource, energy services, technology, and food and beverage sectors through share and asset sales, plans of arrangement, and takeover bids. Her practice includes advising financial sponsors on fund formation, advising issuers and hedge funds on shareholder activism matters, and advising emerging businesses with all aspects of routine and transactional corporate and securities matters, including ongoing business planning and governance issues. Kelly founded Bennett Jones Kickstart, a program designed to provide new businesses access to strategic legal advice during critical stages of development. Kelly is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for Corporate Growth, Calgary Chapter, part of a global community of middle-market M&A deal-makers and business leaders focused on driving growth. Prior to joining Bennett Jones, Kelly practised in Vancouver, British Columbia, at a major Canadian law firm.