Karen Higgins Email Address

Founder

Agenus uses the power of the immune system against cancer and other severe immune-mediated diseases to develop innovative treatments

I am the founder of KHV Advisory LLC, a business, strategy and legal advisory firm, serving pre-commercial biotechnology and medical device companies. Over my 20+ years of experience in the industry, I have spent time in the biotechnology practice group of a Boston law firm representing private and public companies, and served as a Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of biotechnology companies. I have substantial experience serving on executive management teams, and have been a key contributor on business and strategic committees, a trusted advisor to Boards, CEOs and other members of the C-suite, and a strong mentor and organizational builder. I have a proven track record of delivering thoughtful and impactful approaches to solving critical issues during transformational processes such as IPOs, international expansion, human resource opportunities, and strategic transactions such as M&A. I was most recently the Chief Legal Officer for Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where I joined pre-IPO and worked with the other members of senior management to build the organization post-IPO, raise additional capital, advance our programs, and close a successful M&A transaction with MorphoSys AG. I have served on the Board of Directors of the ACC-NE, where I served on the Governance and Nominating Committee, President, Vice President, and Chair of the Programs Committee. In these roles I have been responsible for guiding the priorities, initiatives, and operations of one of the most substantial chapters within a global in-house counsel organization. Prior to Constellation, I was the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for Agenus, Inc. Over my ~14 years at Agenus, I built and led the legal function, and I also played a critical role in executing on key initiatives such as the acquisition and integration of 4-Antibody, an international antibody organization, the sale of Agenus' feline leukemia vaccine business, multiple partnering transactions, and complex NASDAQ qualification proceedings. In both biotech organizations I also managed the IP functions. I have dedicated my professional career to working with companies determined to bring scientific breakthroughs to patients. Prior to earning my JD and becoming a lawyer and biotechnology executive, I was an insurance underwriter, and I also earned a B.A., Neuroscience. Intangible skills that colleagues and clients most appreciate: - recruiting & developing exceptional teams - focused execution - strategic mindset - candor - perception