Bernstein Shur Client Mint Mobile Acquired by T-Mobile for $1.35 Billion

On March 15, 2023, T-Mobile announced its plan to aquire Ka’ena Corporation and its subsidiaries and brands, including Mint Mobile, a national direct-to-consumer prepaid wireless brand partially owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, for up to $1.35 billion. The acquisition marks a proud moment for Bernstein Shur, a New England-based law firm that played a crucial role in the successful journey of its client, an enterprise that now encompasses the brands Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile. The journey began 13 years ago with the review of a contract related to an innovative telecommunications concept.

Enter Kevan Lee Deckelmann.

Deckelmann, now a shareholder and board member at Bernstein Shur, was an associate when she was asked to review a vendor contract for David Glickman, founder and CEO of Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile. The Glickman family had a long-standing relationship with Bernstein Shur shareholder Leonard Nelson, who recommended Deckelmann review the contract due to her expertise in business law and talent for advising entrepreneurs. Since then, Deckelmann has served as outside general counsel for the companies that eventually became Ka’ena Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile.

“The past 13 years have given me a front row seat to watch and participate in the twists and turns a concept takes in becoming a company, an enterprise, and eventually a readily recognized brand,” said Deckelmann. “The tremendous growth of Mint/Ultra has been a touchstone and highpoint of my career.”

For more than 13 years, Deckelmann advised Glickman, CFO Rizwan Kassim, and other leaders at Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile on various legal issues and strategies, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate organization, contracts, media and marketing counsel for a 2020 Super Bowl Sunday advertisement, as well as numerous day to day issues. As the Ka’ena companies experienced growth, their legal requirements also expanded. Deckelmann addressed this by engaging colleagues at Bernstein Shur to offer diverse legal expertise, covering areas such as brand management, litigation, tax, and labor and employment concerns.

“Kevan is a trusted legal partner and has been since the beginning,” said Glickman. “With Kevan, you get an ability to adapt with a growing company and provide strategic direction when legal needs are everchanging. She and the expanded team at Bernstein Shur helped us navigate critical milestones for our companies; it’s been an exciting journey of growth for us, and the Bernstein Shur team was important to our success.”

Deckelmann attributes the success of the unique journey of this client to Glickman, Kassim, and her colleagues at Bernstein Shur. “It’s a dream scenario when a legal team can adapt and grow to meet their demands. Our firm’s strength lies in our colleagues’ ability to solve complex problems with real-world legal and business counsel. We’re also pretty good at balancing compliance and creativity,” said Decklemann.

Forecasting the future, Decklemann formally established Bernstein Shur’s Media and Marketing Group in 2021 to address this ever-changing and heavily regulated space. This group’s experience spans industries including, retail, building supplies, technology solutions, and mobile telecommunications and broadband.

About Bernstein Shur

Founded in 1915, Bernstein Shur is a leading New England-based law firm advising clients across the U.S. and around the world. Our 120+ award-winning attorneys and professionals provide practical and innovative counsel, and practice in more than 20 key areas across a variety of industries. Bernstein Shur is known for simplifying complex issues and winning through steadfast persistence. The firm is Maine’s exclusive member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms. Find out more at www.bernsteinshur.com.