Public Companies
Providing complete solutions to clients' compliance and transactional needs.
Public companies face a complex environment of regulatory and investor scrutiny. They need an experienced legal team with the depth and versatility to guide them successfully through the maze of rules and regulations that apply specifically to them.
Our corporate governance and compliance lawyers are recognized as leaders in their field. They counsel senior management and boards on a variety of critical issues, including U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure rules, stock exchange requirements, corporate governance, Sarbanes-Oxley, ethics, and proper board procedures. We are also deeply involved in director training programs, authoring a popular guide to governance and disclosure, regular timely updates on emerging issues, and numerous articles in leading publications.
Our transactional lawyers have significant experience in public company mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and equity and debt offerings. We have the depth to handle multiple deals simultaneously for a client. Our deal teams draw on the backgrounds of experienced transactional lawyers with a range of functional specialties, including securities, tax, intellectual property, antitrust, benefits, and labor. This enables us to ensure that deals are structured properly and meet the client's strategic and economic objectives.
Areas of Focus
Capital Markets
Leading public companies and global investment banks seek our representation on the full range of complex capital markets transactions. We have experience with various forms of equity and debt securities offerings, including IPOs, underwritten public offerings, PIPE transactions, Rule 144A private placements, debt and equity securities repurchases, and tender offers. We assist our clients in structuring and executing securities offerings involving common and preferred stock, high-yield and investment grade debt securities, convertible securities, and derivatives and equity-linked securities.
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
We advise clients on all types of arrangements, including:
- Equity plans, such as annual and long-term incentive plans, stock option, restricted stock/restricted stock unit, performance share, and broad-based equity plans
- Executive compensation plans, including deferred compensation, supplemental retirement, severance, and change-in-control plans
- Retirement plans, such as 401(k), defined-benefit, and ESOP plans
- Health and welfare plans, including COBRA and HIPAA compliance
- Other fringe benefits, such as cafeteria and educational assistance plans
- Funding vehicles, including trusts and VEBAs
We are well-versed in SEC executive compensation disclosure requirements and advise public companies on their annual proxy statements and registration statements on Form S-8.
Stockholder Activism
Stockholder activism is an established reality for public companies and can take many forms, including stockholder proposals for governance reforms; environmental, social, and governance and other disclosure demands; requests for board refreshment or representation; strategic demands; or a hostile takeover.
We proactively advise boards and management on governance and disclosure best practices, anti-takeover defense, and stockholder outreach so our clients are in the best position to deter or respond to activists. We also regularly counsel our clients on evaluating, responding to, and defending against activists from the initial contact through public or private resolution or even a proxy contest.
Corporate Governance
We provide practical advice, sound judgment, and broad perspectives to companies, boards of directors, and executives on corporate governance matters. Clients seek our guidance on the latest trends and best practices, including those related to stockholder engagement, proxy advisory firm standards, board oversight of risk management and cybersecurity, executive compensation, New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq governance standards, board and committee charters, corporate policies, and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosure and Sarbanes-Oxley obligations. Clients also turn to us when responding to whistleblower complaints, government investigations, and stockholder activism. Our advice to clients is informed by our experience resolving complex and novel issues with government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC.
Our Team
Public Chatter
