Capital Markets
The Capital Markets Group at Skadden advises clients on the full range of public and private financings and consistently is recognized as one of the top advisers on corporate financings and related transactions. Our experience encompasses the complete spectrum of equity, debt and hybrid instruments issued by U.S. and international companies in global markets. In a capital markets environment characterized by rapid change and innovation, our attorneys structure new securities and transactions for clients that enable them to meet their business goals. We represent a diverse range of public and private companies of all sizes, investment banks, private equity firms, and governments and government entities.
Our work is frequently recognized in respected industry publications and rankings:
- Named 2024 Law Firm of the Year for Capital Markets by Best Lawyers Best Law Firms.
- Named a Law360 Capital Markets Group of the Year for 2022.
- Consistently named one of the leading firms globally in capital markets by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Legal 500 and Chambers Latin America, with many of our attorneys individually identified as leaders in the area of capital markets.
- Ranked in the top tier for SPACs in Chambers USA.
- Recognized in the capital markets category in Latin Lawyer’s International Elite list and in Latinvex’s Top International Law Firms survey.
- Recognized in the capital markets (overseas) category at the China Business Law Awards 2023 and in the capital markets (debt and equity) category by Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
- Named International Capital Markets Firm of the Year at the China Law & Practice Awards 2022.
Skadden’s capital markets practice is structured to provide real-time service to our clients. Our global network of attorneys enables us to provide broad geographical coverage for our clients and country-specific advice. Our attorneys speak more than a dozen languages. As transactions often involve elements requiring experience in many areas of the law, we are able to draw upon the resources of Skadden’s diverse range of more than 50 practice areas, including real estate, tax, intellectual property, environmental, executive compensation and benefits, and antitrust and competition.
The group is active in every major global financial center with the ability to provide both U.S. and local law knowledge in several international jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, France and Germany, and U.S. law capability in the United Kingdom, China, Brazil, Canada and Australia. Our attorneys have counseled on a wide variety of transactions in these and other regions, including dual listings and first-of-their-kind transactions.
Our capital markets lawyers have considerable industry-specific experience in a vast range of business sectors, including:
|
|
We also have extensive experience with hedge funds and other alternative investment management vehicles.
Initial Public Offerings
Skadden has advised on some of the largest and most complex initial public offerings worldwide. We also regularly represent companies of all sizes and underwriters in connection with smaller and midsized IPOs, including those of many emerging companies. We integrate members of our securities regulation and corporate governance practice in the early stages of the IPO process to assist our clients with planning and preparing for post-IPO public company disclosure and governance requirements.
Our attorneys advise on IPOs across a broad spectrum of industries and routinely handle high-profile deals that receive significant media attention for their novelty or innovative approach. We have been involved with many first-of-their kind transactions as well as cross-border listings.
Innovation and New Products
Skadden’s Capital Markets Group includes a strong derivatives and financial products practice. We regularly represent issuers, investment banks and other parties in capital markets transactions with embedded derivatives elements and concurrent derivatives transactions, as well as in stand-alone over-the-counter derivatives transactions. Offerings in which we are involved regularly include convertible and exchangeable securities and other equity-linked products, as well as complex debt, equity and structured products. We also advise clients on a wide range of call spread transactions, registered forward contracts and share lending transactions. Skadden is a leader in developing new financial products, where we utilize an interdisciplinary approach to product structuring and execution. We have been involved in the development and evolution of many major innovations in the capital markets, including equity security units, hybrid securities, perpetual notes and many tax-advantaged products.
High-Yield and Investment Grade Debt Offerings
Skadden has represented underwriters and issuers in some of the most notable high-yield debt offerings in recent history, including offerings to finance acquisitions, leveraged recapitalizations and refinancings. We also frequently handle transactions involving a wide range of investment grade debt products.
Private Placements
Attorneys in our capital markets practice regularly advise on private placements of equity and debt securities. Skadden has extensive experience representing issuers and underwriters in private placements of all sizes by corporate issuers, hedge funds, government entities and project finance issuers. The capital markets practice also has represented issuers and investment banks in connection with numerous private investments in public equity (PIPEs) as well as venture capital financings.
Other Transactions
The capital markets practice also has significant experience with other types of transactions. We are active in the formation and operation of private equity funds for a broad range of clients, including sponsors, investors and placement agents. In addition, we have been involved with all types of investment vehicles, including merchant banking and leveraged buyout funds, venture capital funds, bridge funds, “vulture” funds and offshore funds. We also represent highly leveraged companies and other corporate clients in transactions such as divestitures, rights offerings, financial restructurings and recapitalizations, which often include equity offerings, exchange offers, consent solicitations, debt tender offers and spin-offs.