About Capital Markets

“The group wins widespread praise for its excellent service and ‘strong talented lawyers who respond instantaneously.’ Sources also admire the practice because it ‘truly values and invests in its relationships with clients.’”

— Chambers USA

Blank Rome’s Capital Markets practice combines our attorneys’ experience in corporate, securities, and tax law matters with the business acumen required to help our clients succeed. We understand the underlying business transaction as well as the complex regulatory framework that governs the way offerings are made in today’s marketplace. This combination of legal and business experience gives us a unique understanding of the transaction and the legal implications of structuring securities offerings.

Leveraging fundamental regulatory insight, extensive industry experience, and a nuanced understanding of our clients and their stakeholders, we help clients seize the market opportunities they seek, manage potential risk with precision, and help drive maximum value overall.

Blank Rome is a trusted long-term partner, offering guidance from the initial public offering (“IPO”) through the public company life cycle. Our comprehensive acumen and insight enable us to support public companies across financings, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate governance, and Securities Exchange Act of 1934 reporting, as well as everyday legal matters as they arise.

Our attorneys act as trusted advisers and securities counsel for public companies across a broad range of industries. We offer proactive, targeted advice informed by daily monitoring of legal and regulatory developments. We deliver exceptional guidance at every stage, with wide-ranging knowledge of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting and disclosure obligations, all entrenched within a clear understanding of the priorities of public company leadership.

Additionally, our attorneys have relevant experience in all areas of capital raising and regulatory compliance, including SEC registered and unregistered offerings; securities disclosure requirements applicable to well-known seasoned issuers, large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, small reporting companies and emerging growth companies; exchange listings and compliance; SEC compliance; and state securities or blue-sky laws.

Our attorneys provide strategic guidance throughout the full spectrum of capital formation, from initial seed funding and growth equity to hybrid and mezzanine financings, public market transactions, and private equity transactions. By drawing upon critical regulatory experience, specific industry knowledge, and a sophisticated understanding of our clients and their stakeholder dynamics, we facilitate the timely execution of market opportunities, deliver rigorous risk evaluation, and help generate the achievement of superior financial outcomes.

Additionally, a critical dimension of Blank Rome’s Capital Markets practice involves representing investment banks in various capacities, including serving as underwriters, agents, financial advisers, and providers of fairness opinions. These roles require a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and industry standards. In particular, it is essential for us to incorporate Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) guidelines to ensure compliance, transparency, and integrity throughout the transaction process, thereby safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.

When our clients’ needs extend beyond core governance and securities matters, Blank Rome offers access to a broad range of complementary services and comprehensive industry experience across our firm. Our firm-wide capabilities include intellectual property, tax, real estate, energy, environmental, transportation, maritime, retail, cannabis, gaming, securities, business litigation, and more, ensuring comprehensive support tailored to each client’s unique challenges.

How We Can Help 

Equity Offerings

  • IPOs
  • Underwritten and best-efforts public offerings and registered direct offerings (“RDOs”)
  • At-the-market (“ATM”) offerings
  • Special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”)
  • Private investment in public equity (“PIPE”)
  • Rule 144A/Regulation S offerings
  • Direct listings
  • Other private placements

Debt/Preferred Stock Offerings

  • High-yield debt
  • Investment-grade debt
  • “Baby bonds”
  • Convertible debt
  • Preferred stock

In addition to transactional representations, Blank Rome’s attorneys regularly serve as trusted counsel to reporting company clients and audit and special committees.

With a focus on collaboration across disciplines and providing integrated, practical solutions, we advise management teams and boards of directors and special committees on the wide array of corporate governance and regulatory issues they face at crucial points in the company life cycle. These issues range from “early days” guidance on board composition, including leadership structures, director independence, and qualifications, to general securities compliance and disclosure issues, including the preparation and review of their annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports, proxy statements, consent solicitations, and other filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to high-stakes matters for more mature companies, including proxy contests and shareholder rights issues, white collar defense and investigations, and securities litigation and enforcement.

Additionally, our attorneys assist our reporting company clients and serve as special committee counsel for a variety of matters, including:

  • Corporate governance and fiduciary matters
  • Securities disclosure and related issues
  • Exchange listings
  • Dodd-Frank
  • Proxy contests and activist shareholder matters
  • Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
  • Executive and employee agreements, compensation, and benefits
  • Audit compensation and special committee representation
  • Claw-back, insider trading, and cybersecurity policies

What Sets Us Apart

  • 2026 Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” (Woodward/White, Inc.) ranked Blank Rome Tier 1 for Corporate Law in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Highly ranked for Corporate Law nationally and regionally in Houston and New York City.
  • Chambers USA 2025 ranked our firm Band 1 for Banking & Finance in Philadelphia (PA) and Surrounds.
  • Chambers USA 2025 ranked Blank Rome for its Corporate/M&A work and noted that clients say:
    • “skilled in the middle market space, they are efficient and effective in handling many different types of transactions.”
    • “Their service and responsiveness are top-notch and immediate.”
  • 2025 Legal 500 United States ranked Blank Rome as a Recommended Firm in M&A/Corporate and Commercial: M&A: Middle-Market.

Key Contacts

Yelena M. Barychev

Yelena M. Barychev

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5737
Hank Gracin

Hank Gracin

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5362
Leslie Marlow

Leslie Marlow

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5358
Melissa Palat Murawsky

Melissa Palat Murawsky

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5732
Robert A. Petitt

Robert A. Petitt

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1219
Brad L. Shiffman

Brad L. Shiffman

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5442
Emanuel J. Adler

Emanuel J. Adler

Senior Counsel

Michael S. Andreasen

Michael S. Andreasen

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1211
Caitlin E. Barrett

Caitlin E. Barrett

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1215
Max M. Borg

Max M. Borg

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1213
Linsey B. Bozzelli

Linsey B. Bozzelli

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5727
Stephen D. Brook

Stephen D. Brook

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1188
Thomas E. Carroll

Thomas E. Carroll

Associate

New York, NY+1.212.885.5149
Ashley N. Catalano-Leckerman

Ashley N. Catalano-Leckerman

Associate

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5441
Robert Y. Chow

Robert Y. Chow

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1189
Michael Carl Cohen

Michael Carl Cohen

Senior Counsel

Los Angeles, CA+1.424.239.3455
Kipp B. Cohen

Kipp B. Cohen

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5451
Frank A. Dante

Frank A. Dante

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5645
Francis E. Dehel

Francis E. Dehel

Senior Counsel

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5532
Brendan D. Delany

Brendan D. Delany

Partner

Washington, D.C.+1.202.420.2276
Alexander J. Dondershine

Alexander J. Dondershine

Associate

New York, NY+1.212.885.5496
Dennis M.P. Ehling

Dennis M.P. Ehling

Partner

Los Angeles, CA+1.424.239.3423
Emanuel Faust

Emanuel Faust

Partner

Washington, D.C.+1.202.420.3127
Lauren Medeiros Forster

Lauren Medeiros Forster

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1210
Sarah H. Frazier

Sarah H. Frazier

Partner

Houston, TX+1.713.632.8691
Timothy A. French

Timothy A. French

Partner

Princeton, NJ+1.609.750.2992
John A. Gibbons

John A. Gibbons

Partner

Washington, D.C.+1.202.420.3644
Adam P. Haft

Adam P. Haft

Associate

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5741
Alison R. Harrall

Alison R. Harrall

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1216
Nicole M. Islinger

Nicole M. Islinger

Partner

Washington, D.C.+1.202.420.2261
Cory G. Jacobs

Cory G. Jacobs

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5481
Michael A. Kadlec

Michael A. Kadlec

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5587
David H. Kaufman

David H. Kaufman

Senior Counsel

New York, NY+1.212.885.5073
Jonathan T. Keen

Jonathan T. Keen

Partner

Los Angeles, CA+1.424.239.3487
Stephen C. Koval

Stephen C. Koval

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5463
Rebecca R. Kuritzkes

Rebecca R. Kuritzkes

Associate

Dallas, TX+1.972.850.1479
Jodi L. Lashin

Jodi L. Lashin

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5229
Samuel D. Levy

Samuel D. Levy

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5352
Robert J. Mittman

Robert J. Mittman

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5555
Kenneth R. Morrow

Kenneth R. Morrow

Senior Counsel

Washington, D.C.+1.202.420.4766
Cassandra G. Mott

Cassandra G. Mott

Partner

Houston, TX+1.713.632.8693
Michael S. Mullman

Michael S. Mullman

Senior Counsel

New York, NY+1.212.885.5517
Stephen M. Orlofsky

Stephen M. Orlofsky

Partner

Princeton, NJ+1.609.750.2646
Rachel A. Packer

Rachel A. Packer

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5414
David E. Parsly

David E. Parsly

Partner

Los Angeles, CA+1.424.239.3406
Ira H. Polon

Ira H. Polon

Senior Counsel

Washington, D.C.+1.202.420.2238
Louis M. Rappaport

Louis M. Rappaport

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5647
Jeffrey R. Richter

Jeffrey R. Richter

Senior Counsel

Malcolm I. Ross

Malcolm I. Ross

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5141
James A. Sanderson

James A. Sanderson

Associate

New York, NY+1.212.885.5327
Peter Schnur

Peter Schnur

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5435
Adam R. Seiden

Adam R. Seiden

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5425
Rachel M. Smaler

Rachel M. Smaler

Associate

Los Angeles, CA+1.424.239.5611
Scott R. Smith

Scott R. Smith

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5303
Joshua L. Strober

Joshua L. Strober

Partner

Philadelphia, PA+1.215.569.5491
Josef B. Volman

Josef B. Volman

Partner

Boston, MA+1.617.415.1223
Thomas R. Westle

Thomas R. Westle

Partner

New York, NY+1.212.885.5239
Maggie (Qi) Zhang

Maggie (Qi) Zhang

Legal Consultant

Shanghai+86 21 5178 5216

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