Sarah Solum > Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP > Silicon Valley, United States > Lawyer Profile

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has a women-led and women-dominated capital markets group. It continues to make a strong impression on both sides of the Atlantic and is noted for its connections to start-ups right through to established public companies. It has a particularly strong record with issuers, though has strong relationships with all the major underwriters. In addition, through Silicon Valley partner Pamela Marcogliese the team has extensive expertise in corporate governance and has made an impression in the creation of public benefit corporations. It has continued to be prominent in SPAC IPOs and de-SPAC transactions. New York’s Valerie Ford Jacob is co-head of the global capital markets group and remains active in large-cap and mid-cap equity offerings. In Silicon Valley, Sarah Solum remains a prominent practitioner in tech and SPAC deals. New York partner Michael Levitt is another key member of the group, including in SPAC deals.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has a fine record in bulge-bracket bond offerings. It continues to make an impression in convertible debt and green bond offerings, and boasts a prominent team in New York and Silicon Valley. Well-known for investment grade offerings, it is gaining ground in high-yield debt. It has an exceptional issuer client base, but also gains many engagements from underwriters. The exceptionally experienced Valerie Ford Jacob is global co-head of the capital markets team and consistently advises issuers and underwriters on high-value offerings. In Silicon Valley, Sarah Solum is head of US capital markets and has an excellent record with tech businesses, including advising Oracle on its $7bn SEC-registered offering of senior notes. Michael Levitt is also noted for convertible debt offerings and Silicon Valley/New York partner Pamela Marcogliese for green bonds, among other capital markets offerings and corporate governance engagements.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP‘s team is described as offering ‘excellent client service’ and as ‘very responsive and clear’. The large and steadily expanding corporate advisory and governance practice group is praised for its ‘grasp of corporate governance matters and trends’. Pamela Marcogliese, who ‘gives very client-focused, practical advice’, leads the team out of Silicon Valley and New York alongside capital markets expert Sarah Solum and corporate partner Ethan Klingsberg. Another key team member is counsel Elizabeth Bieber, who provides ‘has an excellent grasp of corporate governance matters’ and regularly advises key clients such as Buzzfeed on corporate governance, capital markets and securities law matters on an ongoing basis. The versatile team spans the country and includes experts on disclosure, securities litigation, shareholder activism defense, executive compensation, capital markets and securities, among other areas. Unless otherwise mentioned, all named practitioners are based in New York.