Stelios Saffos > Latham & Watkins LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
NEW YORK
NY 10020
United States

Position

Stelios G. Saffos, Global Vice Chair of Latham’s Capital Markets and Public Company Representation Practices and Global Chair of the Hybrid Capital Practice, advises many of the world’s leading private equity sponsors, asset managers, financial institutions, and companies on investments and financings at all levels of the corporate structure, from initial public offerings and traditional loan and bond structures through complex structured equity and mezzanine financings.

Stelios advises clients on investments and accessing capital through:

    • Initial public offerings, direct listings, and deSPAC mergers
    • Secured and unsecured high-yield debt offerings
    • Direct lending and other private capital transactions
    • Bridge lending and loan commitments
    • Preferred, growth, and control equity investments
    • Debt exchange offers and tender offers
    • Workouts and restructuring transactions
    • Mezzanine financings

He also serves as a strategic advisor to both domestic and foreign companies with respect to their most sensitive and highest-stakes general corporate, finance, and securities matters.

Stelios provides clients a sophisticated understanding of what is at market, drawing on diverse financing experience and deep relationships with global investment banks, private equity funds, venture capital funds, direct lenders and alternative capital providers, and innovative companies, including high-growth and disruptive entities in the technology, consumer, retail, and healthcare sectors.

Prior to joining Latham, Stelios served as a Judicial Clerk to United States District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez. He is a former member of the firm’s Strategic Client Committee.

Accolades

    • “Knows the market inside and out.”
      “My first call when approaching complex situations. He brings a depth of experience and judgment to deliver exceptional outcomes.”
      “An exceptional lawyer. He has both a strong set of technical capabilities and is very commercial in representing his clients.”
      “An amazing lawyer with terrific knowledge of the market and a commercial approach.”
      Chambers USA 2024
    • “The best lawyer with whom I have ever worked.”
      “Excellent at connecting individuals and institutions across wall street. This is certainly above and beyond what most lawyers do and is additive to any lender’s experience.”
      The Legal 500 US 2024
    • “He is highly intelligent and able to handle complex situations well. Importantly, given his leadership in the market, he has a full grasp of the most cutting-edge concepts.”
      “Stelios is a very bright, savvy and skilled attorney who has an encyclopedic knowledge of his area of expertise.”
      “He has a wealth of knowledge and a vast network to draw on to get things done.”
      Chambers USA 2023
    • “Stelios is my first call when I have a complex deal that needs thoughtfulness, creative structuring, execution and white-glove service.”
      “He has an exceptional knowledge with a level of client service you don’t find everywhere. He is always calm, cool and collected, bringing resolution to difficult situations.”
      “He has established his market standing as a force in the New York capital markets space, displaying strengths in IPOs and high-yield debt, as part of a wide transactional skill set.”
      Chambers Global 2023
    • “Master of craft with market-leading knowledge of capital markets, trends, players, and overall activity.”
      “Within private credit…the gold standard of buy-side counsel particularly for complex transactions.”
      The Legal 500 US 2023
    • Band 1 – Private Credit
      Chambers USA 2024
    • Leading Lawyer – Finance: Capital Markets: High Yield Offerings
      The Legal 500 US 2024
    • Ranked – Capital Markets: Debt & Equity
      Chambers USA 2020-2023
    • “He has an exceptional knowledge with a level of client service you don’t find everywhere. He is always calm, cool and collected, bringing resolution to difficult situations.”
      Chambers USA 2022
    • “He knows everyone and he has a network of people that provides a lot of insight into how people think.”
      Chambers Global 2022
    • USA: Finance: Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt Offerings: Advice to Issuers: “Stelios Saffos has become a big name in the market.”
      The Legal 500 US 2022
    • Recommended Lawyer for Capital Markets: High Yield
      The Legal 500 US 2022
    • “A force in the New York capital markets space.”
      Chambers USA 2021
    • “He has the right combination of encyclopedic knowledge as well as knowing all the right players. He prioritizes us as a client and is excellent in response time. He is also very personable.”
      Chambers USA 2020
    • “An increasingly prominent up-and-coming partner.”
      The Legal 500 US 2020

 

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Finance > Capital markets: global offerings

Latham & Watkins LLP routinely handles high-profile and headline deals in the market, including IPOs, investment grade debt and high-yield debt offerings. Its geographical reach and global reputation provides it with a wealth of clients and top engagements. It has continued to advise on headline offerings from around the world, including from Europe, Israel, Asia and Canada. It remains actively involved in the Israeli market, representing a number of issuers and underwriters on headline offerings. Marc Jaffe and global head of capital markets Ian Schuman are leaders in international offerings. Key figures also include Nathan Ajiashvili , who has a fine record in the life sciences sector, and Stelios Saffos. All are based in New York.

United States > Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

(Leading partners)

Stelios SaffosLatham & Watkins LLP

Latham & Watkins LLP is at the forefront of the high-yield market, being equally strong in both issuer and underwriter side engagements. With a core team of capital markets specialists in New York that have extensive experience in high-yield, it has a range of sector experts in multiple offices around the country, including Houston, Washington DC, Chicago and several California offices. Marc Jaffe is managing partner of the New York office and a rounded capital markets specialist with deep expertise in high yield. Ian Schuman is global head of the capital markets team and another prominent figure in this space, as is Stelios Saffos, who is vice-chair of the global group. Corey Wright is a leading name in high-yield bond and bank financings.

United States > Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Latham & Watkins LLP has an extensive capital markets practice, covering the full range of equity and debt transactions. The firm is widely recognized for its extensive issuer-side relationships, although it is also a major player in underwriter-side engagements. It has also achieved significant growth in investment grade bond deals in recent years, advising on deals worth nearly $93bn during 2023. The firm is active in offerings linked to the funding of acquisitions. Along with New York, the firm has capital markets specialists across its US network, including Chicago, Washington DC and Los Angeles. New York managing partner Marc Jaffe is a major name in equity and debt offerings with Corey Wright bringing extensive knowledge in debt transactions, including high-yield. Global chair of capital markets Ian Schuman has a fine record in convertible debt and high-yield debt offerings. Stelios Saffos and Greg Rodgers are also key names, the latter noted for his expertise in convertible debt. All individuals are based in New York.

United States > Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Latham & Watkins LLP stands out for its strength in both debt and equity offerings, and its balance between issuer and underwriter engagements. It has an outstanding presence in domestic transactions and offerings by non-US issuers. The firm is also unique as an international firm focused on start-ups, growth companies and large listed businesses. With its multi-office strategy, it has remained closely connected to key industries such as technology and life sciences, providing a steady stream of marquee deals. Ian Schuman is global chair of the capital markets practice and Richard Kline heads the technology industry group. Stelios Saffos and Los Angeles partner Greg Rodgers are also key figures, along with Marc Jaffe, Nathan Ajiashvili  and Alison Haggerty. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance

Latham & Watkins LLP offers a broad nationwide corporate governance practice, catering to an array of Fortune 500 companies on a key matters including ESG issues, shareholder proposals, SEC reporting and corporate investigations. The team has deep agency experience, comprising many former SEC senior officials and experienced corporate practitioners. Ian Schuman, Jenna Cooper, Stelios Saffos and Keith Halverstam  jointly steer the practice from New York, brining their comprehensive expertise in various corporate governance matters. Elsewhere, Julia Thompson focuses on company representation and securities regulation matters, while Washington DC-based Joel H. Trotter is distinguished for his ability to handle complex issues arising under the US securities laws.