Best Lawyers in California, United States for Securities / Capital Markets Law
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Thomas J. Ivey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Securities / Capital Markets Law. Thomas J., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Barbara A. Jones is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Securities / Capital Markets Law. Barbara A., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Barbara A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ed Wes is a partner in the firm's Business practice, who focuses his practice on emerging growth companies. Ed's practice includes capital formation (including private financings of debt and equity securities, as well as public offerings), mergers and acquisitions and business transactions including joint ventures and technology transfer transactions. In his position as general counsel for many of his clients Ed also oversees the work of litigation and IP law specialists. Ed particularly valu...
Patrick J. Devine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Securities / Capital Markets Law. Patrick J., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mike Hird is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Venture Capital Law. Mike, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mike is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John McIlvery is a founder and Partner of the firm. John is the chair of the firm’s Public Securities Practice group . John’s practice is focused on corporate securities, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, and general corporate and business matters. John McIlvery has represented clients in a wide variety of industries and businesses, including Internet and e-commerce, apparel, medical device, semiconductor, biotech, entertainment, technology and manufacturing. He...
In a capital markets environment characterized by rapid change and necessitating innovation, Gregg A. Noel is highly sought after by U.S. and international issuers, investment banks and financial institutions on a wide range of public and private debt and equity financings. A leader in the West Coast Corporate Group, Mr. Noel focuses his practice on a variety of corporate transactions, including public offerings, private placements, dispositions, acquisitions and corporate restructurings. He ...
David L. Ficksman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Securities / Capital Markets Law. David L., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nathaniel M. Cartmell III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Nathaniel M., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nathaniel M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and leg...
David E. Lillevand is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. David E., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kenton J. King is the partner in charge of Skadden’s Palo Alto office. He serves on the firm’s top governing body, the Policy Committee. Mr. King represents clients in a broad range of corporate and securities law matters, including corporate governance, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investment and capital markets transactions and restructurings. In the United States, Mr. King concentrates on corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions, as well as eq...
Ronald L. Fein is the sole practitioner in RL Fein, Inc. For nearly two decades, Mr. Fein was a senior shareholder of Stutman, Treister & Glatt. He was admitted to the California bar in 1970 Mr. Fein began his legal career as a corporate lawyer with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher until he was appointed as the youngest Chief Deputy Commissioner of the California Department of Corporations by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in 1975. Thereafter, he became the firm-wide Chairman of the Mergers and ...
David C. Lee is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Securities / Capital Markets Law. David C., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Monica Shilling is a transactional partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She has a broad corporate and securities law practice that focuses on advising asset managers, private equity funds, and their portfolio companies on the full lifecycle of transactions. She also represents public companies, financial advisors, investment banks and issuers. She is experienced with mergers and acquisitions, capital markets offerings, leveraged buyouts, general corporate law and cor...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.