Best Lawyers in America for Securities / Capital Markets Law

Cliff’s diverse clientele include governmental agencies and a full range of businesses from start-up companies to large corporations in a variety of industries including healthcare, professional services, technology, construction, real estate, oil and gas and publishing. His work encompasses mergers and acquisitions; private equity offerings; venture capital and debt financings; general contracting; and general corporate counseling. Cliff frequently acts as an outside general counsel an...

Ernie Reigel, who served as chairman of the firm for 15 years, brings to his blue-chip domestic and international corporate clients sophisticated counsel on mergers and acquisitions, as well as other business matters. For over three decades of practice, Ernie has represented both public and private companies in a wide range of transactions, including, most recently, the sale of a publicly held company to a foreign buyer and the purchase of the U.S. division of a Japanese-owned public company ...

Tracy Thompson is a partner in the firm's Birmingham office. Her practice is concentrated in the corporate and securities area and includes mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, private placements of equity and debt securities, and general corporate advice. Most of her time is spent representing clients in stock or asset purchase or sale transactions and mergers. Tracy also regularly advises clients with regard to drafting and negotiating buy-sell, partnership and operating agreements, corp...

David Birke serves as co-chair of Akerman’s M&A and Private Equity Practice Group. David’s practice focuses on representing private equity funds, family offices and their portfolio companies in complex acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, restructurings, growth capital investments, and debt and equity financings. David’s wide ranging practice also encompasses representing other private and public companies with corporate governance, joint ventures, executive co...

Pippa Bond is a capital markets partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She has extensive experience in corporate finance and securities, including leveraged buyouts, acquisitions and restructurings. Pippa acts as counsel to issuers, sponsors and underwriters in registered public offerings, block trades and private placements of debt and equity securities, as well as tender offers and consent solicitations. Pippa also counsels institutional and corporate clients with re...

Mark is the Chair of the firm's Financial Services & Products Group, focusing on the representation of banks and other financial institutions, as well as real estate investment vehicles, such as REITs. Mark assists these companies with private and public securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, underwritings, corporate formations and restructurings, recapitalizations, corporate governance and a host of related complex regulatory issues. In the current economic cycle, Mark has worke...

Elizabeth Kemery Sipes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Securities / Capital Markets Law. Elizabeth Kemery, who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth Kemery is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Technology firms, manufacturers, beverage companies, health care companies, nonprofits, and oil and gas companies have all benefited from John’s thoughtful, pragmatic strategic direction on corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and agreements, and debt and equity financings. Whether you’re looking to raise capital, finance growth, or negotiate an acquisition agreement, John has the experience and acumen to help you meet your business goals. Joh...

William McLucas is one of the most sought-after advisors to public companies, boards of directors, audit committees and special committees dealing with corporate crises and related issues. He joined the firm after serving for more than eight years as Director of Enforcement for the Securities and Exchange Commission—longer than any other Enforcement Division Director in Commission history. He represents public companies, investment banks, accounting firms and advisors to mutual funds fa...

Suzi Clawson is a shareholder and corporate attorney in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Columbia office, where she focuses her practice on advising corporate governance matters, including corporate governance documents, committee charters and governance principles, director and committee independence, related party transaction issues and fiduciary duties of directors. Suzi also has extensive experience representing both public and private issuers, while also advising public and private company clie...

Marlon Kimpson represents victims of corporate malfeasance, from investors in securities fraud cases to consumers harmed by large data and privacy breaches, as well as people injured or killed in catastrophic incidents. Building upon the firm’s relationships with unions and governmental entities, Marlon represents individuals, state and municipality pension funds, multi-employer plans, unions and other institutional investors in securities fraud class actions and in mergers and acquisit...

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.

Mr. Lebrecht represents company clients primarily in the areas of corporate finance (including private placements, public offerings, and Securities and Exchange Commission and blue sky compliance), public company disclosure (including ’33 Act registrations and ’34 Act reporting requirements), and mergers and acquisitions (including asset and stock purchases and restructurings). He also represents individual directors, and boards of directors, with respect to corporate governance, ...

Irving H. Berliner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Gaming Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Irving H., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Irving H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jay T. Taylor is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate/Commercial Transactions Practice Group. Jay’s practice is focused heavily on commercial financing transactions. Jay has substantial experience structuring and closing New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) transactions, renewable energy tax credit transactions, low-income housing tax credit transactions and conventional commercial real estate and commercial/industrial lending transactions. Jay is nationally recognized as a qualified acti...

Bryan Ives is co-chair of the Firm’s Corporate Transactions & Securities Group and has recently concluded a 4-year term on the Firm’s management committee and service as the Firm’s Financial Partner. Bryan has deep experience in a wide range of areas, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, taxation and corporate governance, and debt and equity financing. Bryan began his career as a tax lawyer and is a member of the American College of Tax Counsel. Using his ...