Raising Capital in 2024: Navigating New Opportunities

Kate Vera Coverdale focuses her practice on executive compensation matters related to mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring plans, initial public offerings, carve-outs and other business transactions. She leads the employee benefits and executive compensation practice in our New York office.

Kate regularly counsels private equity firms and their portfolio companies, as well as public companies, individual executives and management teams, on all aspects of executive compensation across industries, including executive employment agreements, severance arrangements, incentive equity plans and other compensation programs. Clients rely on her nuanced counsel to navigate complex issues such as compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (relating to deferred compensation) and Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 4999 (relating to the deductibility limits on executive compensation and the excise tax imposed on excess parachute payments).

Kate has extensive experience advising on executive compensation issues in the bankruptcy, restructuring and insolvency contexts, helping clients navigate the challenges associated with implementing effective arrangements and retaining key talent in a distressed environment. She also advises clients regarding compliance with proxy disclosure and corporate governance regulations as they relate to executive compensation.

Kate is a member of Chief, a private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders. She also speaks frequently to industry organizations on topics such as preparing for initial public offerings and executive compensation.

Todd R. Kornfeld focuses his practice on a range of corporate matters, including capital markets, corporate governance, securities compliance, venture capital and cryptocurrencies. He represents clients in the life sciences, biotechnology, asset management and technology industries.

Todd represents public and private life sciences and biotech companies in connection with a variety of capital markets transactions, including IPOs, follow-on offerings, PIPEs, RDOs and private placements. He also handles matters involving Securities Exchange Act compliance, venture capital, corporate governance, stock exchange listing, broker-dealer matters and general corporate representation.

Todd represents hedge fund managers as well as investors, issuers and fiduciaries with digital asset matters, including Bitcoin, Ether, Tether and other proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, and stablecoin cryptocurrencies. He is particularly well-versed in the emerging regulatory framework around digital assets and in applying existing securities and commodities laws.

In addition, Todd represents issuers and borrowers in various industries with derivative transactions, including interest rate swaps and equity derivatives used for synthetic public offerings and hedging. Todd works closely with hedge funds and other asset managers on fund formation, Commodity Exchange Act registration, and the Investment Advisers Act, as well as with FinTech platforms relating to broker-dealer and other securities law issues. Todd has extensive experience representing issuers, placement agents, and investment managers with various structured finance products, including CLOs, CDOs, CMBS and credit-linked notes.

Daniel (Dan) Woodard counsels public and private companies on raising capital, business combinations, corporate governance and general corporate matters. He focuses his practice on representing private and public companies in all aspects of public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, public company reporting and disclosure compliance and stock exchange-listing compliance. He also advises fintech companies with regard to the application of securities laws to blockchain and cryptocurrency assets.