Page 105 - NYLJ Professional Excellence 2021

DEALMAKERS OF THE YEAR

MARC JAFFE, JUSTIN HAMILL, be common in SPACs. The Staff’s state-
ment raised complex issues for pending
LISA WATTS AND IAN SCHUMAN, and completed SPAC IPOs and deSPAC
mergers.
PARTNERS AT LATHAM & WATKINS With exceptional support from
Latham’s “National Office,” a team of
Q&A What were some of your by Talkspace, Bird Rides, Vivid Seats and former SEC senior officials, and through
close coordination with accounting firms
GCM Grosvenor.
most satisfying successes
of the past year, and why? Latham & Latham advised companies on more and investment banks, we’ve effectively
Watkins provides strategic counsel SPAC M&A transactions than any other guided clients through the developments.
as companies evaluate paths to going law firm in 2020, and with 433 SPACs seek- Also, Latham’s deep relationships
public, whether it’s through a traditional ing a target at the end of Q1 2021, we with investment banks and investors
IPO or alternatives like SPACs or direct expect continued robust activity. in the PIPE market, coupled with heavy
listings. Our early leadership on success- transaction volume, give us a 360-degree
ful SPAC deals paved the way for other What qualities make a great dealmaker? view of this critical aspect of SPAC trans-
companies to use the approach. Nota- Great dealmakers are true partners to actions. This has allowed us to give
bly, we represented Virgin Galactic in its their clients who serve on their core up-to-the minute advice about market
merger with Social Capital Hedosophia, decision-making teams. They help their conditions.
a SPAC, to create the world’s first and clients understand the entire deal pro-
only publicly traded commercial human cess and handily coordinate many dif- A prospective client calls and asks why
ferent work streams. They find creative
spaceflight company.
DEALMAKERS and SPACs on the largest, most com- solutions to complex problems, antici- What is your response? Latham is
you or your team should be retained.
We’ve represented both companies
pate roadblocks, and remain reasonable
ideally positioned to guide companies
and collaborative to ensure a successful
throughout the business combination
plex SPAC IPO and business combi-
OF THE YEAR nation transactions, including Open- outcome. with a SPAC, and then onto life as a
door in its deSPAC merger with Social
public company. We leverage our elite
Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp.
capital markets, M&A, public company
What recent market factors have
II; Beachbody in its US$2.9 billion
representation, and tax capabilities to
been the most challenging in your
deSPAC merger with Forest Road
both companies and SPACs. We couple
Acquisition Corp. and MYX Fitness; practice area? The SEC Staff recently deliver seamlessly coordinated advice to
highlighted important financial report-
ironSource in its US$10 billion deSPAC ing considerations for SPACs, including our robust SPAC experience with deep
merger with Thoma Bravo Advantage; those associated with the accounting for industry-specific knowledge to provide
and many others, including the deSPACs complex financial instruments that may unparalleled counsel.
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Photos: Latham & Watkins | October 2021 103