Morrison Foerster is an international law firm with lawyers practicing throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. Click to discover more.

mofo_share_image.jpg

Morrison Foerster

common-default.jpeg

Terms / Notices

Cookies

Privacy Policy

Reporting Hotline

Attorney Advertising

Alumni

  Linkedin

MoFo LinkedIN

  Facebook

MoFo Facebook

YouTube

MoFo Youtube

Morrison Foerster - Footer

MoFo Advises Miotal on Pending Merger and Listing on Nasdaq

You have not solved the recaptcha challenge yet or session expired, try again.

Email Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Unsolicited e-mails and information sent to Morrison Foerster will not be considered confidential, may be disclosed to others pursuant to our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/about/privacy-policy.html">Privacy Policy</a>, may not receive a response, and do not create an attorney-client relationship with Morrison Foerster. If you are not already a client of Morrison Foerster, do not include any confidential information in this message. Also, please note that our attorneys do not seek to practice law in any jurisdiction in which they are not properly authorized to do so.

Feedback

mofo-logo-2022.svg

People

Capabilities

Resources

About

Community

Offices

Careers

Stay Connected

Morrison Foerster is advising SMT Holdings Limited (“Miotal”) in its merger with Fifth Era Acquisition Corp I (“FERA”). The...

<h3>Sorry, we weren’t able to find the terms you entered.</h3>Please try a different term or keyword.

People

Capabilities

Resources

Not Found Cards

About Morrison Foerster

people-default-header-desktop.jpg

people-default-header-mobile.jpg

Default Meta Data

Morrison Foerster is advising SMT Holdings Limited (“Miotal”) in its merger with Fifth Era Acquisition Corp I (“FERA”). The transaction was announced on April 8, 2026 (<a href="https://www.bloomberglaw.com/product/blaw/bloombergterminalnews/bloomberg-terminal-news/TD6E1C6Z785C?bc=ecf9804a7341340e233ca9419869f57b" target="_blank">Miotal, a Sovereign-Scale Strategic Metals Platform, to be Listed on Nasdaq through Merger with Fifth Era Acquisition Corp I</a>).Miotal is a strategic metals platform focused on the acquisition, holding and monetization of high-purity, technology-grade materials. It owns one of the largest known consolidated inventories of such strategic metals, capable of supporting multi-year, sovereign-scale supply across defense and advanced technology applications. Miotal’s strategic metals inventory is estimated to have a total value of approximately $35 billion based on prevailing market prices.Upon closing, Miotal is expected to be publicly listed on Nasdaq. Leading the deal teams on the transaction:<ul><li>Justin Salon, Capital Markets partner (Washington, D.C.) and Head of MoFo’s Global Capital Markets Practice</li><li>Brandon C. Parris, M&A partner (San Francisco) and Co-Chair of MoFo’s Global Transactions Department</li></ul>The full MoFo deal teams include:<ul><li>Capital Markets: Andrew Campbell (partner), Emily Beers (of counsel), Elizabeth McGuire (associate), Garrett Bosch (associate) – Washington, D.C.; Carolina Bernal-Ramirez (associate), Devansi Reshamwala (associate) – New York</li><li>M&A: Omar Pringle (partner, New York), Shiri Shenhav (partner, Palo Alto), Samantha Rose (associate, San Francisco), Hanna Balcha (associate, New York) </li><li>National Security: Nathanael Kurcab (partner), Patrick McDonnell (associate) – Washington, D.C.  </li><li>Tax: Richard Nugent (partner, New York), Matthew Lau (partner, Hong Kong), Seth Stowe (associate, New York)</li><li>Antitrust: Megan Gerking (partner), Aaron Heath Scheinman (associate) – Washington, D.C.</li><li>Exec. Comp. & Benefits: Crescent Chasteen (partner, Boston), Andre Silva Amorim (partner, New York)</li><li>Litigation: Caitlyn Johnson (associate, Washington, D.C.)</li><li>ECVC: Hanna Balcha and Lovinia Consunji (associates, New York), Kristen Cuetos (associate, New York)</li></ul>

Sign Up

Brandon Parris is a corporate partner and serves as co-chair of the firm's Global Transactions Department.Described as “an exceptional attorney with significant experience and knowledge” by a client in IFLR1000, Brandon Parris maintains an active corporate practice focused on strategic transactions, including complex public and private mergers, tender offers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and strategic investments.He represents U.S. and global clients, boards of directors, special committees, management teams and companies in a variety of industries, including technology, gaming, energy, media, consumer goods and services, and financial services.Brandon also maintains a public company practice. He advises members of executive management, boards of directors, and special committees on strategic and corporate governance issues, with significant experience advising companies in connection with shareholder activism, including defense strategy, engagement, and preparedness, and counsels numerous public companies on all aspects of public company issues.Brandon is regularly recognized as a leader in his field, including being named as a 2020 "Dealmaker of the Year" by The American Lawyer, a 2019 "M&A MVP" by Law360, and a 2019-2020 "Top 100 Leading Lawyer" by the Daily Journal. He has also been recognized by rankings publications including Chambers USA, IFLR1000 and Legal 500, with a client describing him in Chambers USA as “excellent at identifying the critical issues within a transaction and methodically addressing and solving each one in order. He has a superior knowledge of what is 'market' on various terms and he uses this to solve problems.”Brandon formerly served as co-chair of Morrison Foerster's Global M&A Practice Group.

Brandon Parris

Co-Chair of Transactions Department

Justin is chair of the firm’s Capital Markets practice and former co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s REIT practice.Justin represents both issuers and underwriters in a wide variety of corporate and securities matters, including initial public offerings, primary and secondary offerings, private placements, senior and subordinated debt financings, and liability management transactions. In addition, he serves as primary outside counsel to numerous public company clients with respect to corporate governance issues, compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, as well as general corporate matters.For his role as lead attorney on Arm's IPO, The American Lawyer recently recognized Justin as a 2024 "Dealmaker of the Year," an award honoring lawyers who guided the most complex, groundbreaking, and impactful deals of the past year.Justin is recommended by The Legal 500 US 2023 for Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, M&A / Corporate and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts, and REITs. He is also recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA 2023 for REITs.<h4 dir="ltr">Representative Experience</h4><h5 dir="ltr">Equity</h5><ul><li dir="ltr">Represented Arm Holdings plc, the world’s leading semiconductor IP company, in its blockbuster $5.22 billion USD IPO on Nasdaq, the largest IPO of 2023.</li><li>Represented SoftBank Group Corp. in connection with its $2 billion PIPE investment into Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC).</li><li>Represented Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER) in connection with its $300 million PIPE investment into Lucid Group, Inc. related to a global robotaxi program created exclusively for the Uber ride-hailing platform.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. (NYSE: AHH) in connection with multiple follow-on offerings of common stock and preferred stock and represented the underwriters in connection with Armada Hoffler’s initial public offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Inovalon Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: INOV) in its initial public offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ) in connection with its initial public offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with Plymouth Industrial REIT’s initial public offering, multiple follow-on offerings of common stock, and issuance of perpetual preferred stock.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with Community Healthcare Trust’s (NYSE: CHCT) initial public offering and numerous follow-on equity offerings.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Farmland Partners, Inc. (NYSE: FPI) in its initial public offering, subsequent public offerings of common stock, and offering of 6.00% Series B Participating Preferred Stock.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented issuers or underwriters in connection with SPAC IPOs for Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I, Endurance Acquisition Corp., Pegasus Digital Mobility Acquisition Corp., Revelstone Capital Acquisition Corp., Science Strategic Acquisition Corp. Alpha, and Sound Point Acquisition Corp. I.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Education Realty Trust (NYSE:EDR) in connection with multiple public offerings of common stock resulting in proceeds in excess of $1 billion.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented UDR, Inc. in connection with multiple follow-on equity offerings.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with multiple registered offerings of preferred stock and common stock by Sotherly Hotels (NASDAQ: SOHO).</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Trade Street Residential, Inc. in its backstopped rights offering and corresponding PIPE.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with Independence Realty Trust’s (NYSE: IRT) offering of common stock and concurrent listing on the NYSE.</li></ul><h5 dir="ltr">Debt and Liability Management</h5><ul><li>As designated underwriters’ counsel to Royal Dutch Shell Plc, represented the underwriters in connection with registered offerings of more than $34 billion of fixed and floating rate notes by Shell International Finance, the U.S. financing subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.</li><li>Represented the dealer managers in Shell plc’s exchange offers of up to $8.4 billion involving six series of outstanding notes and the issuance of new privately placed notes guaranteed by Shell.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with the registered offering of $5 billion of notes by Novartis Capital Corporation, the U.S. financing subsidiary of Novartis AG.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Education Realty Trust (NYSE:EDR) in connection with multiple public offerings of debt securities resulting in proceeds in excess of $1 billion.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: ON) in its $500 million Rule 144A offering of 1.625% convertible senior notes, $805 million Rule 144A offering of its 0% convertible senior notes due 2027, and privately negotiated repurchase and exchange transactions for outstanding senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Vontier Corporation (NYSE: VNT) in its $1.6 billion 144A offering of senior notes and its $1.6 billion registered exchange offer.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) in its $300 million 144A offering of 2.70% convertible senior notes and its $125 million Rule 144A offering of 3.75% convertible senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Whole Foods Market, Inc. in its $1 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of 5.200% senior notes due 2025 and subsequent registered exchange offer.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in connection with its $100 million 144A sovereign debt offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) in connection with $1.55 billion of registered offerings of senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Smithfield Foods, Inc. in its $1 billion offering of senior notes and concurrent tender offer for over $750 million of outstanding senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) in its $1.75 billion offering of senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Aventine Property Group in connection with its $100 million private offering of convertible senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with multiple registered offerings of senior notes by Sotherly Hotels (NASDAQ: SOHO).</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the $50 million private offering of senior secured notes by Newport Realty Trust, a private mortgage REIT.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the private placement of $100 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2023 issued by MCREIF SubREIT, LLC, a private REIT managed by M360 Advisors, and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by M360 CRE Income Fund LP.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the private placement of $36.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.5% senior unsecured notes due 2025 issued by NextPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., the operating partnership subsidiary of NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: NREF).</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the private placement of $42.25 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.00% senior unsecured notes due 2026 issued by Pelorus Fund REIT, LLC.</li></ul><h5 dir="ltr">M&A</h5><ul><li dir="ltr">Represented Education Realty Trust in its $4.6 billion all-cash sale to a newly formed perpetual life vehicle led by an affiliate of Greystar Real Estate Partners.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented UDR, Inc. (NYSE: UDR) in connection with Home Properties, Inc.’s $7.6 billion acquisition by Lone Star Funds, in which UDR acquired six communities for approximately $908 million.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Greenlane Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNLN), in its merger of equals with KushCo Holdings, Inc.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Pivotal Investment Corp. II in connection with its merger with XL Fleet Corp., a leader in vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Farmland Partners, Inc. in connection with its stock-for-stock acquisition of American Farmland Company (NYSE: AFCO), as well as more than $400 million of property acquisitions.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Trade Street Residential, Inc. in its acquisition by Independence Realty Trust, Inc.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the Special Committee of the board of directors of Bluerock Residential Growth REIT in connection with the proposed internalization of its external manager.</li></ul>

Justin Salon

Partner

Andy’s practice focuses on representing issuers and underwriters in capital markets transactions and advising public and private companies on a variety of other corporate and securities matters, including strategic transactions, corporate governance matters, and compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the listing standards of securities exchanges.Andy has extensive experience advising both issuers and underwriters in initial public offerings and other registered and unregistered offerings of common and preferred equity, debt, and equity-linked securities. He also serves as primary outside counsel to a number of public and private companies and regularly advises members of management and boards of directors regarding corporate and securities matters.Andy is recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA 2025 for REITs and as a “Notable Practitioner” in IFLR1000 for Capital Markets: Equity. He is recommended by The Legal 500 US for the areas of Capital Markets: Equity Offerings and REITs.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented SoftBank Group Corp. in its $2 billion PIPE investment in Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC).</li><li>Represented MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MRT) in connection with its $256 million initial public offering, its $164 million 144A offering and private placement of common stock, and its $125 million private placement of preferred stock.</li><li>Represented Inovalon Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: INOV) in its $685 million initial public offering.</li><li>Represented Unity Software Inc. (NYSE: U) in connection with its $1.0 billion convertible notes offering to affiliates of Silver Lake and Sequoia Capital.</li><li>Represented RH (NYSE: RH) in connection with its $350 million Rule 144A offering of convertible notes.</li><li>Represented the initial purchasers in separate Rule 144A offerings of $375 million of 7.250% senior secured notes and $941 million of zero coupon senior secured notes of Diversified Healthcare Trust (Nasdaq: DHC).</li><li>Represented UDR, Inc. (NYSE: UDR) in connection with multiple public offerings of debt and equity securities resulting in proceeds in excess of $6 billion.</li><li>Represented Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. (NYSE: AHH) in connection with multiple public offerings of common and preferred stock and private placements of operating partnership units.</li><li>Represented the dealer manager in exchange offers for senior notes of Office Properties Income Trust (Nasdaq: OPI).</li><li>Represented SoftBank Group Corp. in its $50 million PIPE investment in Cipher Mining Inc. (Nasdaq: CIFR).</li><li>Represented Zippy Shell, one of the largest containerized moving and storage companies in the U.S., in a $180 million preferred equity investment by Carlyle.</li><li>Representing Modiv Industrial, Inc. (NYSE: MDV) in connection with its $50 million at-the-market equity offering.</li><li>Represented the initial purchasers in a $300 million Rule 144A offering of 9.000% senior secured notes of Office Properties Income Trust (Nasdaq: OPI).</li><li>Represented Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE: VG) in connection with its $300 million Rule 144A offering of convertible notes.</li><li>Representing Baird in the $400 million at-the-market equity offering of Watsco, Inc. (NYSE: WSO).</li><li>Representing B. Riley in the at-the-market equity offering of Beam Global (Nasdaq: BEEM).</li><li>Representing Baird in the at-the-market equity offering of ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE: GWH).</li><li>Represented SoftBank Group Corp. in its $150 million PIPE investment in Afya Limited (Nasdaq: AFYA).</li><li>Represented the underwriters in Modiv Industrial, Inc.’s (NYSE: MDV) Series A preferred stock offering, as well as the initial listing of its common stock and related offering.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in multiple underwritten secondary offerings of shares of Landsea Homes Corporation (Nasdaq: LSEA).</li><li>Represented the underwriters in multiple underwritten secondary offerings of shares of BrightSpire Capital, Inc. (NYSE: BRSP) by a stockholder affiliated with DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG).</li><li>Represented B. Riley in a $30 million equity line of credit for Beam Global (Nasdaq: BEEM).</li><li>Represented private investment firms in equity lines of credit for multiple issuers.</li><li>Represented Broad Street Realty, Inc. (OTCQX: BRST) in connection with its joint venture and preferred equity investment from Fortress Investment Group.</li><li>Represented Anzu Special Acquisition Corp in its $425 million initial public offering and its subsequent merger with Envoy Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCH).</li><li>Represented Science Strategic Acquisition Corp. Alpha in its $310 million initial public offering.</li><li>Represented Endurance Acquisition Corp. in its $200 million initial public offering.</li><li>Represented MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MRT) in its $600 million merger with Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE: OHI).</li><li>Represented Farmland Partners Inc. (NYSE: FPI) in connection with its initial public offering and subsequent public offerings of its common stock, its $131 million offering of 6.00% Series B Participating Preferred Stock, and private placements of operating partnership units.</li><li>Represented the management team at Parkway, Inc. in connection with its $1.2 billion acquisition by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.</li><li>Represented UDR, Inc. (NYSE: UDR) in connection with Home Properties, Inc.’s $7.6 billion acquisition by Lone Star Funds, in which UDR acquired six communities for approximately $908 million.</li><li>Represented BMO Capital Markets, BofA Merrill Lynch, and Citigroup in Sun Communities, Inc.’s (NYSE: SUI) $250 million at-the-market equity offering.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in connection with Independence Realty Trust’s (NYSE: IRT) $34 million offering of common stock and concurrent listing.</li><li>Represented Jefferies and Baird in the initial public offering of AmREIT, Inc.</li><li>Represented JP Morgan, Citi, Deutsche Bank, and KeyBanc in the $293 million initial public offering of Retail Properties of America, Inc. (NYSE: RPAI).</li><li>Represented Colony Financial, Inc. in its $287.5 million initial public offering.</li></ul>

Andrew Campbell

Emily Beers is of counsel in Morrison Foerster’s Capital Markets and Public Company Advisory & Governance practices. Her practice focuses on representing publicly and privately held companies in a variety of corporate and securities law matters.Emily represents both issuers and investment banks in initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, and private placements, including offerings of common and preferred equity, investment-grade debt, convertible debt, and high-yield debt. Emily also regularly advises clients with respect to liability management transactions, including tender offers, as well as M&A transactions.In addition, Emily regularly counsels companies with respect to corporate governance issues, compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, as well as general corporate matters.Emily is recognized in IFLR1000 for Capital Markets: Debt, Capital Markets: Equity, and M&A (2021).Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Emily worked as an associate in the capital markets practices of other international law firms in New York and London.<h4>Representative Matters</h4><ul><li>Represented the dealer managers in Shell plc’s exchange offers of up to $8.4 billion involving six series of outstanding notes and the issuance of new privately placed notes guaranteed by Shell.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in connection with the $2.35 billion offering of guaranteed notes issued by Shell Finance U.S. Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in the $450 million bond offering of Senior Notes by First Industrial, L.P., a real estate investment trust company.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in the $400 million registered offering of Senior Notes by COPT Defense Properties, L.P., a real estate investment trust.</li><li>Represented Riot Platforms, Inc. in its offering of $594.4 million of 0.75% convertible senior notes due 2030.</li><li>Represented the initial purchasers in the $345 million bond offering of 5.25% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2028 by COPT Defense Properties, L.P.</li><li>Represented Wells Fargo Securities, Deutsche Bank Securities, and Goldman Sachs & Co. in Shell plc’s $12 billion exchange offering of Convertible Notes.</li><li>Represented Veeco Instruments Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO) in its private offering of up to $230 million aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029. </li><li>Represented Crinetics Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CRNX) in its $500 million public offering of 10,000,000 shares of its common stock. </li><li>Represented Crinetics Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CRNX) in its $350 million private placement of 8,333,334 shares of its common stock. </li><li>Represented McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK) in its offering of $500 million of 4.250% notes due 2029 and subsequent redemption of 5.250% notes due 2026. </li><li>Represented onsemi (NYSE: ON) in its upsized $1.5 billion private offering of 0.50% Convertible Senior Notes.</li></ul><ul><li>Represented Sprint Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp., the controlling shareholder of Sprint, on the all- stock merger of Sprint and T-Mobile US Inc. The total implied enterprise value for Sprint in the transaction was approximately $59 billion and the aggregate for the combined company enterprise value was approximately $146 billion.</li><li>Represented onsemi (NASDAQ: ON) in its Rule 144A offering of $1.5 billion 0.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029; in its Rule 144A offering of $700 million 0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027; and in its Rule 144A offering of $700 million 3.875% Senior Notes due 2028.</li><li>Represented The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) in its Rule 144A offering of $650 million 4.625% Senior Notes due 2029; in its Rule 144A offering of $800 million 5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 and concurrent tender offers to purchase all or a portion of its outstanding Senior Notes and related consent solicitations; and in its registered offering of €450 million 4.000% Senior Notes due 2026 and concurrent tender offers to purchase all or a portion of its outstanding senior notes and related consent solicitations.</li><li>Represented McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK) in its registered offering of $500 million 5.250% Notes due 2026; in its registered offering of $500 million 1.300% Senior Notes due 2026 and related tender offer to repurchase a portion of its outstanding senior notes; and in its registered offerings of $700 million 3.650% Notes due 2020 and $400 million 4.750% Notes due 2029 and concurrent tender offers to purchase a portion of its outstanding senior notes and related consent solicitations.</li><li>Represented BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB) in its $200 million Rule 144A offering of convertible notes. </li><li>As designated underwriters’ counsel to Royal Dutch Shell Plc, represented the underwriters in connection with registered offerings of more than $30 billion of fixed and floating rate notes by Shell International Finance, the U.S. financing subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.</li><li>Represented Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SWX) in its defense against a hostile tender offer and proxy contest by Carl Icahn, and in its subsequent registered offerings of common stock and debt. </li><li>Represented Unity Software Inc. (NYSE: U) in its stock-for-stock merger with ironSource, Ltd. for an approximate value of $4.4 billion.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in connection with the registered offering of $5 billion of notes by Novartis Capital Corporation, the U.S. financing subsidiary of Novartis AG.</li><li>Represented Vontier Corporation (NYSE: VNT) in its $1.6 billion 144A offering of Senior Notes and its $1.6 billion registered exchange offer.</li><li>Represented the placement agent in connection with the $50 million private offering of senior secured notes by Newport Realty Trust, a private mortgage REIT, the private placement of $36.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 issued by NextPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., the operating partnership subsidiary of NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: NREF), and the private placement of $42.25 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 issued by Pelorus Fund REIT, LLC.</li><li>Represented Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) in its registered offering of $300 million 2.70% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023.</li><li>Represents the sales agents in connection with Equity Residential’s (NYSE: EQR) at-the-market equity offering; as designated underwriters’ counsel, represented the underwriters in connection with registered offerings by Equity Residential’s operating partnership, ERP Operating Limited Partnership, of an aggregate of $1.25 billion of notes.</li><li>Represented Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:WFM) in its $1.0 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of 5.200% Senior Notes due 2025.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in connection with Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated’s (NYSE: CHCT) approximately $136.6 million initial public offering and in subsequent follow-on offerings.</li><li>Represented Inovalon Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: INOV) in its approximately $685 million initial public offering.</li></ul>

Emily Beers

Of Counsel

Elizabeth McGuire is a corporate associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where she represents both issuers and underwriters in securities offerings, including initial public offerings, follow-on offerings and private placements. Elizabeth regularly advises non-listed REIT clients with respect to compliance with U.S. federal securities laws, state Blue Sky laws and FINRA rules. She also advises public companies on corporate governance and general securities law compliance. Elizabeth earned her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, Elizabeth worked as a staff editor for The Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law and as an intern for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement.Elizabeth holds a B.A. in psychology from Duke University.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLCA) in connection with its $1.85 billion sale to entities affiliated with Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO)</li><li>Represented Southwest Gas Holdings (NYSE: SWX) in connection with launch of $340 million at-the-market (ATM) equity offering program </li><li>Represented Centuri Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CTRI) and parent company Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SWX) in $353 million IPO and concurrent private placement</li><li>Represented Ares Industrial Real Estate Income Trust Inc. in connection with its securities offerings and ongoing corporate governance and securities compliance matters, including the negotiation of distribution and platform agreements</li><li>Represented Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I (NASDAQ: ANZUU) in its merger with Envoy Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: COCH)</li><li>Represented Softbank in connection with its acquisition of Berkshire Grey (NASDAQ: BGRY)</li></ul>

Elizabeth McGuire

Associate

Garrett is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Capital Markets Group.Garrett represents public and private companies in a wide range of corporate and securities matters, including initial public offerings, equity offerings, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and M&A-related agreements. He advises companies on corporate governance, public company reporting requirements, securities law compliance, and other disclosure obligations.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Garrett was a summer associate at the firm. He also served as a summer associate at a large national law firm, supporting matters involving loan obligations and analyzing legislative developments impacting corporate clients.Garrett earned his J.D., with honors, from The George Washington University Law School, where he was a George Washington Scholar. During law school, he served as a staff editor of the GW Business and Finance Law Review and was a member of the Moot Court Board. He received a Global M.B.A. from The George Washington University School of Business, where he was a Business School Fellowship recipient and graduated with Beta Gamma Sigma distinction. Garrett received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Florida State University in economics and Chinese language and culture and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.Garrett is proficient in Mandarin Chinese and has basic proficiency in Hungarian.

Garrett Bosch

Carolina Bernal-Ramirez is a corporate associate in the firm’s New York office.Carolina’s practice focuses on representing public and private companies in domestic and cross-border transactions. She advises clients on initial public offerings, high yield debt offerings, follow-on offerings, and deSPAC transactions.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Carolina was a corporate associate in the New York office of another American multinational law firm, where her practice focused primarily on capital markets transactions. Carolina earned her J.D. and LL.M degrees at Duke University School of Law, where she served as communications director for the Duke Bar Association. During that period, she was also awarded the Dean’s Award for Torts and the James S. Bidlake Memorial Award for Superior Achievement in Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing.Prior to attending Duke, Carolina worked as an associate at a Colombian law firm, where she advised clients on real estate transactions and restructuring, among other general corporate and commercial matters. She speaks fluent Spanish.

Carolina Bernal

Devansi Reshamwala is a Capital Markets associate in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.Devansi represents issuers and investment banks on a broad range of capital markets transactions, including IPOs and follow-on equity offerings, public and private high-yield, investment grade and convertible debt offerings, and private placements of equity and convertible securities. Devansi also advises U.S. and international companies in connection with corporate and securities laws matters, including corporate governance, and SEC and stock exchange disclosure, reporting, and compliance obligations.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented the dealer managers in Shell plc’s exchange offers of up to $8.4 billion involving six series of outstanding notes and the issuance of new privately placed notes guaranteed by Shell.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in connection with the $2.35 billion offering of guaranteed notes issued by Shell Finance U.S. Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc.</li><li>Represented the initial purchasers in separate Rule 144A offerings of $375 million of 7.250% senior secured notes and $941 million of zero coupon senior secured notes of Diversified Healthcare Trust (Nasdaq: DHC).</li><li>Represented Raymond James Financial, Inc., a leading diversified financial services company, in its $1.5 billion issuance and sale of senior notes.</li><li>Represented Veeco Instruments Inc. in connection with separate, privately negotiated transactions with the holders of all its $25.0 Million of 3.75% Convertible Notes due 2027.</li><li>Represented Wells Fargo Securities in the $400 million Registered Offering of Senior Notes by COPT Defense Properties, L.P., a real estate investment trust.</li><li>Represented the underwriters in the $450 million bond offering of Senior Notes by First Industrial, L.P., a real estate investment trust company.</li><li>Represented SoftBank Group Corp. in its $2 billion PIPE investment in Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC).</li><li>Represented Carlsmed, Inc., a commercial-stage medical technology company pioneering AI-enabled personalized spine surgery solutions, in its $100.5 million initial public offering of common stock.</li><li>Represented Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER) in connection with its $300 million PIPE investment into Lucid Group, Inc. related to a global robotaxi program created exclusively for the Uber ride-hailing platform.</li></ul>

Devansi Reshamwala

Omar Pringle is a seasoned dealmaker and trusted advisor known for guiding clients through their most complex, high-stakes transactions with precision and insight.Omar has extensive experience advising on the full range of complex domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions for and across from financial sponsors, corporates and family-owned businesses. He couples a creative, solution-oriented approach with deep sector expertise.In addition to his knowledge of the private equity industry, Omar has extensive experience in the food and agriculture, consumer goods, technology and life sciences sectors, and acting for and across from the businesses that are driving and disrupting those verticals.Commended by Legal 500 US 2022-2025 as a Next Generation Partner for Corporate / M&A and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts, he has played a critical role in the growth of the firm’s private equity offering in New York.Omar is an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches a course on cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He is also a member of the firm’s global Food & Agriculture and Life Sciences steering committees.﻿He speaks fluent French and Spanish and is conversant in Arabic.

Omar Pringle

Shiri Shenhav is a partner in the Transactions Department and the Mergers + Acquisitions Group based in Palo Alto. Shiri maintains a corporate transactional practice focusing on mergers and acquisitions and equity investments in the technology industry for public and private companies.Shiri regularly assists strategic buyers and private equity funds and their portfolio companies in a variety of domestic and cross-border transactions, including deal structuring and mechanics, stock and asset purchases, mergers, divestitures, and spin-offs. Shiri also regularly represents companies with respect to their equity investments, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions, as well as general corporate counseling.As an accomplished attorney certified in California and in Israel, Shiri has extensive experience representing multinational corporations and funds in cross-border transactions involving Israeli aspects. Shiri also co-leads the firm’s AI M&A Initiative.Shiri is fluent in Hebrew.<h4 dir="ltr">Representative Experience</h4><ul dir="ltr"><li>SoftBank in connection with its acquisition of Berkshire Grey.</li><li>Vontier Corporation in its sale of Global Traffic Technologies to Miovision.</li><li>Walmart in its acquisitions of Art.com, Aspectiva, BareWeb, CareZone, Eloquii, MeMD, and Zeekit.</li><li>Zivelo in its acquisition by VeriFone.</li><li>Unity Technologies in its acquisition of RestAR.</li><li>Alpine Investors and its managed IT services and software platform Evergreen Services Group in connection with the acquisitions of Alliance Solutions Group, Global Wave Group, and Telco Experts.</li><li>Alpine Investors in its acquisition of Ethisphere. </li><li>Astroscale U.S., the U.S. unit of Astroscale Holdings, in its acquisition of certain the intellectual property and other assets and proposed hiring of certain members of the staff of Effective Space Solutions R&D. </li><li>Gryphon Investors and RegEd in the acquisition of ComplianceMAX and FIRE Continuing Education businesses from National Regulatory Services.</li><li>Mirantis in its acquisition of the Docker Enterprise platform business from Docker.</li><li>Rubicon Technology Partners in its strategic majority investment in the merger of EverTrue and ThankView.</li><li>Peer5 in its sale to Microsoft Corporation.</li><li dir="ltr">Protean Electric in its acquisition by National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB.</li></ul>

Shiri Shenhav

Samantha Rose is a corporate associate in the San Francisco office of Morrison Foerster. Her practice focuses on advising clients on domestic and cross-border corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, minority investments/venture financings, and corporate governance.Samantha represents publicly and privately held companies, entrepreneurs, venture capital and private equity investors, and financial and strategic acquirers in a variety of industries, including technology, consumer products, e-commerce, and financial services.Samantha also has an active role in the firm’s pro bono efforts, recently working on the California Small Enterprise Task Force (CASE Force), a consortium of legal, financial, and nonprofit professionals leading the development and implementation of the California Rebuilding Fund. She has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, and currently serves as Chair of the Latinx Affinity Group for the San Francisco office. Prior to joining the firm, Samantha served as an Honors Program Legal Intern with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Samantha earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. While there, Samantha served as Senior Development Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal and President of the Corporate & Financial Law Organization (CFLO). In addition, Samantha was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort to study the intersection between business and law as a Business Law Scholar. She holds a B.S. with highest distinction from the University of Virginia.

Samantha Rose

Nathanael Kurcab is a member of Morrison Foerster’s National Security Group and his practice focuses on economic sanctions and foreign direct investment issues. He advises clients on a range of international trade and national security issues, including the scope and implications of U.S. laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, as well as representing clients in matters before the Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States. His practice includes advisory, diligence, internal investigations, compliance, and enforcement matters.Representative matters from both Morrison Foerster and his previous firm include:<ul><li>Representing a multinational financial institution in an internal investigation and resulting recent settlement with OFAC;</li><li>Advising a state-owned oil company on all aspects of U.S. sanctions compliance;</li><li>Assessing the policies and procedures of a major luxury goods provider; and</li><li>Investigating and disclosing to the government allegations of diversion to sanctioned parties received anonymously by a U.S. company in the metallurgical sector.</li></ul>Nathanael has also represented a range of nonprofits on a pro bono basis on regulatory compliance matters.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Nathanael was an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of a prominent international law firm, where he focused on economic sanctions advising, complex commercial transactions, foreign direct investment reviews, and anti-money laundering compliance.  Previously, Nathanael served in the Intelligence Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and at the Afghanistan-Pakistan Task Force on behalf of the Office of Analysis of the Defense Intelligence Agency.Nathanael graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as executive director for Barrister’s Council and research assistant for Professor Peter Edelman. He was a member of the Georgetown Journal of International Law.Nathanael received his B.A. in Strategic Intelligence from Patrick Henry College.

Nathanael Kurcab

Patrick McDonnell is an associate in the firm’s National Security and Data, Cyber + Privacy Practice Groups. He is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.Patrick’s practice includes advising clients on the scope and implications of economic sanctions and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. He also works on sensitive matters relating to data privacy and cybersecurity issues.Patrick received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was a student writer for Lawfare and an executive editor for the Harvard National Security Journal. He also received a master’s in public affairs specializing in international relations from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.Before law school, Patrick served as an active duty intelligence officer in the U.S. Army and currently serves in a reserve capacity. He has done tours of duty in Europe and Afghanistan. He earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame.

Patrick McDonnell

Richard Nugent is a partner in the firm’s New York office and chair of its Tax practice.Richard has over 25 years of experience advising on the tax aspects of complex transactions including public and private M&A, spin-offs, joint ventures, internal restructurings, and financings and capital markets transactions. He also advises debtors and creditors within and outside of bankruptcy.Richard has been recognized in Chambers USA, where he is praised as “an extremely knowledgeable and dedicated attorney” and “well-versed in communicating complex issues.” The Legal 500 describes Richard as having a “deep understanding of the business, including product supply, marketing, and distribution” which clients describe as “priceless when representing us in deal matters.” Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Richard was a tax partner at another international law firm in New York. He serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Tax Section and is a member of the Tax Forum. A sought-after speaker, Richard frequently presents on tax topics for Practising Law Institute programs.Richard holds an LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University, a J.D. with honors from Rutgers School of Law – Newark, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from Saint Peter’s University. He also served as a law clerk to Judge Richard F. Suhrheinrich of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit and Judge Robert P. Ruwe of the U.S. Tax Court.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented Centuri Holdings and parent company Southwest Gas Holdings in $238 million public offering of common stock</li><li>Represented Paine Schwartz Partners, a global leader in sustainable food chain investing, in its investment in Chex Finer Foods, a value-added specialty food distributor</li><li>Represented the board of Continental Disc Corporation, a portfolio company of Tinicum, in connection to its sale to Baker Hughes, an energy technology company</li><li>Represented Hooter’s Inc. and Hoot Owl Restaurants, L.L.C. in the acquisition of over 100 restaurants from Hooters of America LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 protection on March 31st in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court</li><li>Represented Centuri Holdings and parent company Southwest Gas Holdings in $353 million IPO and concurrent private placement</li><li>Represented C2 Capital Partners in its investment in Stella & Chewy’s, a leading North American pet food manufacturer</li></ul>

Richard Nugent

Chair of the Tax Practice

Seth Stowe is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s New York office and a member of the firm’s Tax Group.Seth advises clients on a broad range of transactional, structuring, and advisory tax matters, including U.S. federal income tax considerations related to joint ventures, debt and equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, financings, and real estate investment trusts. Before joining Morrison Foerster, Seth served as a law clerk to the Honorable Stacey W. Moreau, 22nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia, where he drafted legal memoranda analyzing a variety of civil and criminal issues.Seth received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he also served as a production editor for the Virginia Tax Review. Seth received his B.A. in history with a minor in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.

Seth Stowe

Megan is a former trial attorney with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. At Morrison Foerster, she is a partner in the Antitrust Group advising clients on their most complex and high-stakes competition matters. Her practice focuses on government investigations, merger reviews, strategic transactions, and civil antitrust litigation, particularly where enforcement, compliance, and global antitrust and regulatory risk intersect.Megan regularly counsels clients on antitrust risks arising from industry collaborations, trade associations, consortia, and other joint activities, drawing on her firsthand experience investigating and prosecuting cartel conduct. While at the Antitrust Division, Megan investigated and prosecuted federal antitrust violations, including international cartel matters involving price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation. She now leverages that experience to help clients design, implement, and defend antitrust compliance programs, and she routinely delivers antitrust training for executives and employees.Megan also maintains a robust merger practice, advising clients at every stage of the merger review process. She develops transaction strategies, assesses and manages obligations under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (“HSR Act”), and represents clients before antitrust authorities in the United States and abroad. Megan regularly represents third parties in agency reviews of transactions, including at trial.Her experience spans a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, media, technology and software, financial services, consumer products, aviation, higher education, manufacturing, agriculture, and life sciences. While at the Antitrust Division, Megan prosecuted the first individual ever extradited to the United States on an antitrust charge and earned the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for her work investigating and prosecuting international automotive parts cartels. She was also awarded the DOJ’s Outstanding Mentor Award by the Attorney General. Megan has been widely recognized by leading publications including Chambers, Global Competition Review, Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, and others. She has served as a non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network (ICN) and has spoken at the ICN Cartel Workshop in Lisbon, Portugal. Megan is an editor of The Antitrust Source, the ABA’s online antitrust magazine, and is a member of Morrison Foerster’s global Sustainability + Corporate Responsibility Group. She also serves on the board of directors of the U.S. Sustainable Investment Forum (SIF).Before attending law school, Megan worked in the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs, where she assisted the Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust with media strategy and served as a national spokesperson. She also worked as a paralegal in the Antitrust Division, supporting trial teams in criminal antitrust prosecutions.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><h5>Criminal and Civil Antitrust Investigations</h5><ul><li>Achieved non-prosecution protection for two healthcare companies in separate DOJ Antitrust Division criminal investigations; represented company witnesses at trial.</li><li>Obtained non-prosecution protection for a senior executive in criminal investigation into no-poach agreements in defense sector; executive testified at the criminal trial.</li><li>Completed a non-prosecution agreement for a senior executive in a DOJ criminal investigation into market allocation and bid rigging of generic drugs.</li><li>Regularly advises senior executives on DOJ antitrust criminal investigations involving allegations of price fixing, market and customer allocation, and bid rigging, and obtained non-prosecution protection for several individuals.</li><li>Represented a technology company in a Federal Trade Commission monopolization investigation.</li><li>Defended a private equity fund in a state AG investigation.</li><li>Represented an energy company in a criminal investigation.</li><li>Counseled a senior executive on an international criminal cartel investigation.</li><li>Obtained a non-prosecution agreement for a senior executive in a criminal investigation into conduct related to the hiring of employees.</li></ul><h5>Antitrust Merger Review</h5><ul><li>Obtained merger clearance for a telecommunications company in connection with a $20 billion acquisition, which closed in 2026.</li><li>Navigated ShowingTime Inc., a leading real estate showing management and market stats technology provider, through an extended review by the Federal Trade Commission of its $500 million vertical acquisition by Zillow Group.</li><li>Delivered merger clearances for Unity Technologies Corp. in connection with an asset carve-out acquisition from Weta Digital of certain assets, including its audiovisual effects development and management software tools, for a purchase price of $1.625 billion.</li><li>Advised and obtained merger clearances for Grant Thornton LLP in connection with the sale of its Public Sector Advisory practice to Guidehouse.</li><li>Represented Divvy, a leader in spend management, in its $2.5 billion stock and cash sale to Bill.com. </li><li>Supported NTT, a leading IT infrastructure and services company, in its $330 million cash sale of WhiteHat Security to Synopsys, Inc.</li><li>Represented Continental Building Products, a North American leader in wallboard and joint compound materials, in negotiations to secure antitrust approvals for its sale to Saint-Gobain. The transaction cleared without a second request investigation.</li><li>Assisted The Walt Disney Co. in its $71 billion acquisition of certain businesses from 21st Century Fox.</li><li>Represented Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier in connection with the worldwide antitrust clearance of its sale of a controlling interest in the “C Series” line of commercial passenger jets to Airbus. The transaction cleared without any second-phase reviews.</li><li>Regularly assisting third parties in responding to DOJ and FTC outreach and Civil Investigative Demands in connection with merger reviews, and corporate clients with antitrust issues in complex transactions, including collaborations, joint ventures, acquisitions, and mergers.</li></ul><h5>Antitrust Litigation</h5><ul><li>Representing Beeline Loans in federal antitrust litigation alleging price fixing and information sharing in connection with use of Optimal Blue software.</li><li>Defending Otter Tail Corp. and its subsidiaries in federal antitrust litigation alleging price fixing and information sharing through third-party market newsletter.</li><li>Supporting Verizon Communications in federal antitrust litigation alleging antitrust violations brought by VoIP-Pal.</li><li>Defending BJMC Global in federal antitrust litigation alleging non-solicitation agreements and wage fixing in violation of antitrust laws.</li><li>Representing Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in a federal antitrust multidistrict litigation alleging price fixing and market allocation of generic drugs by manufacturers of generic drugs.</li><li>Assisting Nexstar Media Group, America’s largest local television and media company, in federal antitrust litigation alleging price fixing in television advertising.</li><li>Counseled a leading international financial institution in multiple, sprawling class action lawsuits alleging a global conspiracy by some of the world’s largest banks to manipulate the interbank offer rate (IBOR) benchmark for multiple currencies.</li></ul>

Megan E. Gerking

Aaron Scheinman is an associate in MoFo’s global Antitrust Law Practice Group.Aaron represents clients in a variety of antitrust matters, including complex civil litigation, government investigations, and all phases of the merger review process before federal and state enforcers. He helps companies identify and navigate antitrust risks created by new and evolving technologies, with experience in matters relating to artificial intelligence, online platforms, and the interplay between IP rights and antitrust claims.His active pro bono practice includes litigation in state and federal courts protecting tenants’ rights and the right to vote.Prior to joining the firm, Aaron received his J.D. with honors from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a technology law and policy scholar and the articles editor of The Georgetown Law Technology Review. During law school, he interned at the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal District Court for the District of New Hampshire. He earned a B.S summa cum laude in economics with a minor in computer science from the University of New Hampshire.

Aaron Heath Scheinman

Crescent Moran Chasteen is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Boston office and a member of the firm’s Executive Compensation + Benefits practice. A nationally recognized advisor to boards, executives, and investors, Crescent brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of executive compensation, tax, securities, and corporate governance—guiding clients through the complex legal, regulatory, and strategic challenges that shape leadership pay in today’s rapidly evolving market. Crescent partners with public and private companies, high-growth start-ups, investment firms, and nonprofits on executive compensation design and strategy. Known for her ability to balance innovation with compliance, she helps organizations craft incentive structures that drive performance, withstand scrutiny, and align with long-term business goals. Her work spans transformative transactions and emerging sectors—from SPACs, IPOs, and M&A to digital asset ventures. Her practice includes: <ul><li>Executive compensation in major transactions: Advising on executive compensation and employee benefits issues arising in M&A, IPO, and SPAC transactions, including golden parachute (Section 280G) and deferred compensation (Section 409A) analysis, employment and retention agreement negotiations, and post-closing integration. </li><li>Equity and incentive design: Creating and implementing restricted stock, options, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and bespoke performance-based award programs. </li><li>Board and committee governance: Advising boards and compensation committees on pay governance, disclosure, and alignment under SEC and proxy advisory frameworks. </li><li>Regulatory and disclosure compliance: Guiding clients through SEC reporting, say-on-pay readiness, and ERISA/Code compliance for qualified and nonqualified benefit plans. </li><li>Crypto and digital asset compensation: Advising on token-based incentive plans, token purchase agreements, and related instruments; navigating the intersection of cryptocurrency, tax, and securities law; supporting token-based M&A diligence and structuring under U.S. and cross-border regimes. </li><li>Nonprofit leadership compensation: Designing compliant compensation and incentive programs for tax-exempt organizations, including Section 4960 considerations. </li></ul>Crescent’s practice spans industries including life sciences, healthcare, technology, venture capital, financial services, and real estate. Clients rely on her to translate complex tax and securities rules into practical, business-aligned solutions that advance organizational success and stakeholder alignment. Before joining Morrison Foerster, Crescent was a partner at leading multinational law firms in Boston and Washington, D.C., advising Fortune 500 companies and emerging enterprises on executive compensation and employee benefits law. A frequent author and speaker, Crescent contributes thought leadership on evolving compensation trends, governance, and the future of equity and token-based pay. She has served as a co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s ERISA Subcommittee, a member of the BBA Tax Steering Committee, and an active participant in the ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits. Crescent earned her B.A. from the University of Maine, J.D. from Western New England University School of Law, and LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. She clerked for the Honorable Carolyn P. Chiechi of the U.S. Tax Court.

Crescent Chasteen

Andre Amorim is an associate in the New York office and a member of the firm’s Executive Compensation and Benefits practice.Andre’s practice focuses on a wide range of compensation and benefits matters. He advises both public and private companies on tax and securities law issues in connection with complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, and initial public offerings. He also advises employers and executives in the negotiation, design, and implementation of employment, severance, change in control, deferred compensation, equity, and other incentive compensation plans and arrangements.Prior to joining the firm, Andre advised on executive compensation and employee benefits law at another multinational law firm. He was also previously with Ernst & Young’s People Advisory Services Department, where he focused on various executive compensation and employee benefits issues with respect to foreign and domestic equity-based incentive plans, long-term incentive plans, ERISA and Affordable Care Act compliance, and qualified retirement benefit plans.Andre earned his B.A. in economics from Fordham University and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

Andre Amorim

Caitlyn Johnson is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Litigation group.Before joining Morrison Foerster, Caitlyn served as a legal intern to the Hon. Rossie D. Alston, Jr. on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Hon. Amy Berman Jackson on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. She also interned in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and worked part-time as a research assistant for the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, a State Department-funded project that provides international criminal law and war crime prosecution expertise to the Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General.Caitlyn received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, she served as symposium editor for the Journal of National Security Law & Policy. She also served as a Legal Observer to the Military Commissions at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Caitlyn competed as a member of Georgetown’s 2023 International Criminal Court (“ICC”) moot court team, which placed first in North America and went on to place top 15 worldwide at the global ICC Moot Court competition in The Hague, Netherlands. Before Georgetown, Caitlyn received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Middle Eastern Studies from The University of Alabama.

Caitlyn Johnson

Hanna is a corporate associate in Morrison Foerster’s Palo Alto office.Prior to joining the firm, Hanna was a Summer Associate in the Palo Alto office during the summers of 2021 and 2022, and an SEO Law Fellow in the Palo Alto office during the summer of 2020. She also spent time as a U.S. Squash Ambassador with the International Olympic Committee.Hanna earned her J.D. at New York University School of Law, where she was a Senior Editor of the Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law. She also holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College.She is also a native speaker of Amharic.

Hanna Balcha

Lovina Cosunji is a corporate associate in the Palo Alto office of Morrison Foerster.Prior to joining the firm as an associate, Lovina was a summer associate in Morrison Foerster’s Palo Alto office. She also served as a Contract Reviewer and Student Lead with The Atticus Project, a non-profit organization harnessing the power of AI to accelerate contract review.Lovina earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law, where she was the recipient of the James A. Emery S.J. Merit Scholarship for outstanding academic credentials. Lovina is a member of the Santa Clara Law Chapter of the Order of the Coif. She also holds a B.S. in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University.She is fluent in Filipino.