David Sakowitz serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Capital Markets practice and concentrates his practice in securities, international corporate finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters.

David has extensive experience with advising on the issuance of high-yield debt, equity, and equity-linked securities in SEC-registered, Rule 144A, Regulation S, and private placement transactions. He has been involved in public and private offerings in Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States, including initial public offerings, rights offerings, and debt-for-equity exchanges.

David also counsels U.S. and foreign private issuers regarding ongoing compliance with SEC, New York Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq reporting obligations. Additionally, David advises clients regarding public disclosure obligations and corporate governance issues. He has experience in transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), acting for issuers, sponsors and underwriters in SPAC IPOs as well as for acquirers and targets in SPAC business combinations.

David is an adjunct professor at the Cornell University School of Law, where he teaches its course on securities regulation.

Honors & Awards

David is listed as a “Key Lawyer” in The Legal 500 U.S. 2021 for Capital Markets: Equity Offerings.

Activities

David is the global co-chair of the Winston Pride LGBTQ affinity group and a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He also is a member of the firm’s Hiring Committee, Summer Program Committee, Associate Evaluation Committee and Corporate Opinion Committee.

Credentials

David received an A.B., magna cum laude, in 1991 from Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and a J.D. in 1994 from Harvard Law School, where he was a submissions editor of the Harvard International Law Journal and a supervising editor of the Harvard Journal on Legislation.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

David's publications and speaking engagements include:

• Speaker, “Board Compensation Committees in 2020 and Primer on Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs),” NACD Program, November 2020
• “The Credit Roundtable’s Proposals to Improve Covenant Protections in the Investment-Grade Bond Market,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, February/March 2008 (with James Junewicz).
• “Securities Laws,” Basri & Kagan's Corporate Legal Departments (Practising Law Institute; annual updates).