Joanne R. Soslow counsels public companies, emerging growth businesses, and corporate venture capital groups on corporate and securities matters. Deputy leader of the firm’s corporate practice and former chair of the securities and corporate governance practice, Joanne advises clients primarily in the energy, biotechnology, financial services, technology, medical device, specialty pharmaceutical industries. In her transactional practice, Joanne guides companies in their complex public and private equity and debt securities activities, venture capital initiatives, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Extended Profile
Counseling clients in every phase of their growth cycles, Joanne advises on startup strategies, initial public offerings, change-of-control transactions, exit strategies, and corporate governance matters along the way. She often serves as the primary outside counselor to many of her clients, advising them on securities matters, M&A transactions, corporate governance matters, board of director and fiduciary duty issues, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and other legal needs. She frequently speaks at client and industry events on such topics as security industry trends and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiatives.
Chair of the firm's Global Steering Committee for Morgan Lewis Women, a founding member of the firm's Diversity Committee, and a former member of the firm's Advisory Board, Joanne mentors and supports women lawyers.In keeping with Morgan Lewis's commitment to pro bono work and community service, she is also a member of the Forum of Executive Women and the Trustee's Council of Penn Women.
selected representations
Capital Markets Representations
Represented AmeriGas Partners, L.P. in connection with its $1.35 billion public offering of senior notes
Represented American Water Capital Corp. in connection with its $550 million offering of senior notes.
Represented Antares Pharma, Inc. in connection with its $46 million public offering.
Represented Cerecor Inc. in connection with its $26 million initial public offering.
Represented Planet Payment, Inc. in connection with its tender offer to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock.
Represented Tucows Inc. in connection with multiple tender offers to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock.
Corporate and Emerging Growth Representations
Represented 1315 Capital in its $10.5 million Series A investment in Encore Dermatology.
Represented Aprecia Pharmaceuticals Company in connection with its $35 million preferred stock financing with investments from Deerfield Management Company LP and JW Asset Management.
Represented Aprecia Pharmaceuticals Company in securing a debt financing agreement of up to $30 million with Hercules Capital Inc.
Represented Cervilenz in connection with its $6 million Series B financing.
Represented Comcast Ventures in connection with its multiple investments including its investments in Bento Technologies Inc., KeyMe, Inc., Tely Labs, Madison Reed Inc., Windsor Circle, Axial, Fullscreen, Lead Intelligence, and SundaySky Ltd.
Represented Lucina Health Inc. in its Series AA-1 financing from Arboretum Ventures, Chrysalis Ventures, Kresge VC, and Gray Fox Investments.
Represented Nevakar in its $55 million fundraising
M&A Transactions
Represented Acurian in connection with its sale to Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC.
Represented InnoPharma in its sale to Pfizer.
Represented Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. in connection with its sale to BB&T Corporation for a cash and stock transaction.
Education
Boston University School of Law, 1991, J.D.
University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, 1987, B.S.E.
University of Pennsylvania, 1987, B.A.
Admissions
Pennsylvania
Awards and Affiliations
Highly Regarded, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2019, 2020)
Highly Regarded, IFLR1000 United States (2018, 2019)
Band 1, Corporate/M&A: Securities, Pennsylvania, Chambers USA (2015–2019)
Ranked, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2012–2014)
Recognized, IFLR 1000 Women Leaders (2018)
Lawyer of the Year, Securities Regulation, Philadelphia, The Best Lawyers in America (2020)
Lawyer of the Year, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Philadelphia, The Best Lawyers in America (2017)
Recognized, Corporate Law, Philadelphia; Securities/Capital Markets Law, Philadelphia; Securities Regulation, Philadelphia, The Best Lawyers in America (2007–2020)
Top Woman Lawyer,The Best Lawyers in America (2016, 2017)
Recommended, The Legal 500 US (2012–2017)
Recommended, Finance: Capital markets: debt offerings - advice to issuers, The Legal 500 US (2018, 2019)
Recommended, Finance: Capital markets: equity offerings, The Legal 500 US (2018, 2019)
Recommended, M&A/corporate and commercial: Venture capital and emerging companies, The Legal 500 US (2018, 2019)
Recognized, The Nation’s Top 10 Securities Lawyers, United States Lawyer Rankings (2015)
Women of Distinction, Philadelphia Business Journal (2014)
Women of the Year, The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly (2008)
Appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Corporation Bureau