Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has promoted the following attorneys to Senior Counsel and Counsel, effective January 1, 2021.
The new Senior Counsel are:
John N. Bennett (New York) – John is a member of the Exempt Organizations Practice, advising endowed universities, foundations, cultural institutions and other institutional investors on their investment activities. He also counsels public charities and private foundations on impact, mission- and program-related investments, as well as on formation, governance, mergers, reorganizations, global grant-making and taxation issues. He received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a James Kent and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his B.A. from Tufts University.
Lia Toback (New York) – With a focus on corporate finance transactions, Lia represents both issuers and underwriters on initial public offerings, high yield financings, debt restructurings, liability management transactions and other domestic and international capital raising transactions. She has a particular focus on offerings of equity-linked securities. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from George Washington University, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif, and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.
The new Counsel are:
Sung Bum Cho (New York) – Sung is a member of the Firm’s Capital Markets Practice. He regularly represents issuers and underwriters on a range of securities transactions, including initial public offerings, secondary and follow-on equity offerings and various debt offerings. A former regulator at the Financial Supervisory Service of South Korea, he received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law and his Bachelor of Laws from Seoul National University School of Law.
Paulo Fernando de Menezes Cardoso (São Paulo) – Paulo advises corporate issuers, investment banks and private equity sponsors on domestic and international equity and debt offerings. He also advises clients on SEC-reporting matters, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and other corporate matters, with a focus on Brazil. Paulo received his LL.M. from The University of Chicago Law School, his Business Management B.A. from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and his LL.B. from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.
Michael Ceulen (Hong Kong) – A member of the Firm’s Private Funds Practice, Michael specializes in the organization, structuring and operation of global private equity funds across numerous asset classes, including buyout, growth, real estate and credit, as well as co-investment arrangements and separately managed accounts, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. He received his LL.M. degrees from New York University School of Law and National University of Singapore and his licenciaat rechten, magna cum laude, from University of Antwerp.
Jihyun Chung (New York) – Jihyun is a member of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice. She represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as strategic clients, on a broad range of mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, joint ventures, minority investments and dispositions. Jihyun received her J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, her M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management and her B.B.A. from Yonsei University.
Jacqueline B. Clinton (New York) – A member of the Firm’s Tax Practice, Jackie advises clients on tax aspects of corporate matters, including fund formations, mergers and acquisitions, financings and securities offerings. Jackie received her J.D. and Business Law Certificate from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and her B.S.F.S., cum laude, from Georgetown University.
Kai Fan (Hong Kong) – Kai is a member of the Firm’s Capital Markets Practice, representing issuers and underwriters on initial public offerings in the United States and Hong Kong. Kai also advises companies on their pre- and post-IPO financings and investments, and in various corporate and regulatory matters. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Yale University.
Matthew Hart (Houston) – Matt advises on domestic and international equity and debt securities offerings, as well as corporate restructurings, with a focus on high yield offerings and the energy sector. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, and an M.A. and B.S. from Johns Hopkins University. He was a law clerk to the Hon. Carolyn D. King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Christopher P. Healey (Washington, D.C.) – Part of the Firm’s Registered Funds Practice, Christopher regularly counsels clients regarding the development of innovative retail fund products, novel applications for SEC exemptive relief, complex asset management M&A transactions and investment company status issues. His practice focuses on advising registered funds, investment advisers, business development companies and fund boards. Chris received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from Tufts University.
Joo Hyun Lee (New York) – Joo is a member of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice. She provides guidance on a wide range of compensation and employee benefits issues arising in mergers and acquisitions, sales and equity offerings, among other transactions. She also advises public and private companies on a variety of compensatory and benefit arrangements. Joo received her J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.A., cum laude, from Yale University.
Matthew Levy (New York) – Matthew represents issuers and investment banks in initial public offerings and follow-on offerings, high yield and investment grade debt financings and other capital markets transactions. He also advises clients on corporate governance and general securities law matters. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law and a B.S., magna cum laude, from Cornell University. Matthew was a law clerk to the Hon. Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster of the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Dennis J. Loiacono (New York) – A member of the Firm’s Real Estate Practice, Dennis advises private equity firms, financial institutions and companies in domestic and international real estate matters involving mergers, acquisitions, sales and debt and equity financings. He also advises clients in connection with real estate-related restructuring matters. Dennis received his J.D., cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law and a B.S. from the University of Maryland.
Sarah E. Phillips (New York) – Sarah represents clients in a wide range of high-stakes commercial litigation matters, including complex multijurisdictional cases, with a focus on securities and insurance litigation. She also advises clients in government and internal investigations. Sarah received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University. She was a law clerk to the Hon. William H. Pauley, III of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Tony Y. Rim (New York) – Tony advises corporate issuers, private equity sponsors and investment banks in connection with a wide range of debt and equity capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings, as well as high yield and investment grade debt offerings. He also advises clients on corporate governance and general corporate and securities law matters. Tony received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and a B.A., cum laude, from UCLA.
Nicole Rubin Sanci (New York) – Nicole is a member of the Firm’s Personal Planning Practice, focusing on complex trust and estate administration, helping fiduciaries navigate challenges that arise in the management of multigenerational trusts and estates of affluent families. Nicole also advises high-net-worth individuals on transfers of wealth during life and thereafter. She received her J.D., cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law and a B.A. from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Jonathan G. Stradling (Tokyo) – Jonathan is a member of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice. He regularly represents corporations and private equity sponsors in mergers, acquisitions and sales across a wide range of industries, including financial institutions, industrials and technology, among others. Jonathan received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, an A.M. from Harvard University and a B.A. from Brigham Young University.
Erik Ping Wang (Hong Kong) – Erik advises corporate, private equity and other clients in connection with a variety of public and private mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, minority and strategic investments, dispositions and other corporate matters. Erik received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his LL.B., with honors, from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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