Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP seems to be on a hiring spree looking for top experts, and the latest to join the law firm is former K&L Gates partner Thomas J. Poletti. He is highly respected for his extensive experience in Corporate and Securities practice and will be joining Manatt’s Capital Markets practice as a partner in its Orange County office. Poletti joins Manatt on the heels of Los Angeles entertainment litigator John Gatti and privacy, advertising and media lawyer Jesse Brody; Orange County employment litigator Mandana Massoumi; and San Francisco financial services and banking lawyer David Gershon.
Poletti has represented numerous issuers and underwriters in a variety of industries in connection with initial and secondary public offerings, acting as lead counsel or co-counsel on more than 170 public offerings. He has represented companies in connection with initial and subsequent rounds of common and/or preferred stock financings, and with senior, subordinated and mezzanine secured and unsecured financings. In addition, he represents small, middle-market and large companies in connection with public and private acquisitions and dispositions.
He focuses his practice in the areas of corporate and securities work for investment banks, private equity funds, and publicly and privately held companies. He has substantial experience in public and private equity and debt offerings, venture capital financings, corporate partnering transactions, strategic investments and M&A transactions. He represents companies in diverse technology markets and in the retail, manufacturing, financial services and biotechnology industries. Poletti has also worked extensively with companies in China raising money in the U.S. public and private markets.
Speaking on Poletti joining the law firm, Gordon Bava, chair of Manatt’s Business, Finance & Tax Division said, “Tom’s experience in many of Manatt’s strategic industries and practice areas makes him a perfect fit for our firm — particularly in growth areas like capital markets, where the depth and international scope of his work extends our reach … Our clients will benefit from his experience serving a wide range of public- and private-sector companies, particularly those in Asia, where he has developed a highly respected and successful practice.”
Poletti earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law and a B.A.F.S. from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.