Williams, John C.

John C. Williams

Partner

john.williams@lw.com
    Williams, John C.

    John C. Williams

    Partner

    john.williams@lw.com

    Profile

    John Williams advises public and private companies in the life sciences and technology industries throughout their corporate lifecycles, as well as underwriters and financial advisers active in those industries.

    Mr. Williams primarily handles capital markets and emerging company matters, and he represents issuers and investment banks on various transactions, including:

    • Initial public offerings
    • Direct listings
    • Follow-on equity and debt offerings
    • Venture capital financings
    • Private placements of public equity
    • Strategic investments

    He also regularly advises on securities law compliance, corporate governance matters, employment matters, equity incentives, and startup matters.

    Mr. Williams was named a Rising Star in the area of Securities & Corporate Finance by Super Lawyers in 2019-2020. In law school, he was an editor on the Stanford Law Review. He currently serves on Latham’s Ethics Committee.

    Experience

    Capital Markets

    Mr. Williams advises on various capital markets transactions, from IPOs and direct listings to follow-on offerings. His experience includes representing:

    • Underwriters in the US$1.2 billion IPO of HashiCorp
    • Aligos Therapeutics in its US$150 million IPO, and US$83.6 million follow-on offering
    • Financial advisors in the direct listing of Asana
    • Initial purchasers in the Slack Technologies US$862 million convertible notes offering
    • Financial advisors in the direct listing of Slack Technologies
    • Revolution Medicines in its US$273.7 million IPO, and US$168 million follow-on offering
    • Ascendis Pharma in its US$124 million IPO, US$655 million follow-on offering, other follow-on offerings, and at-the-market equity offerings
    • Underwriters in the US$80 million IPO of Harpoon Therapeutics
    • Achaogen in its follow-on offerings, at-the-market equity offerings, and PIPE transaction
    • Ardelyx in its US$110 million and US$78 million PIPE transactions
    • Initial purchasers in the BioMarin Pharmaceutical US$495 million convertible notes offering
    • Prothena Corporation in its US$155 million follow-on offering
    • e.l.f. Beauty in its US$259 million public offering by selling stockholders
    • Integrated Device Technology in its US$374 million convertible notes offering
    • Relypsa in its US$87 million IPO, US$172 million follow-on offering, and at-the-market equity offerings
    • Initial purchasers in the Salesforce.com US$1.15 billion convertible notes offering
    • Underwriters in the US$70 million IPO and follow-on offering of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals
    • OncoMed Pharmaceuticals in its US$94 million IPO and at-the-market equity offering
    • Corcept Therapeutics in its US$46 million follow-on offering
    • Sarepta Therapeutics in its US$125 million underwritten public offering of equity and its US$40 million at-the-market equity offering

    Company Representation and Venture Financings

    Mr. Williams represents public and private companies in general corporate matters, public company reporting, venture capital financings, and strategic transactions. His clients include:

    • Aligos Therapeutics (public; biotech)
    • Ascendis Pharma (public; biotech)
    • e.l.f. Beauty (public; cosmetics)
    • Extreme Networks (public; tech)
    • Fandom (private; tech)
    • Intuitive Surgical (public; medical device)
    • Modernizing Medicine (private; tech)
    • National Resilience (private; biotech)
    • One Concern (private; tech)
    • Revolution Medicines (public; biotech)

    Mergers and Acquisitions and Activism Defense

    Mr. Williams has advised on the following M&A and activism defense matters:

    • e.l.f. Beauty (public) in its cooperation agreement with Marathon Partners
    • Fandom (private) in acquisition of Huddler
    • Mirna Therapeutics (public) in its reverse merger transaction with Synlogic
    • OpenTable (public) in acquisition of Foodspotting
    • Pearl Therapeutics (private) in its sale to AstraZeneca
    • Relypsa (public) in its sale to Galenica Group
    • Revolution Medicines (public) in its acquisition of Warp Drive Bio

    Qualifications

    Bar Qualification

    • California

    Education

    • JD, Stanford Law School, 2011
    • BA in Economics, Georgetown University, 2006
      magna cum laude

    Practices

    Industries

    Recognition

    News & Insights

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