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

John 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
  • Tender offers

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

John was named a Rising Star in the area of Securities & Corporate Finance by Super Lawyers in 2019-2024. In law school, he was an editor on the Stanford Law Review. He currently serves on Latham’s Ethics Committee.

Capital Markets

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

  • IDEAYA Biosciences in its follow-on equity public offerings
  • Underwriters in the US$1.2 billion IPO of HashiCorp
  • Aligos Therapeutics in its US$150 million IPO and 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 follow-on offerings
  • Ascendis Pharma in its US$124 million IPO, follow-on offerings, and royalty financings
  • 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 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, 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 follow-on offering
  • Sarepta Therapeutics in its follow-on offering and its at-the-market equity offering

Company Representation and Venture Financings

John 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)
  • Ardelyx (public; biotech)
  • Azora Therapeutics (private; biotech)
  • Extreme Networks (public; tech)
  • Fandom (private; tech)
  • Intuitive Surgical (public; medical device)
  • Modernizing Medicine (private; tech)
  • National Resilience (private; biotech)
  • Revolution Medicines (public; biotech)

Mergers and Acquisitions and Activism Defense

John 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 EQRx

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

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