NEW YORK, October 8, 2024: Morgan Lewis expands the firm’s capital markets and public companies practice with the arrival of Rahul Patel, a former Davis Polk lawyer who previously served as an attorney-advisor with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Division of Corporation Finance. Rahul joins as a partner, resident in the firm’s New York and Princeton offices.
Rahul brings to Morgan Lewis capital markets deal experience in equity and debt across a wide range of industries, including real estate investment trusts, finance, retail, technology, life sciences, and industrials. Beyond his deal experience, Rahul broadly advises public companies on governance and disclosure matters, as well as reviewing periodic reports and proxy statements.
“Our public company clients and their in-house legal teams look to Morgan Lewis for trusted counsel and as partners in navigating the changing capital markets space,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Rahul has deep substantive knowledge of the securities laws given his years of practice and a unique perspective given his tenure at the SEC, and we are pleased to welcome him to our strong team.”
“Rahul balances deep transactional knowledge with a strong regulatory background,” said Christina Edling Melendi, global leader of the firm’s corporate and business transactions practice. “Rahul’s robust capital markets deal experience from his years as both issuer and underwriter counsel, and experience with both equity and debt deals, will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”
The firm has more than 20 SEC alumni across the US offices, and spans the SEC’s Divisions of Enforcement, Investment Management, Corporation Finance, and Trading and Markets, including Carolyn M. Welshhans, former associate director of the Enforcement Division; Erin E. Martin, a former legal branch chief in the SEC Division of Corporation Finance; Celia A. Soehner, co-leader of the firm’s capital markets and public companies practice and a former SEC attorney-advisor; Kelly L. Gibson, former acting deputy director of the Enforcement Division and leader of its Climate and ESG Task Force; Frederick L. Block, former supervisory trial counsel in the Enforcement Division; and Christine Ayako Schleppegrell, former branch chief at the Division of Investment Management.