Justin W. Chairman, a senior member and former head of the firm’s capital markets and public companies practice, counsels both public and private companies on issues that arise in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, securities compliance and corporate governance activities, and contract, finance, securities, and general corporate matters. Justin specializes in working with real estate investment trusts and also represents clients in various other industries, including life sciences, retail, technology, automotive, media, staffing, and consulting, among others. Justin has led numerous teams in representing several clients in defending against shareholder activism, and routinely counsels clients in preparing for such activity.
Justin advises public companies and their boards on strategies for making a company less vulnerable to activist shareholders, shareholder engagement, investor communications, corporate governance issues, board composition enhancement, and other board advisory matters. He has experience representing public companies domiciled in a variety of jurisdictions and across a broad array of industries in connection with shareholder activism defense, takeover defense, and related board advisory matters.
In keeping with Morgan Lewis’s commitment to community service, Justin is actively involved on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the Philadelphia branch of the Anti-Defamation League.
Justin often speaks at client and industry events on topics such as security industry trends and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiatives.
Ranked, Corporate/M&A: Securities, Pennsylvania, Chambers USA (2008, 2009, 2021–2024)
Recommended, Finance: Capital markets: equity offerings, The Legal 500 US (2013, 2016–2018, 2021–2023)
Recommended, Finance: Capital markets: debt offerings, The Legal 500 US (2021, 2022)
Recommended, Finance: Capital markets: debt, The Legal 500 US (2020)
Recommended, Finance: Capital markets: equity, The Legal 500 US (2020)
Recommended, M&A/Corporate and Commercial - M&A - Large Deals ($1bn+), The Legal 500 US (2013, 2016, 2017, 2020)
Recommended, Finance: Capital markets: debt offerings - advice to issuers, The Legal 500 US (2017–2019)
Recommended, Real Estate: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), The Legal 500 US (2019)
Highly Regarded – State, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2020–2023)
Highly Regarded – State, IFLR1000 United States (2018–2020)
Ranked, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2008, 2009)
Member, Drafting Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association for the Title 15 Business Associations Code
Member, American Bar Association and Philadelphia Bar Association
Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review