Manatt Strengthens Capital Markets Practice

Thomas Poletti Brings Extensive Corporate and Securities Experience to National Team

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Mar 24, 2014, 12:15 ET

COSTA MESA, Calif., March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that Thomas J. Poletti has joined the firm's Capital Markets practice as a partner in its Orange County office. He was previously a partner at K&L Gates LLP.

Poletti 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.

"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," said Gordon Bava, chair of Manatt's Business, Finance & Tax Division. "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 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.

William T. Quicksilver, Manatt's chief executive officer and managing partner, said Poletti's addition "enhances our national corporate, capital market and transactions platform, as well as our capabilities in the public securities and capital markets areas. We are delighted to welcome Tom to Manatt."

"Manatt's strategic focus on industries such as finance, healthcare, digital media and energy, together with its collaborative and highly regarded team of lawyers, makes it an appealing place to continue my practice," Poletti said. "Manatt is well-positioned to not only meet but also exceed client expectations in the capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity spaces."

Poletti joins a number of recent partner additions to Manatt offices on both coasts. New California partners include 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 served as a member of the board of directors of Skechers USA Inc. and of IMH Commercial Holdings Inc., a specialty finance lender organized as a REIT. He has served as a member of the executive committee of the Los Angeles Council of the American Electronics Association. Poletti has also been a guest lecturer at the UCLA/MIT Venture Forum and the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

Manatt's Capital Markets practice assists issuers and underwriters in a wide variety of capital markets transactions, regularly advising established and emerging companies in various industries, including financial services, technology, healthcare, telecommunications, energy, consumer products, manufacturing and real estate. Whether involving equity, debt or hybrid securities, the firm's lawyers find and structure solutions through a comprehensive approach to financing transactions. Using a team-oriented approach, Manatt's Capital Markets lawyers work closely with the firm's industry practices to provide a thorough understanding of all issues affecting transactions and to find the most effective approaches to those issues.

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.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation's leading law and consulting firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base — including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies — across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.