Lisa Firenze has a broad-based practice focused on corporate transactions and securities law matters. She has extensive experience representing both issuers and underwriters on all aspects of public and private securities offerings, including initial public offerings, follow-on equity and debt offerings, private placements, spin-offs, convertible note deals, and SPAC transactions. Ms. Firenze also represents emerging companies and financial and other investors in venture financings, strategic investments and other corporate transactions. In addition, Ms. Firenze's practice encompasses regulatory matters arising under the federal and state securities laws, as well as securities regulatory organizations and exchanges, including the SEC, FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Ms. Firenze also advises on a wide range of corporate governance and compliance issues.
Prior to joining WilmerHale, Ms. Firenze served as executive director and senior counsel at UBS Investment Bank. In her role at UBS, Ms. Firenze provided senior legal support to business management across all industry sectors for securities offerings and capital markets transactions, as well as a wide range of other investment banking matters, including mergers and acquisitions, liability management transactions, closed-end funds and corporate restructuring transactions, in addition to advising on general securities law matters and risk management issues.
Professional Activities
Ms. Firenze has been a frequent speaker at securities law presentations and industry conferences, including the Practicing Law Institute's “How to Prepare an Initial Public Offering” and the New York City Bar Association's “Securities Offering Process: The Basics and Beyond.” She is also an active member of the New York City Bar Association's Securities Regulation Committee. In addition, Ms. Firenze is a former member of the Corporate Financing Committee of FINRA and has served on the Capital Markets Subcommittee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), as well as the Financial Reporting Committee of the New York City Bar Association. Ms. Firenze is also an active member of the firm's Women's Leadership Initiative.
Experience
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IPOs
Initial public offerings representing either the issuer or underwriters, including the following: Adaptimmune Limited, Amylyx, Arcellx, Biotie Therapies, Candel Therapeutics, CinCor, Entasis Therapeutics, Forma Therapeutics, Graybug, Kymera Therapeutics, Icosavax, Ikena Oncology, MacroGenics, Milestone Pharmaceuticals, Oncorus, Rallybio, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, TCR² Therapeutics, Theseus Pharmaceuticals, Xeris Pharmaceuticals and Zynerba Pharmaceuticals.
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Public Offerings
Numerous follow-on and other public equity and debt offerings representing either the issuer or underwriters, including offerings for the following: Accuray, ADMA Biologics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Amylyx, Arcellx, Avadel Pharmaceuticals, BioXcel Therapeutics, Cerecor, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Curis Pharmaceuticals, CytoSorbents, Disc Medicine, Forma Therapeutics, Genpact, Ikena Oncology, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Kymera Therapeutics, MacroGenics, The Medicines Company, Milestone Pharmaceuticals, Oncorus, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Sensata, State Street, Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Viridian Therapeutics, Xeris Pharmaceuticals and Zynerba Pharmaceuticals. -
Strategic and Venture Financings
Strategic and venture financings, representing either the company or investors, including financings for the following: BlueVine, Capitolis, Checkbook, Cool Planet, Crux Informatics, Inpher, Ionic Security, Kensho Technologies, MerQube, Natural Capital Exchange, Persado, ReversingLabs, Saphyre, Taulia, Toast, Transfr, Ursa Space Systems, Volley Labs and WeConvene.
Recognition
- Named a "Life Sciences Star" by LMG Life Sciences (2023).
Insights & News
Credentials
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Education
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JD, Columbia Law School
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar -
BA, Yale University
magna cum laude
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Admissions
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New York
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Connecticut
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Credentials
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Education
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JD, Columbia Law School
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar -
BA, Yale University
magna cum laude
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Admissions
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New York
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Connecticut
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