
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel
Global Guide 2026 : USA
Rankings

Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
About
Provided by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
For more information about Davis Polk’s practices, please visit https://www.davispolk.com/capabilities.
Chambers Review
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Work Highlights
Provided by Chambers
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP advised the underwriters in connection with the SEC-registered offering by AbbVie Inc. of $15 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes in seven series.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
The entire team is incredibly responsive, from the most senior partners to the most junior associates.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalDavis Polk is the best that we have dealt with. The team has tremendous depth of resources and can tackle any issue.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalDavis Polk is our go-to for the most complex and sophisticated matters.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalDavis Polk provides excellent client service and thoughtful guidance based on their immense experience and presence in the capital markets sphere.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalDavis Polk looks to solve complex issues and deliver for the client in the best possible way.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Notable Practitioners
Provided by Chambers
Star Individuals 
Star Individuals 
Michael Kaplan
Michael Kaplan stands out for his market-leading practice, which encompasses the representation of issuers and managers in high-yield and investment-grade debt issuances, as well as equity offerings. Michael is one of the best lawyers out there; he is incredibly experienced.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalMichael is one of the top capital markets lawyers in the US. He is incredibly responsive and commercial.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalMichael is fantastic, he is absolutely top notch and top tier.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Star Individuals 
Star Individuals 
Richard D Truesdell
Richard Truesdell wins broad acclaim as an industry-leading name for securities transactions. His stellar practice runs the full gamut of issuer and manager representation, advising on debt and equity offerings by companies in diverse industries.
He is the best lawyer I've ever worked with, his analysis is superb. He has a wealth of knowledge and always has insightful judgment.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalHis technical knowledge is encyclopedic and the way he effortlessly guides transactions is second to none.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalRichard is one of the most excellent capital markets parnters. He has very deep understanding of complex securities issues and gives very strategic advice.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalThe best capital markets and finance adviser in the country.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalRichard is the lawyer you want on your capital markets transaction.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 1 
Band 1 
Alan Denenberg
Alan Denenberg impresses with his experience handling significant IPOs and other equity offerings, as well as high -profile debt transactions, ranging from high-yield bonds to convertible debt. Alan is simply the best, a trusted partner that balances legal risks and commercial needs.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalAlan Denenberg is a well-respected adviser with an impeccable reputation who has in-depth knowledge of market trends and securities law.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalAlan is our go-to Partner at Davis Polk in life sciences and technology.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 2 
Band 2 
Deanna Kirkpatrick
Deanna Kirkpatrick is a great choice of counsel for complex debt and equity transactions, boasting an excellent track record in traditional biotechnology IPOs as well as work for underwriters in substantial bond and note issuances.
She is very technically proficient and a good problem-solver.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 2 
Band 2 
Emily Roberts
Emily Roberts is commended for her ability to advise household name issuers and high-profile underwriters on the full range of debt and equity transactions. Emily is technically very good.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 2 
Band 2 
John Meade
John Meade maintains a broad capital markets practice, dedicated to the representation of both issuer and manager-side clients in IPOs, and other equity offerings, as well as debt issuances. John is outstanding. He is always available and provides very balanced, practical and actionable legal advice.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalHe is a smart, level-headed and practical adviser.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalJohn Meade is a go-to lawyer on the most challenging and complex capital markets issues.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalHe is our go-to lawyer with subject matter expertise, experience and good judgment.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 3 
Band 3 
Byron Rooney
Byron Rooney continues to impress clients with his talent at handling the full range of debt and equity securities offerings, including advising on novel transactional structures. Byron is a cut above. He is so smart, so responsive, so good with clients and very commercial.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalByron provides excellent customer service. He is a great communicator and very commercial.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalByron goes above and beyond to meet our deadlines and providing very, very strong and reliable advice.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 3 
Band 3 
Derek Dostal
Derek Dostal comes recommended for his comprehensive debt practice. He has also established himself as a key figure in equity capital markets, with a particular expertise in IPOs.
Derek was great to work with, he dealt with a lot of complexity and took everything in stride.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalDerek is rapidly becoming an industry star. He is super responsive, brilliant and provides great service to his clients. I sleep soundly at night when I know that Derek is my outside counsel.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalHe is practical and commerical.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 4 
Band 4 
Marcel Fausten
Marcel Fausten is developing an impressive reputation among companies and leading investment banks as a capital markets adviser of choice for debt and equity transactions. Marcel is an absolutely phenomenal and responsive expert.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalMarcel is an incredible technical lawyer. He provides very good perspective on challenging issues. He's hands-on and personalized in how he approaches his clients.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalMarcel is smart, commercial and responsive.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalHe is a great capital markets lawyer.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 5 
Band 5 
Roshni Banker Cariello
Roshi Banker Cariello is noted for her work handling debt and equity transactions including IPO and post-IPO work.
Roshni provides incredible service and is very commercial.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalRoshni is a risng star.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 5 
Band 5 
Shane Tintle
Shane Tintle has experience handling both the issuer and underwriter sides of debt and equity matters.
Shane provides outstanding, exceptional, efficient support across the board on all unsecure debt issuances.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalShane is very business-minded, he is our go to for any question on this front. He is extremely responsive, proactive and reaches out to us regularly to check in.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalShane Tintle has been outstanding in quality and speed of service. He understands our business needs and provides pragmatic and useful advice.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalHe's on top of real time development, he is incredibly well informed and leads a phenomenal team.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalShane is super available and offers constructive advice, industry knowledgeable and is very practical.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
Band 5 
Band 5 
Yasin Keshvargar
Yasin Keshvargar gains recognition from issuers and underwriters for his ability to assist with a wide range of debt and equity transactions, including IPOs. Yasin is an excellent attorney and also very pleasant to deal with.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobalHe is smart and a problem solver.
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel respondentGlobal
USA, expertise based abroad in Spain 
USA, expertise based abroad in Spain 
Michael J Willisch
Madrid-based practitioner Michael Willisch remains a trusted adviser due to his longstanding experience in the capital markets arena in Spain. He regularly assists with a broad range of mandates including private placements, share placements and share-swap transactions. As a US-qualified lawyer Michael Willisch is a particularly good choice for clients seeking comprehensive cross-border assistance.
Ranked Individuals at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (17)
Members
Provided by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Manuel Garciadiaz
View profile of Manuel Garciadiaz
Michael Kaplan
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Nicholas A Kronfeld
View profile of Nicholas A Kronfeld
Michael J Willisch
View profile of Michael J Willisch
Maurice Blanco
View profile of Maurice Blanco
Byron Rooney
View profile of Byron Rooney
Richard D Truesdell
View profile of Richard D Truesdell
John Meade
View profile of John Meade
Marcel Fausten
View profile of Marcel Fausten
Yasin Keshvargar
View profile of Yasin Keshvargar
Shane Tintle
View profile of Shane Tintle
Derek Dostal
View profile of Derek Dostal
Roshni Banker Cariello
View profile of Roshni Banker Cariello
Alan Denenberg
View profile of Alan Denenberg
Deanna Kirkpatrick
View profile of Deanna Kirkpatrick
Emily Roberts
View profile of Emily Roberts
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has rankings in the following guides
Band 1 USA 2026
Practice area: Capital Markets: Debt & Equity
Location: California
View department profile for USA 2026
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