David S Stone

Practice Areas

David Stone is a partner in the Corporate practice and is based in the firm’s Chicago office. He has more than three decades of experience advising management and boards of directors of public and private companies throughout the country, and acts as U.S. counsel for international clients, in complex corporate transactions, securities offerings and governance matters, as well as day-to-day general corporate, securities compliance and executive compensation matters. David also frequently serves as outside general counsel to his clients, bringing with him a unique perspective having previously served as the acting general counsel of a publicly-traded company, and directing them through a transformational transaction with complex tax issues.

David represents issuers in registered public equity and debt offerings (including initial public offerings, primary and secondary offerings and rights offerings) and public and private placements of equity and debt securities, as well as investors and borrowers in private equity and venture capital investments.

David’s clients span a broad range of industries – energy, mining, insurance, technology, manufacturing and many more – and he provides strategic counsel to their officers and directors on mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, public and private tender offers, and proxy contests. He also has significant experience helping clients develop and implement effective strategies to overcome the multifaceted challenges in seeking to preserve and monetize net operating losses (NOLs).

David has a rare ability to build an extraordinary level of trust with clients based on his strong technical skills and his devotion to understanding every aspect of their operations, competitive environments and long-term objectives. This comprehensive approach enables him to develop strategies tailored to each distinct set of circumstances and navigate his clients through the numerous challenges and opportunities they encounter throughout the life cycle of their businesses. According to his clients, “He understands and does a very effective job of managing the day-to-day governance issues and the various matters that come up during the year.” David “provides excellent advice and counsel from a practical as well as legal point of view,” and “he thinks like a business leader, so he is that much more valuable.”

Personal

Economic Club of Chicago

Nourishing Hope, Chair Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (2019-2023) and Board Member (2013-2023)

Princeton Club of Chicago Leadership Council and Co-Legal Counsel (2013 – 2019)