Freshfields Expands Capital Markets Team with Two Partners in New York and Silicon Valley

Global law firm Freshfields continues to expand its Capital Markets practice with two partner additions, further positioning the firm to advise companies and financial institutions on complex capital markets transactions: Jeffrey Gould in Silicon Valley and Justin Michael in New York.

AI-driven growth is transforming the capital markets, with companies raising unprecedented amounts of capital and increasingly turning to equity-linked and structured products that offer flexibility, efficiency and access to a broader investor base.

With deep expertise on complex capital markets transactions, Jeff and Justin bolster the firm’s capability to advise on convertible bonds, convertible preferred and other equity-linked securities offerings and related equity derivatives products, as well as other complex securities and structured products. This is on top of the firm’s support for the full range of public and private securities offerings — from IPOs to follow-on equity offerings and ATMs to investment grade and high yield debt securities. Together, these capabilities enable Freshfields to provide integrated support to both issuers and investment banks across the full spectrum of capital markets transactions.

U.S. Managing Partner Damien Zoubek stated: “Jeff and Justin are recognized experts in one of the most complex areas of the capital markets. They reflect our commitment to having the highest-quality and most client-friendly lawyers in the market, so that we can meet our clients’ most sophisticated capital-raising needs.”

Global Co-Head of Capital Markets Sarah Solum added: “I am thrilled to have Jeff and Justin in the partnership. I have long admired the judgment, technical excellence and client commitment they bring to the most complex convertible bond and equity derivatives mandates. Only a small handful of practitioners in the U.S. have their depth of expertise or experience advising issuers and investment banking clients alike. Our clients will benefit from the same qualities I have seen from them over many years: deep market knowledge, practical advice and an unwavering focus on getting the most complex capital-raising transactions right.”

Jeff said, “I am honored to join the Freshfields partnership and am excited to work alongside Justin and our colleagues across the globe as we build on the firm’s momentum in Capital Markets and deliver outstanding results for our clients.” Justin then added, “The strength and ambition of the Freshfields platform, combined with the quality of the Capital Markets team already in place, made this a compelling opportunity. I am excited to collaborate with the team at Freshfields as we help grow the firm’s equity-linked and derivatives capabilities for clients.”

Jeff and Justin have established themselves as recognized authorities in the equity-linked and equity derivatives market. Jeff has been instrumental in delivering on large and complex convertible bond and equity-linked securities at a time when clients are increasingly pursuing these types of transactions. He also has deep experience advising on a wide range of public and private securities offerings and regularly advises clients on SEC compliance and disclosure matters. Justin’s practice includes capped call transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs, equity and debt total return swaps and International Swaps and Derivatives Association matters, as well as convertible and exchangeable note offerings, equity-linked and preferred instruments. Justin is ranked in the IFLR 1000 for United States Capital Markets: Derivatives.

Freshfields has cemented its leadership in U.S. equity-linked capital markets, ranking number one advising issuers on U.S. Equity Linked offerings, according to Bloomberg. The firm also ranked number one as ECM Legal Advisor to Issuers and Selling Shareholders across the Americas by deal volume in H1 2026, according to Dealogic, underscoring the strength of its U.S. platform and its ability to advise issuers on complex equity and equity-linked transactions.

The firm’s recent Capital Markets league table rankings demonstrate the breadth of client demand, including advising on over $60bn in equity-linked and concurrent equity and debt offerings this year for clients such as AST SpaceMobile, Ciena, DigitalOcean and Oracle.

These new partners build on a series of strategic additions to the U.S. Capital Markets team and reflect continued client demand for integrated advice for companies throughout the corporate lifecycle and across capital markets transactions, SEC compliance, disclosure and corporate governance matters. Since 2023, Freshfields has added numerous capital markets partners across New York and Silicon Valley, including Jacqueline Marino and Taryn Zucker in New York, and Erik Gerding, Calise Cheng, Phillip Stoup and Nicole Cadman in Silicon Valley.