Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)

Special purpose acquisition companies are enjoying a new boom. But there is more to a SPAC than a blank check – it has its own regulatory hurdles that can trip up even the most experienced investors. Whether you are evaluating alternatives to a traditional sale or IPO or considering forming a SPAC, we can help. 

Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) are not new, but they have surged in popularity as asset managers have added SPACs to their portfolio of product offerings and owners of operating assets include de-SPAC transactions among a spectrum of liquidity options.

Alston & Bird lawyers have the experience to guide you through all phases of the SPAC process, whether you are an experienced SPAC sponsor or an operating company dealing with a SPAC for the first time. We have advised:

  • Sponsor- and founder-owned companies evaluating de-SPAC mergers as a liquidity option.
  • Companies that have completed de-SPAC mergers adjusting to life as a public company.
  • Investment banks underwriting SPAC formations.
  • Companies, directors, and officers involved in litigation and investigations related to de-SPAC merger transactions.

As a full-service firm, we draw upon industry-leading resources in mergers & acquisitions and private equity, securities and capital markets, tax, investment management, and litigation support to better craft guidance specific to your matter. SPACs are sophisticated structures with complex and evolving regulatory requirements. As market practice evolves and SPACs attract greater regulatory scrutiny, the depth and diversity of our practices give us the ability to effectively navigate the SPAC universe and achieve your goals. 

Our SEC reporting and compliance team handles the full range of securities disclosure, compliance, and corporate governance matters. Our lawyers maintain strong relationships with members of the SEC staff, giving us a leg up to help you resolve potential reporting and compliance issues. We also provide you early warning of new regulatory developments and emerging trends to help you prepare for change in a considered way tailored to your business and circumstances.

Our lawyers represent companies in a wide range of capital markets transactions, including initial and follow-on public offerings. We also serve as underwriters’ counsel and dealer-managers’ counsel for major investment banking firms. 

We also have one of the country’s most experienced groups of M&A and private equity attorneys, advising businesses every day on how to access the market to achieve their strategic and liquidity objectives.

Our Securities Litigation Group has defended companies and their directors and officers in a variety of SPAC-related matters, including securities class actions, derivative lawsuits, and governmental investigations involving alleged pre- and post-de-SPAC fraud and fiduciary violations. 

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