Chris Paci, Chair of DLA Piper’s Capital Markets practice group, has substantial experience representing investment banks and US and foreign issuers in a broad range of capital markets transactions. These include registered offerings and private placements of equity, equity-linked, high-yield debt and investment-grade debt securities; and exchange offers, tender offers, and consent solicitations. He also has significant experience in merger and acquisition transactions and debt restructurings.

Mr. Paci has worked with companies in many industries, including aerospace/defense, consumer/retail, healthcare/life sciences, manufacturing, mining and natural resources, technology and telecommunications, often in connection with leveraged acquisitions or recapitalizations. The transactions in which he has been engaged have involved issuers in Europe, Latin America and Asia, as well as in the United States and Canada.

Mr. Paci regularly advises company clients regarding SEC reporting and disclosure requirements and corporate governance matters. 

George Barboutis is a US-qualified partner with the London office of DLA Piper practicing with the firm’s International Securities Group and heading its US Securities practice for EMEA. He has worked on a wide range of equity, equity-linked, debt capital markets and M&A transactions, including both SEC-registered and Rule 144A/Regulation S transactions, IPOs and US, London and other international listings, representing issuers and underwriters. Mr. Barboutis has advised SEC-registered and US-listed foreign private issuers in connection with their ongoing reporting obligations and corporate governance matters. He has worked with companies from various sectors, including natural resources, telecommunications, financial services and agriculture throughout Europe, the CIS, Middle East and Africa. Mr. Barboutis is also qualified as a Solicitor of the courts of England and Wales. 

Kathryn M. Trkla is a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP where she is a member of the Securities, Commodities & Exchange Regulation Practice within the Securities Enforcement & Litigation Practice. She is also a member of the firm's Business Law Department and Energy Industry Team. Ms. Trkla's experience encompasses more than 25 years in the futures and securities industries, including 11 years with the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) where she was senior vice president and associate general counsel before joining Foley in 2000.

Ms. Trkla works on a variety of matters for futures and securities brokerage firms, institutional investors, professional trading firms, commercial hedgers, domestic and foreign exchanges, clearinghouses, and other clients. Her experience ranges from representing clients on matters before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission, analyzing regulatory proposals, counseling clients on the implications of legislative and rule changes and providing general regulatory counsel. Her deep experience and background qualify her to provide a broad and unique perspective on the issues and regulations facing the financial markets and market participants.

Mark S. Bergman is co-head of the Securities and Capital Markets Group at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and is resident in the firm’s London office. Mark has been involved in global capital markets transactions and other securities offerings for issuers in a variety of countries, ranging from offerings of equity and debt securities (including high yield debt) to hybrid securities, principally for financial institutions. He has represented issuers listing securities on stock exchanges in the United States, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong and South Africa. For issuers of high yield debt, he has been involved in restructurings, refinancings and other liability management transactions. He has acted for sponsors in connection with leveraged acquisitions. Mark advises on cross-border tender offers, exchange offers and going private transactions, and has advised investors and issuers in connection with negotiated private investments. Mark also advises a range of listed companies and their boards on reporting and other obligations under applicable securities laws, corporate compliance programs, corporate governance standards, and risk management and risk oversight. 

John Abbott is a partner in PwC's Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services (CMAAS) group, based in New York metro. As a partner in the CMAAS practice, John advises clients on accounting, financial reporting and disclosure issues associated with cross-border capital markets transactions and M&A activity. John also advises clients on IFRS and U.S. GAAP matters in connection with periodic SEC filings, new accounting standards, and ongoing reporting. Prior to his current role, John served as a SEC review partner in PwC's National Office, and as a Global Capital Markets Group partner on an international tour of duty in Scandinavia.