James V. Davidson

Jim represents clients in U.S. and international capital markets transactions and advises on corporate governance and securities market regulation.  He has extensive experience with a wide variety of both public and private debt and equity offerings by U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, including initial public offerings, convertible offerings, and both investment-grade and high-yield debt financings. He also has been actively involved in advising domestic issuers on corporate governance matters, SEC filings, disclosure issues, Sarbanes-Oxley requirements and ESG-related matters. In addition, Jim is one of the country’s most active and experienced REIT capital markets lawyers. He regularly advises on complex or novel REIT financings and industries, including the only postal REIT, traditional and alternative-medical property REITs, and FIBRAs. Jim is highly experienced with Agency and hybrid mortgage REITs, specialty finance companies, and private credit lenders. In addition, he has significant experience advising investment banks involved in these industries.

 Chambers USA notes that clients have described Jim as “outstanding,” “a very strong lawyer,” and “very experienced.” Clients have told The Legal 500 US that he “is a superb attorney and is responsive to our request,” “very responsive and has a great knowledge of the SEC laws and regulations,” “extremely professional, always makes himself available and provides sound, well thought-out advice,” and his “outstanding legal expertise, combined with his practical business acumen make him a valuable asset to our team” (2021).  The Legal 500 US has recognized him as “singled out by clients for his ‘outstanding legal expertise’ and significant experience of REIT IPOs” (2021).

Relevant Experience

• Since joining the firm in 2011, Jim has advised on over 200 REIT transactions, aggregating to nearly $60 billion in gross proceeds.
• Jim has been named counsel on more REIT IPOs over the past five years than all but five lawyers in the country, including the last three consecutive listed REIT IPOs.
• Jim regularly advises on complex or novel REIT financings and industries, including capped call and equity forward transactions, the only postal REIT, and the first Mexican FIBRA.
• Represents issuers and investment banks in connection with public and private offerings of common and preferred equity and senior and convertible debt securities, including initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, “at the market” offerings, tender offers and Rule 144A and Regulation D private placements.
• Experience in Latin American, Asian and European cross-border transactions.
• Represents some of the largest public mortgage REITs, hospitality REITs, office REITs, multifamily REITs, banking institutions and mortgage lenders.
• Represents public and private companies in connection with mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, PIPEs, and other strategic transactions.
• Advises issuers with respect to ongoing compliance with SEC disclosure obligations, NYSE and NASDAQ listing requirements, and corporate governance matters.
• Advises management teams, boards of directors, and special committees on fiduciary duty considerations, conflict of interest transactions, and change of control transactions.