John-Paul Motley
Partner
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John-Paul Motley is Chair of the Firm’s Capital Markets Practice and previously served on the Firm’s Policy Committee and as the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office. John-Paul’s practice focuses on debt and equity capital markets transactions, ranging from initial public offerings and secondary offerings to high-yield, convertible and investment grade debt issuances. John-Paul also advises boards of public and private companies on corporate governance matters. In addition, John-Paul advises public companies with securities law compliance, disclosure issues, and corporate governance matters. John-Paul’s issuer clients include Air Lease Corporation, American Honda Finance Corporation, Aviation Capital Group LLC, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Glaukos Corporation, Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., Malibu Boats, Inc., Ocwen Financial Corp., Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., Semtech Corporation, Spyglass Media Group, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Inc., Verso Corporation, Willdan Group, Inc., and Yeti Holdings, Inc.
John-Paul is recognized as a leading capital markets lawyer by Chambers USA, Legal 500, and the International Financial Law Review.
Honors & Awards
- Highly regarded by IFLR1000 in Capital Markets: Debt and Equity (2018-2021), Real Estate, Technology & Telecommunications, and Transport (2019-2021) and a "Leading Lawyer" in Capital Markets: Debt and Equity (2017)
- Ranked by Chambers Global in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity: Western United States (2020)
- Ranked by Chambers USA in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (2015-2020)
- Named a Southern California “Rising Star” in a survey conducted by Law & Politics Media Inc. and published in Los Angeles magazine and the Southern California edition of Super Lawyers (2005-2013)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 US (2010-2020)
- Recognized by International Financial Law Review (2012-2019)
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Education
- Vanderbilt University, J.D., 1999: Order of the Coif; Special Projects Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review
- Vanderbilt University, M.B.A., 1999: Beta Gamma Sigma
- University of Memphis, B.B.A., 1995: summa cum laude
Professional Activities
Speaking Engagements
- “Corporate Governance - A New Era Evolving” (2019)
Leadership
- Board of Advisors, Vanderbilt University Law School
- Board of Directors, Phoenix Houses of California, Inc.
- Former Managing Partner, Los Angeles Office of O’Melveny & Myers
- Representing issuers in a number of public equity and debt offerings, including offerings in the airline, semiconductor, entertainment, retail, recreational vehicle, healthcare, biotechnology, real estate development, and software development industries.
- Representing underwriters in a number of equity offerings, including offerings in the entertainment, internet, engineering, and office products industries.
- Representing issuers and underwriters in high yield offerings, including offerings in the broadcasting, airline, mortgage, semiconductor and electronic infrastructure services industries.
- Representing companies in venture capital and other private placements, including offerings for a technical professional services company, an electronic gaming company and other Internet and technology companies.