Johnson, Brian A.

Brian Johnson is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He joined the firm in 2004. Mr. Johnson serves as co-chair of the Capital Markets Group.

Practice

Mr. Johnson has extensive experience representing public and private companies and financial institutions, including investment banking clients, in a wide variety of corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions. He also advises clients on a regular basis on general corporate and securities law and governance matters. He represents clients in a range of industries and has a particular focus on emerging growth companies in the life sciences and technology industries.

Recent Highlights

Corporate Finance

Mr. Johnson's recent corporate finance transactions include the following:

• Initial public offerings representing the underwriters for Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (Leerink Swann and Lazard Capital Markets), NuPathe (Leerink Swann and Lazard Capital Markets), Visicu (Morgan Stanley) and Targacept (Deutsche Bank Securities)
• Initial public offerings representing Emergent BioSolutions and Critical Therapeutics
• Follow-on public offerings representing Savient Pharmaceuticals (convertible senior notes and common stock), Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Aspect Medical Systems (convertible senior notes), Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (convertible senior notes) and Critical Therapeutics
• Follow-on public offerings representing the underwriters for Cubist Pharmaceuticals (Goldman Sachs/convertible subordinated notes) and Vicuron Pharmaceuticals (Morgan Stanley) 
• 144A and Reg S private placement representing Thermo Electron (senior notes) and subsequent registered exchange offer
• PIPE financing representing Critical Therapeutics
• Venture capital financings representing Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Ophthotech Corporation and Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, among other companies, and venture capital firms as investors

M&A

Mr. Johnson has represented acquirors and targets in the life sciences, technology and information services industries in numerous acquisitions and strategic transactions.

Professional Activities

Mr. Johnson is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.