Edward Best is a partner at Willkie, where he is a member of the Corporate & Financial Services Department and Co-Chair of the Capital Markets practice. Eddie is based in Chicago and maintains an office in New York. With over 35 years of experience, Eddie is recognized as one of the nation’s leading capital markets lawyers, representing issuers and underwriters in debt, equity, convertible and hybrid securities offerings, and liability management transactions in the U.S. and international markets.
Eddie’s comprehensive capital markets practice includes a particular focus on offerings by financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, broker-dealers and specialty finance companies, and cross-border offerings. Eddie also regularly advises publicly listed clients on ongoing securities law compliance, listing compliance and corporate governance matters.
Eddie also advises clients on mergers and acquisitions transactions. Eddie’s M&A practice includes a focus on transactions by financial institutions, including insurance companies, broker-dealers and asset managers.
Eddie’s comprehensive capital markets practice includes a particular focus on offerings by financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, broker-dealers and specialty finance companies, and cross-border offerings. Eddie also regularly advises publicly listed clients on ongoing securities law compliance, listing compliance and corporate governance matters.
Eddie also advises clients on mergers and acquisitions transactions. Eddie’s M&A practice includes a focus on transactions by financial institutions, including insurance companies, broker-dealers and asset managers.
Experience
Eddie was previously a partner at another major law firm in Chicago, where he served as leader of the Capital Markets practice.
- Listed in both Chambers Global and Chambers USA for Capital Markets: Debt & Equity
- Listed in IFLR1000 for Capital Markets: Debt; Capital Markets Equity and M&A
- Named 1 of 31 “Best of the Best USA” capital markets lawyers by Expert Guides
- Named “Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year - Illinois, USA” by Global 100, 2021 and 2023
- Named "Client Service All-Star" by BTI Consulting, 2007, 2009, 2012
- Listed in The International Who's Who of Capital Markets Lawyers
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Securities Law
- Named in The Legal 500 United States for Capital Markets: Debt Offerings; Capital Markets: Equity Offerings; Capital Markets: Global Offerings; Corporate Governance
- American Bar Association, Sub-committee on Federal Regulation of Securities
- Speaker and Chair, " The SPAC Life Cycle: Business, Legal and Accounting Considerations Forum 2024," PLI, April 15, 2024
- Speaker, " SPAC Developments: SEC Amendments to SPAC IPO and De-SPAC Related Rules," PLI, February 14, 2024
- Speaker and Co-Chair, “The SPAC Life Cycle: Business, Legal and Accounting Considerations Forum 2023,” PLI, April 18, 2023
- Speaker, “Rule 15C2-11: SEC “Clarification” of Broker-Dealer Focused Rule Sending Shockwaves Through Debt Capital Markets,” PLI, August 17, 2022
- Speaker, “The SPAC Life Cycle: Business, Legal and Accounting Considerations Forum 2022,” PLI, April 19, 2022
- Speaker, “The SPAC Life Cycle: Business, Legal and Accounting Considerations Forum 2021,” PLI, April 20, 2021
- Speaker, “De-SPACing: Overview, Special Securities Law and Financial Statement Considerations and Derisking the Process with a PIPE Transaction,” PLI, January 27, 2021
- Co-Author, “Governance and Disclosure Reminders for Public Companies,” Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, April 18, 2023
- Co-Author, “Lexis Practice Advisor Note – Insurance M&A Transactions,” LexisNexis, July 2021
Eddie’s experience includes:
- Capital Markets. Representing issuers and underwriters in connection with public and Rule 144A offerings of debt, equity, convertible and hybrid securities in the US and Europe; continuously offered debt and equity programs; liability management transactions, including equity and debt self-tenders, exchange offers, and consent solicitations; particular emphasis on offerings by financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, brokers and specialty finance companies, and cross-border offerings.
- Mergers and Acquisitions. Counseling buyers, sellers, and financial intermediaries in connection with public and private acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, mergers, tender offers, and proxy contests.
- General Corporate Practice. Advising companies regarding Securities Act and Exchange Act compliance, NYSE and NASDAQ compliance, corporate governance, and Sarbanes-Oxley Act matters.
Credentials
Education
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1986 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, A.B., 1982