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Douglas R. Wright

Senior Counsel

Overview

Doug Wright has advised clients since 1978 on more than $15 billion in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and securities matters. The leader of the firm's securities and public companies practice in Colorado, he works for clients in the telecommunications, manufacturing, transportation, medical devices, technology, gaming, oil and gas, and mining industries.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Doug has been lead partner in domestic and international M&A transactions, including representing public and private company sellers, buyers, private equity investors, management and special committees. He advises public company boards of directors and committees on fiduciary duties in connection with M&A transactions.

Capital Markets Transactions

Doug represents issuers and underwriters in capital markets transactions, including public and private offerings of equity, debt, units, convertibles and hybrid securities. He has advised on:

  • IPOs and underwritten follow-on offerings
  • Confidentially-marketed public offerings
  • Registered directs and at-the market (ATM) offerings
  • Rule 144A and public debt offerings
  • Private investments in public equity (PIPEs)
  • Public exchange offers and tender offers
  • Private placements
  • Venture capital financings

Doug has handled capital markets transactions for The Spectranetics Corporation, Frontier Airlines and Piper Jaffray Incorporated. He has closed over $5 billion of Rule 144A offerings, debt financings and tender offers for tw telecom inc.

Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance

Doug represents public companies in their ongoing compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. He advises companies in the areas of SEC periodic reporting, trading and disclosure practices, corporate governance matters, proxy regulation, Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Act compliance, stock exchange listing requirements and investor relations.

Additional Experience

Doug has negotiated over $3 billion of domestic and international private equity investments on behalf of a large public investment fund and a private foundation. He has handled commercial matters for telecom companies, including broadband network service agreements for multi-unit landlords and professional sports teams, negotiation of public-private partnership agreements with state departments of transportation, fiber optic lease and IRU agreements, and telecom equipment financing arrangements. In addition, Doug counsels clients on joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies, employee compensation issues, and credit agreements.

Personal Interests

Doug plays golf, enjoys watching many other sports and jams on the bass guitar.

Related Topics

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Colorado

Education

Cornell Law School
J.D. Law Review (research editor) (1978)

Hamilton College
B.A. (1975)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Navigating the Annual Report and Proxy Season
    Faegre Baker Daniels Seminar, 2001-18
  • National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
    Moderator and Panelist for Several Colorado NACD Programs

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • Colorado Bar Association Business Law Section — Past Chairman

Civic Activities

  • Sungate Kids — Board of Directors
  • Multiple Sclerosis Society of Colorado — Board (Past Chairman)
  • American Diabetes Association, Colorado Affiliate, Inc. — Board (Past Chairman)

Firm Leadership

  • Faegre Baker Daniels Women's Forum for Achievement — Leadership Council, 2012-17

Honors

  • Chambers USA — Colorado, Corporate/M&A, "Senior Statespeople," 2024
  • Chambers USA — Colorado, Corporate/M&A, 2005-23
  • Law Week Colorado — Best M&A Lawyer, 2009
  • Best Lawyers® — Corporate Law, 2006-25 (Lawyer of the Year, 2011, 2020;) Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2006-25; Securities/Capital Markets Law, 2007-25 (Lawyer of the Year, 2016)
  • Super Lawyers — Securities & Corporate Finance, 2006-17, 2019-20
  • Corporate Counsel Black Book — 2007-08
  • Denver Business Journal — Best of the Bar Award for Corporate, M&A and Securities, 2003
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.