Eva Y. Mak

Twenty-five Freshfields lawyers have been selected to the Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation guide for 2025. The guide recognizes young lawyers who have proven themselves early in private practice, accruing credentials, deals and cases and represent the future of global law practice. The recognized lawyers are: Joshua Ayal – Partner, New York Ivet Bell – Partner, New York Ryan Blicher – Partner, New York Scott Blumenkranz – Partner, Silicon Valley Nicole Cadman – Partner, San Francisco Lisa Cammer – Counsel, New York Nicholas A. Caselli – Partner, New York Sarah Ghulamhussain – Partner, Silicon Valley Andrew Gladstein – Partner, New York Jeff Jay – Partner, New York Sarah Katz – Partner, New York Steven Li – Partner, New York Jennifer Loeb – Partner, Washington, D.C. Eva Mak – Partner, Silicon Valley Jacqueline Marino – Partner, New York Sanjay Murti – Partner, New York Michal Netanyahu – Counsel, New York Sean Quinn – Counsel, Washington, DC Hinda Rabkin – Counsel, New York Tomas Rua – Partner, New York Diego Rueda – Senior Associate, New York Kevin Uhler – Counsel, New York Jeff Zhang – Counsel, Silicon Valley Tracy Zhang – Counsel, Silicon Valley Taryn Zucker – Partner, New York

Jul 15

1 min

Two Freshfields partners have been selected as Law360 Rising Stars for 2025. The Rising Stars award recognizes top legal talent under 40 “whose legal accomplishments belie their age”. Silicon Valley-based partner Eva Mak was recognized as a Private Equity Rising Star. Eva has extensive experience advising private equity, growth and venture funds, as well as their portfolio companies, on a wide range of complex transactions. Learn more about Eva here. New York-based partner Joe Soltis was recognized as a Tax Rising Star. Joe represents clients across multiple industries on U.S. tax aspects of transactional deals, including domestic and cross-border taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, recapitalizations, financing arrangements, investments, partnerships and joint ventures, bankruptcy reorganizations, and securities issuances. Learn more about Joe here.

Jul 25

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields today announced that Michael J. Palermo has joined the firm as a Private Capital M&A partner in Boston. Michael’s practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors and strategic investors on the structuring and negotiation of investments and divestitures. He advises private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on a broad range of corporate matters including corporate governance, regulatory compliance and equity and equityholder arrangements. Michael’s experience spans industries, including consumer products, retail, infrastructure, business services, healthcare and technology. Matt Goulding, Managing Partner of Freshfields’ Boston Office and Partner in Freshfields’ Private Capital group said: “Michael has consistently been the go-to advisor for some of the most demanding private equity clients, executing complex transactions at the highest levels. His depth of experience is exceptionally rare and will be a major asset for our growing Boston office. His client-centricity comes through effortlessly, earning trust and repeat engagements over many years. We’re thrilled Michael has chosen to join our practice.” U.S. Managing Partner Sarah Solum noted: “Michael has cultivated strong client relationships while commanding confidence in high-stakes situations. We are delighted that he has chosen to join forces with our Private Capital team.” Michael's arrival follows private capital additions across the U.S. including Global Co-Head of Private Capital Neal Reenan, Head of U.S. Private Capital Ian Bushner, Head of New York Private Equity Claire James, Ivet Bell and Ryan Blicher in New York, as well as Eva Mak in Silicon Valley/San Francisco and Matt Goulding in Boston. Michael added: “I'm looking forward to joining the firm and collaborating with the Private Capital team and the broader group of Freshfields partners focused on client service and commercial advice. The global strength of the private capital practice provides a uniquely compelling platform for significant growth in Boston and beyond.” Freshfields is regularly recognized across league tables where it excels in cross-border, U.S., Europe, Asia, MENA and private equity markets. Freshfields is also the only firm with Band 1 rankings from Chambers Global 2025 in the following worldwide transactional, regulatory and risk practices: Private Equity, M&A, Antitrust, Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, Tax and Public International Law.”

Nov 24

2 min

Move reinforces the firm’s unparalleled resources for technology companies across the corporate lifecycle. Silicon Valley (December 5, 2024) – In a move that reinforces its position as the premier law firm for tech clients, Freshfields announced today that prominent corporate lawyer Calise Cheng has joined the firm’s capital markets group as a partner in Silicon Valley. Calise represents companies at all stages of their lifecycle, from startup to mega-cap, as well as venture capital firms and other institutional investors. Her corporate practice includes IPOs and other public offerings, venture-backed private financings, governance and disclosure matters. U.S. Managing Partner and U.S. Head of Capital Markets Sarah Solum said: “Calise has led numerous IPOs, direct listings and other transactions for category-defining companies in the technology sector. I have had the opportunity to work across the table from her on numerous fast-paced and complicated deals over the last several years and hold her in the highest regard. She’s a true leader in the profession and a calming, confidence-inspiring presence on deal teams. We’re excited to bring her sought-after expertise and guidance to our team and clients.” Co-head of the firm’s U.S. Corporate and M&A practice Ethan Klingsberg added: “Calise’s leadership in board rooms, exemplary corporate law skillset and experience supporting important tech companies on demanding projects make her a perfect fit in the mosaic of value-additive resources that we are providing to clients.” Recent tech sector transactions led by Freshfields include representation of: Publicly listed software clients, such as Coupa, PowerSchool, PropertyGuru, Qualtrics and Zuora, in sale transactions to private equity buyers in the largest tech sector take-private transactions of the last couple of years Acquiror clients, such as Crowdstrike, eBay, Ericsson, Keysight Technologies, ServiceNow and Uber on cutting-edge strategic M&A Clients in capital markets and finance transactions for eBay, EVgo, Oracle, Roku, Samsara, TriNet, Turo, Verkada and Viant Technologies on billions of dollars of proceeds from equity and debt issuances. Calise is repeatedly recognized as a leading capital markets lawyer by news outlets and legal publications, including Chambers USA.  She was named Attorney of the Year by The Recorder in 2022.  Her capital markets work includes high-profile IPOs and direct listings for Allbirds, Asana, Block (f/k/a Square), Freshworks, Rubrik, Splunk and Zoom. On joining the firm, Calise noted: “What Freshfields has accomplished for tech clients, both in the U.S. and globally, since opening its Silicon Valley Office four years ago has taken the Valley by storm.  I’ve been watching Freshfields’ momentum and success with awe, and I’m thrilled to join my new colleagues in providing practical solutions and exceptional support to clients around the world.” “We have established a destination practice for tech clients in the U.S. and around the world. I have seen Calise’s career continue to reach new heights over the last two decades and am delighted that she has chosen to join forces with us in bringing unparalleled resources to clients — both locally and globally — on demanding corporate, regulatory and litigation projects,” said Global Co-head of Tech, Media and Telecom Boris Feldman. Calise joining Freshfields follows a wave a new additions to its U.S. capital markets practice, including the recent additions of partners Phillip Stoup in Silicon Valley, Chris DeCresce and Jackie Marino in New York, and David Boles in London. In addition to joining alongside employee benefits & executive compensation partner Heather Brookfield today, the firm’s Silicon Valley office recently added M&A partner Denny Kwon, private equity partner Eva Mak, and emerging company partner Nicole Cadman.

Dec 5

3 min