Robert Phillips is a corporate partner in the San Francisco office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where his practice focuses on advising life sciences, medical device and technology companies. Rob has extensive experience advising public and private companies on general corporate issues, including corporate finance, securities laws compliance, corporate governance, debt exchanges and complex restructurings and M&A. In particular, he focuses on advising US and non-US issuers and investment banks in capital markets offerings, including initial public offerings, follow-ons, convertible debt and high yield debt offerings.
Notable representations across industries include:
Life Sciences and Medical Device
- 89Bio, in its initial public offering and follow on offering (underwriter-side representation)
- AcelRX Pharmaceuticals, in follow-on offerings and public company representation
- ARMO Biosciences, in its initial public offering (underwriter-side representation)
- ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, in its US IPO and public company representation
- Avalanche Biotechnologies (now Adverum), in its initial public offering
- BioMarin, in follow-on equity and convertible debt public offerings
- Five Prime Therapeutics, in a follow-on offering
- Global Blood Therapeutics, in a follow-on offering (underwriter-side representation)
- Harpoon Therapeutics, in its initial public offering and public company representation
- InterMune, in convertible debt offerings and debt exchanges
- Jazz Pharmaceuticals, in a follow-on offering, convertible debt offerings and public company representation
- Legend Biotech Corporation, in its initial public offering
- Kezar Life Sciences, in its initial public offering, follow-on offering and public company representation
- Ovid Therapeutics, in its initial public offering, follow-on offerings and public company representation
- Prothena, in its spin-off from Elan Pharmaceuticals, follow-on equity offerings and public company representation
- Sangamo Therapeutics, in follow-on offerings and public company representation
- Sientra, in public company representation and securities laws compliance
- Syndax Pharmaceuticals, in aa follow-on offering
- Taiwan Liposome Company, in its US initial public offering and public company representation
- Threshold Pharmaceuticals, in public company representation, financings and reverse merger with Molecular Templates
- Vaxcyte, in its initial public offering and general corporate representation
- XenoPort, in public company representation and financings
Technology
- Advanced Micro Devices, in numerous equity, high yield and convertible debt financings and the formation of a joint venture with Fujitsu Limited to create Spansion (now part of Broadcom)
- Aquantia, in its initial public offering
- Avago (now Broadcom), in its initial public offering and follow-on offerings
- eASIC Corporation, in general company representation, late-stage equity financings and sale to Intel
- Ellie Mae, in its initial public offering, follow-on offering, strategic acquisitions and public company representation
- Handshake (joinhandshake.com), in general corporate representation and equity financings
- Oportun, in its initial public offering, general corporate representation and financings
- RealD, in public company representation and securities laws compliance
- ShotSpotter, in its initial public offering, a follow-on offering and public company representation
- Spansion, in its initial public offering, high yield and convertible debt financings, follow-on offerings, fab sale and public company representation
Aviation
- Virgin America, in debt and equity restructurings with private equity owners and preparation for its initial public offering
- Spirit Airlines, in an equity restructuring with private equity owners and in its initial public offering, follow-on offerings and public company representation
Retail
- Blue Nile, in public company representation and securities laws compliance
- Charlotte Russe Stores, in corporate advice and restructuring
- Golfsmith, in acquisition of retail chain of golf stores
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Rob was a partner in the San Francisco office and Hong Kong office of Cooley LLP, and before that a partner in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, where he began his legal career.
Capabilities
- Capital Markets
- Emerging Companies / Venture Capital
- Life Sciences
- Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance
Credentials
Education:
- Georgetown University - 1999 Juris Doctor
- Georgetown University - 1994 B.S. in Foreign Service
Admissions:
- California Bar