Christopher is Head of West Coast US Capital Markets and US Emerging Company/Venture Capital and Technology Sector Lead.

He represents public and private companies, investment banks and sponsors in corporate and finance matters, including debt and equity securities offerings, secured financings, mergers, acquisitions and strategic transactions, corporate governance and public company reporting and compliance. He regularly advises boards on strategic and governance matters and is viewed by CEO’s as a key business partner and trusted advisor.

In the area of securities offerings, Christopher has been involved in dozens of public and private securities offerings in the US and abroad, including initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, secondary offerings, confidentially marketed offerings, PIPEs, ATMs (at the market offerings), private offerings of seed and preferred stock and convertible and bridge note offerings. He represents issuers, underwriters and arrangers in these matters, and is well regarded for his creativity in structuring transactions and helping clients solve problems.

In the area of mergers, acquisitions and strategic transactions, Christopher has extensive experience representing strategic and financial buyers and sellers in transactional matters, including public and private company mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, carve-out and other asset transactions, and joint ventures. He has worked on transactions involving buyers and sellers in numerous transactions in North America, Europe, and Asia. Mr. Forrester has considerable expertise representing boards and other constituents in complex related party transactions.

In the area of corporate governance and public company reporting and compliance, Christopher represents public and private companies seeking to develop and maintain best practices in corporate governance. Mr. Forrester also regularly represents companies in their ongoing compliance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and stock exchange requirements.

Experience

Representative matters

Public Securities Offerings and Related Transactions

 Citigroup, BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and Mizuho as joint book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters in connection with Amgen’s registered $24 billion notes offering.

Cowen and Company, SVB Securities LLC and Evercore Group L.L.C in connection with Nkarta Inc.’s US$280 million initial public offering, its US$230 million follow-on public offering and the commencement of its at-the-market equity offering program to offer and sell common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to US$150 million.

Barclays Capital Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC with respect to multiple liability management transactions for Amgen, Inc. with a value in excess of $20 billion.

Published Work

  • Forrester, C. (2016) “Fiduciary Duties and Other Responsibilities of Corporate Directors and Officers”, R.R. Donnelley (Foreword by Professor John Buley Duke’s Fuqua School of Business), 6th Edition
  • Forrester, C. (2006) “Annual Review of Federal Securities Regulation,” The Business Lawyer
  • Forrester, C. (2005) “Annual Review of Federal Securities Regulation,” The Business Lawyer
  • Forrester, C. (2004) “Annual Review of Federal Securities Regulation,” The Business Lawyer

Speaking Engagements

  • Regularly speaks on securities and governance matters at Practicing Law Institute
  • Regularly speaks on securities and governance matters at Financial Executives International

Awards

  • Recommended lawyer, The Best Lawyers in America, 2016 
  • Recommended lawyer, The Best Lawyers in America for National, Corporate Law, Tier 1, 2014
  • Recommended lawyer, The Best Lawyers in America, 2013
  • 2013 Deal of the Year, China Business Law Journal
  • One of the best 10 business lawyers, San Diego’s The Daily Transcript
  • Top 40 Under 40 persons in the Finance Industry, Investment Dealers’ Digest, 2007
  • Leading lawyer in capital markets-equity Hong Kong, IFLR

Qualifications

Admissions

California, 1996
District of Columbia, 1997
New York, 2021

Academic

B.A., St. Mary’s College, 1993
J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School, 1996
LL.M., Securities Regulation, Georgetown University Law Center, 2002
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.