Sidley partners Sandi Knox and Vijay S. Sekhon were named as “West Trailblazers” in The American Lawyer’s inaugural list. The special supplement honors lawyers on the West Coast who have “moved the needle” in the legal industry.
Sandi is noted for assisting large corporate clients in implementing their innovation agendas by collaborating with, and investing in, emerging technology and life sciences companies. The American Lawyer underscored the “major developments” in cancer treatment, agricultural technology, plant-based protein alternatives, diagnostic technology, sustainable aviation, recycling technology, fintech, and insurtech that are a result of her work.
Meanwhile, the publication cited Vijay’s dynamic experience, highlighting his recent work with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) structures. His representation of Faraday Future drew significant praise from The American Lawyer, which noted it as one of the largest and most complicated SPAC transactions to date. The pending US$3.4 billion sale by Faraday Future to Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. included a US$1 billion out-of-court debt/claim restructuring, the first of its kind in connection with a SPAC transaction.
Sandi is a founding lawyer of Sidley’s Palo Alto office and the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice, and leads the firm’s Corporate Venture Capital practice. She draws on over 20 years of practice in Silicon Valley, as well as experience as a global technology company general counsel, to advise emerging technology and life sciences companies, venture capital funds, and corporate venture capital arms of Fortune 100 companies and other strategic investors in technology and life sciences transactions, corporate governance, and executive compensation matters.
Practicing from Sidley’s San Francisco and Century City offices, Vijay is a member of the M&A, Private Equity, Capital Markets, and Restructuring practice groups. His practice focuses on mergers, purchases, sales, and reorganizations of businesses for companies and private equity and hedge funds. Vijay also focuses on public debt and equity offerings, private placements, and purchases and sales of debt and equity, and general corporate and securities law, including advising companies and private equity and hedge funds on their disclosure obligations under the federal securities laws.