Frank M. Placenti

Frank Placenti leads our U.S. Corporate Governance Practice and works with clients throughout the firm. He focuses his practice on corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. With more than 35 years of experience in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, internal investigations, antitakeover, securities law, and shareholder relations issues, Frank has represented public companies, broker/dealers, and private equity firms and their portfolio companies with mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, securities and corporate law, regulatory compliance, anti-takeover matters and shareholder engagement and activism. He advises clients, special committees, and audit committees in managing internal investigations, as well as on U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and stock exchange investigatory matters.

Frank was the Founding President and Trustee of the American College of Governance Counsel. He currently serves as Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee of the American Bar Association.

Concentrations

•Corporate governance
•Internal investigations
•Mergers and acquisitions
•Private equity
•Venture capital
•White collar defense and special investigations

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2026
•Selected, “Lawyer of the Year, - Corporate Compliance Law in Phoenix,” 2021
•Corporate Governance Law
•Corporate Compliance Law
•Corporate Law
•Mergers and Acquisitions
•Securities/Capital Markets
•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Corporate/M&A - Arizona, 2003-2025
•Recognized, IFLR, “Highly Regarded - Arizona”
•Selected, Lawdragon, “Lawdragon 500”
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Southwest Super Lawyers, 2007-2018, 2026
•Selected, International Global Law Experts Awards, “Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year- Arizona,” 2013
•Recommended, PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook, 2009
•Listed, PLC Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions Handbook