Stephen M. Nicolai | Philadelphia | Hogan Lovells

Stephen M. Nicolai

Partner Corporate & Finance

Nicolai Stephen

Stephen M. Nicolai
Nicolai Stephen
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events
quote mark

' ... Stephen Nicolai stand[s] out for [his] outstanding client service, tremendous level of experience and expertise, and business-savvy legal representation.'

Client quoted in Legal 500 US 2022: Capital Markets – Equity Offerings

Stephen Nicolai uses his deep knowledge of the life sciences industry to help clients meet their business goals and identify practical, business-minded solutions to issues that arise in corporate, securities, and commercial matters.

Stephen has successfully negotiated and completed a range of life sciences transactions, with a particular focus on capital market offerings (IPOs, follow-on offerings, bought deals, ATMs, RDOs, PIPES, and private placements), collaboration/licensing transactions, alternative financing arrangements (synthetic royalty financings), and M&A transactions. Additionally, he regularly advises public and privately held clients, including senior executives and boards of directors, on securities, governance, transactional, and a range of other complex issues.

Stephen's work advising clients has benefited from his previous secondment to a global health care company, where he gained an even greater appreciation for the importance of having a deep understanding of his clients' business and bringing a practical approach to the table.

Pro bono is an important part of Stephen's practice, and he currently serves as the Pro Bono Liaison for the Philadelphia office. Some of his pro bono matters have included representing Red Dot Foundation Global to obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, Thinking Beyond Borders Inc. in its sale transaction, and individual clients with divorce, social security, and other personal legal matters.

quote mark

'Stephen Nicolai is a stand-out partner in capital market transactions, public company reporting and general corporate matters. Stephen’s extensive legal expertise, coupled with his deep understanding of current market dynamics and practical business-minded advise, make him an invaluable asset to me.'

Client quoted in Legal 500 US 2023: Capital Markets – Equity Offerings

Representative experience

Represented EyePoint Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its US$115m underwritten public offering of equity securities through a syndicate of underwriters led by Cowen and Gugenheim Securities.

Represented Helsinn Group in its global license and collaboration agreement with BridgeBio Pharma to develop, manufacture, and commercialize BridgeBio’s FGFR inhibitor infigratinib in oncology.

Represented OptiNose Inc. in its US$46m underwritten public offering of common stock through a syndicate of underwriters led by Piper Sandler.

Represented Helsinn Group in its collaboration with BridgeBio Pharma to co-develop and co-commercialize BridgeBio’s GPX4 inhibitor and other potential therapies in multiple cancer tumor types.

Represented a specialty pharmaceutical company in its US$138m IPO of common stock through a syndicate of underwriters led by Jefferies and Piper Jaffray.

Represented a clinical-stage biotechnology company in its US$80m synthetic royalty financing transaction.

Represented OptiNose Inc. in its US$120m follow-on public offering of common stock through a syndicate of underwriters led by Jefferies and Piper Jaffray.

Represented Marinus Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its US$70m "bought deal" public offering of common stock through a syndicate of underwriters led by Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

Represented EyePoint Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its US$115m underwritten public offering of common stock through a syndicate of underwriters led by Cowen and Guggenheim Securities

Represented EyePoint Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its acquisition of Icon Bioscience Inc. and accompanying US$60m equity financing with a group of third-party investors.

Represents several life companies in at-the-market equity offerings led by Jefferies, Cowen and Company, Cantor Fitzgerald, and B. Riley FBR.

Represented a clinical-stage oncology company in its reverse merger into a Nasdaq-listed public company.

Represented Astellas in a collaborative agreement with Selecta for the licensing and development of IgG protease candidate Xork.

Represented a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company in its US$80m IPO of common stock through a syndicate of underwriters led by Jefferies and Piper Jaffray.*

Represented a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in a US$225m public offering of common stock through a syndicate of underwriters led by J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs.*

*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., Villanova University School of Law, magna cum laude, 2011
  • B.A., West Chester University of Pennsylvania, summa cum laude, 2008
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey

Recognition

Finance: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, Recommended

Legal 500 US

2022-2023