Megan N. Gates
Member / Chair, Corporate Practice; Co-chair, Securities & Capital Markets Practice
+1.617.348.4443
Megan guides public companies through structuring and implementing capital-raising transactions, SEC reporting compliance and corporate governance obligations, and strategic mergers and acquisitions. With a specific passion for the life sciences industry, Megan has over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology field. Her counseling is directly informed by a client-focused perspective she gained during a prior in-house counsel role with a global laboratory and analytical instrument maker.
Megan is Chair of the Corporate Practice, Co-chair of the Securities & Capital Markets Practice Group, and former member of the Firm's Policy Committee. She advises publicly traded and late-stage private companies, primarily in the life sciences industry, on capital raising, SEC reporting and corporate governance obligations, and merger and acquisition transactions.
As Chair of the Corporate Practice, Megan manages more than 140 attorneys in five offices across the US. Her responsibilities include managing the strategic direction of the group and implementing its key initiatives, marketing, hiring, personnel management, professional development, performance assessment, work allocation, budgeting, and financial analysis and management.
Megan frequently speaks at conferences on securities offerings, corporate governance, and compliance matters, including at Boston Bar Association panels and industry meetings. She is also active in community organizations in Boston, including serving as a Board member of the Pine Street Inn, the Boston Bar Foundation, and the Japan Society of Boston.
Before joining the firm in September 2000, Megan served as associate general counsel for Thermo Electron Corporation, where she was responsible for securities offerings and compliance for the corporation and its 23 publicly traded subsidiaries.
Megan guides public companies through structuring and implementing capital-raising transactions, SEC reporting compliance and corporate governance obligations, and strategic mergers and acquisitions. With a specific passion for the life sciences industry, Megan has over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology field. Her counseling is directly informed by a client-focused perspective she gained during a prior in-house counsel role with a global laboratory and analytical instrument maker.
Experience
Merger & Acquisition Transactions
- Represented OvaScience in its merger with Millendo Therapeutics, Inc.
- Represented Albireo Pharma, Inc. in its merger with Biodel Inc.
- Represented ChyronHego Corporation in its $120 million acquisition by Vector Capital Partners
- Represented Chyron Corporation in its acquisition of Hego Aktiebolag
- Represented Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. in its $600 million acquisition by PerkinElmer Corporation
- Represented Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Inc. in its $164 million acquisition by Pfizer Inc.
- Represented Targacept, Inc. in its merger with Catalyst Biosciences, Inc.
- Represented RegenMedTX, LLC in its acquisition by a private equity firm
- Represented EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. in its acquisition of Bioceros Holding B.V.
Securities Offerings
- Represented Bank of America – Merrill Lynch in a $138 million follow-on offering by Puma Biotechnology, Inc.
- Represented OvaScience, Inc. in a $50 million follow-on offering
- Represented OXiGENE, Inc. in multiple follow-on offerings
- Represented MELA Sciences, Inc. in a $10 million follow-on offering
- Represented NeuroMetrix, Inc. in multiple follow-on offerings
- Represented Coley Pharmaceutical Group in its $102.6 million initial public offering
- Represented Targacept, Inc. in its $40.7 million initial public offering
- Represent H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC in multiple follow-on offerings by biotechnology issuers
viewpoints
ERISA Fiduciaries May Consider ESG Factors in Selecting Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights
November 30, 2022 | Alert | By Jacob Hupart, Michelle Capezza, Thomas R. Burton, III, Megan Gates
What Public Comments on the SEC’s Proposed Climate-Related Rules Reveal—and the Impact They May Have on the Proposed Rules
July 20, 2022 | Blog | By Jacob Hupart, Megan Gates, William F. Weld, Doug Baumstein, Jennifer Rubin, Luke Haubenstock
SEC Proposes Regulations to Address “Greenwashing” By Investment Funds
June 13, 2022 | Blog | By Jacob Hupart, Megan Gates, Doug Baumstein, Pete Michaels, William F. Weld, Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Who Should Be In Charge of Board ESG Responsibilities?
April 28, 2022 | Blog | By Jennifer Rubin, Jacob Hupart, Megan Gates
Webinar Recording: A Closer Look at the SEC's Proposed Climate-Related Disclosures and Implications for Public Companies
April 6, 2022 | Webinar | By Megan Gates, Jacob Hupart, William F. Weld
A Brief Summary of the SEC’s Proposed Climate-Related Rules
March 30, 2022 | Advisory | By Jacob Hupart, Megan Gates, William F. Weld, Doug Baumstein, Jennifer Rubin
SEC Proposes New Cybersecurity Rules for Public Companies
March 21, 2022 | Advisory | By Roman M. Gorokhov, Cynthia Larose, Megan Gates, John Condon
Preparation for 2021 Fiscal Year-End SEC Filings and 2022 Annual Shareholder Meetings
January 18, 2022 | Advisory | By Megan Gates, John Condon, Anne Bruno, Melanie Ruthrauff Levy, Daniel T. Kajunski, Cynthia Larose, Breton Leone-Quick, Page R. Hubben
Webinar Recording: Navigating the Rapidly Evolving ESG Landscape: Impacts, Implications, and Strategic Considerations
November 9, 2021 | Webinar | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Megan Gates
Environmental Disclosures: Considerations for Board Members
September 17, 2021 | Blog | By Jacob Hupart, Megan Gates, Jonathan L. Kravetz, Doug Baumstein
News & Press
Deal Diary: Orrick, Paul Weiss, Mintz On Ipsen Deal For Albireo
January 9, 2023
Board ESG Responsibilities: Who Should Be In Charge?
April 28, 2022
U.S. Auditors to Push Clients on ESG Pledges, Business Strategy
January 4, 2022
Cash-Hungry Cos. Find Alternative To Volatile Markets
March 30, 2021
Mintz Practice Groups and Attorneys Garner Top Rankings in 2020 Edition of The Legal 500 United States
June 12, 2020
Reverberations of the gov't shutdown felt by Mass. businesses
January 17, 2019
Mintz’s Megan Gates to Speak at 2017 Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting
October 12, 2017
SEC Fines Audit Firm for 'Personal Relationships'
October 11, 2016
Various Ways to Raise Capital
September 13, 2016
Mintz Attorney Megan N. Gates to Speak on IPO Preparedness Panel
September 13, 2013
Events & Speaking
New Funds And New Strategies - Building The Future Of Nordic Growth Capital
LSX Nordic Congress 2022
28th Annual New England Energy Conference & Exposition
Demystifying Decarbonization
AC Hotel by Marriott l Worcester, MA
ESG 101: Emerging Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Issues for Boards
View the Webinar Recording
Basics for Directors,Understanding Board Mandatory Filings
American College of Corporate Directors
Webinar
A Day in the Life of a Board Executive: Legal Responsibilities and Fiduciary Duties
Boston Women in Finance
Two Financial Center, Boston, MA
Equity Crowdfunding: Viable Financing for Emerging Businesses or Much Ado About Nothing?
Venture Café
Boston, MA
Megan guides public companies through structuring and implementing capital-raising transactions, SEC reporting compliance and corporate governance obligations, and strategic mergers and acquisitions. With a specific passion for the life sciences industry, Megan has over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology field. Her counseling is directly informed by a client-focused perspective she gained during a prior in-house counsel role with a global laboratory and analytical instrument maker.
Recognition & Awards
- Chambers USA: Massachusetts: Capital Markets (2022)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for Healthcare: Life Sciences (2020 – 2022); Capital Markets: Equity (2021 – 2022)
- Casa Myrna: Recipient of Norman Knight Charitable Foundation Award (2014)
- Women’s Business Boston: Top 10 Corporate Lawyers (2010)
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: Top Women of Law (2010)
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Best Lawyers in America: Corporate Law (2023)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers list: Securities & Corporate Finance (2022)
Megan guides public companies through structuring and implementing capital-raising transactions, SEC reporting compliance and corporate governance obligations, and strategic mergers and acquisitions. With a specific passion for the life sciences industry, Megan has over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology field. Her counseling is directly informed by a client-focused perspective she gained during a prior in-house counsel role with a global laboratory and analytical instrument maker.
Involvement
- Member, Boston Bar Association Council
- Corporate Board Committee, The Boston Club
- Life Sciences Council, Springboard Enterprises
- Board of Directors, Wellesley College Business Leadership Council
- Board of Directors, Greater Boston Legal Services
- Curriculum Committee, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)
- Board of Directors, Pine Street Inn, a nonprofit organization that is New England’s largest resource for homeless men and women
- Co-chair, Boston Bar Foundation John & Abigail Adams Benefit (2016)
- Past Chair, Board of Directors, Casa Myrna, a nonprofit organization located in Boston that is working to end domestic violence in the lives of women and children
- Past Co-chair, Boston Bar Association Business Transactions Section and Securities Law Committee
Recent Insights
