Nicole represents companies and investors throughout the entire corporate life cycle, from advising clients on early-stage issues of equity and control, to structuring and negotiating transactions and financings, to becoming a public company, all while navigating leadership changes and economic challenges.
Nicole focuses on representing privately held and publicly traded life sciences companies in startup and formation matters, domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate governance, venture capital financings, capital markets transactions, SEC reporting and disclosures and corporate reorganizations.
Expertise
Industries
Experience
Representative matters
Mergers & Acquisitions
Zuellig Pharma on its acquisition of Cialis and Alimta from Eli Lilly for eight ASEAN markets.
Versanis Bio on its acquisition by Eli Lilly and Company for up to $1.925 billion.
Haystack Oncology on its acquisition by Quest Diagnostics for up to $450 million.
Vaccitech plc on its acquisition of Avidea Technologies, Inc. for approximately $40 million in cash and equity, plus potential payments upon achievement of milestones.
Thrive Earlier Detection Corp. on its acquisition by Exact Sciences Corporation for up to $2.15 billion.
Unum Therapeutics on the sale of its BOXR (Bolt-on Chimeric Receptor) technology for approximately $11.5 million.
Unum Therapeutics on its acquisition of KIQ LLC and concurrent PIPE investment to raise $104 million.
Avadel Legacy Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avadel Pharmaceuticals (Ireland), on the sale of its hospital product assets for approximately $40 million.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals on a $100 million equity financing closed in connection with its $2 billion strategic financing collaboration with Blackstone.
CRISPR Therapeutics on a series of transactions by which CRISPR acquired 100% of the partnership interests of Casebia Therapeutics.
BeiGene on its $2.7 billion share sale as part of a global strategic collaboration with Amgen.
BlueRock Therapeutics on its acquisition by Bayer AG for up to $1 billion.
Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. on its partnership with GeneTx Biotherapeutics LLC to develop GeneTx’s GTX-102.
Venture Financings
Beta Bionics on its $63 million Series B2 financing and its $57 Series C financing.
Versanis Bio on its $70 million Series A financing.
OrbiMed as co-lead investor on the $40 million Series A financing of Gennao Bio.
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals on its $135 million Series C financing.
Karuna Therapeutics on its $82 million Series B financing.
Thrive Earlier Detection Corp. on its $110 million Series A financing.
Capital Markets
AlloVir on its $317.7 million IPO, $100 million at-the-market offering, $126.6 million registered direct offering, and $75 million follow-on public offering.
Cerevel Therapeutics on its $350 million follow-on public offering, $600 million public offering of common stock and concurrent private placement of 144A convertible senior notes, and $250 million at-the-market offering.
Esperion Therapeutics on its $280 million 144A offering, $250 million at-the-market offering, $225 million follow-on public offering, and $57 million registered direct offering.
Karuna Therapeutics on its $100 million IPO, $250 million and $287.5 million follow-on public offerings, and $150 million at-the-market offering.
Bluebird bio on its $75 million private placement financing in connection with its spinout of 2seventy bio.
Kymera Therapeutics on its $257 million follow-on public offering.
Zuellig Pharma on its acquisition of Cialis and Alimta from Eli Lilly for eight ASEAN markets.
Versanis Bio on its acquisition by Eli Lilly and Company for up to $1.925 billion.
Haystack Oncology on its acquisition by Quest Diagnostics for up to $450 million.
Vaccitech plc on its acquisition of Avidea Technologies, Inc. for approximately $40 million in cash and equity, plus potential payments upon achievement of milestones.
Thrive Earlier Detection Corp. on its acquisition by Exact Sciences Corporation for up to $2.15 billion.
Unum Therapeutics on the sale of its BOXR (Bolt-on Chimeric Receptor) technology for approximately $11.5 million.
Unum Therapeutics on its acquisition of KIQ LLC and concurrent PIPE investment to raise $104 million.
Avadel Legacy Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avadel Pharmaceuticals (Ireland), on the sale of its hospital product assets for approximately $40 million.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals on a $100 million equity financing closed in connection with its $2 billion strategic financing collaboration with Blackstone.
CRISPR Therapeutics on a series of transactions by which CRISPR acquired 100% of the partnership interests of Casebia Therapeutics.
BeiGene on its $2.7 billion share sale as part of a global strategic collaboration with Amgen.
BlueRock Therapeutics on its acquisition by Bayer AG for up to $1 billion.
Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. on its partnership with GeneTx Biotherapeutics LLC to develop GeneTx’s GTX-102.
Venture Financings
Beta Bionics on its $63 million Series B2 financing and its $57 Series C financing.
Versanis Bio on its $70 million Series A financing.
OrbiMed as co-lead investor on the $40 million Series A financing of Gennao Bio.
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals on its $135 million Series C financing.
Karuna Therapeutics on its $82 million Series B financing.
Thrive Earlier Detection Corp. on its $110 million Series A financing.
Capital Markets
AlloVir on its $317.7 million IPO, $100 million at-the-market offering, $126.6 million registered direct offering, and $75 million follow-on public offering.
Cerevel Therapeutics on its $350 million follow-on public offering, $600 million public offering of common stock and concurrent private placement of 144A convertible senior notes, and $250 million at-the-market offering.
Esperion Therapeutics on its $280 million 144A offering, $250 million at-the-market offering, $225 million follow-on public offering, and $57 million registered direct offering.
Karuna Therapeutics on its $100 million IPO, $250 million and $287.5 million follow-on public offerings, and $150 million at-the-market offering.
Bluebird bio on its $75 million private placement financing in connection with its spinout of 2seventy bio.
Kymera Therapeutics on its $257 million follow-on public offering.
Pro bono
Nicole’s pro bono experience includes assisting individuals in citizenship and immigration matters, volunteering with the Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative to provide representation for immigrants detained at LaSalle Detention Facility, representing a petitioner seeking clemency through the Federal Clemency Project, and assisting veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in applying for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC).
Nicole is a member of the Board of Directors for the March of Dimes at the Boston market and previously served as Chair of the Executive Leadership Team for the March for Babies Boston. She has also served on the National Women’s Law Center’s Leadership Advisory Committee.
Nicole is a member of the Boston Bar Association and the Navajo Nation Bar Association.
Awards
- Excellence in Pro Bono, Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly Award, 2023
Qualifications
Admissions
Massachusetts, 2005
Arizona, 2008
Navajo Nation, 2012
Academic
JD, Boston College Law School, 2005
BA, Psychological & Brain Sciences and Native American Studies, summa cum laude, 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.