Laura Kaufmann is co-head of the firm’s U.S. financial sponsor capital markets practice. She represents corporate clients, financial sponsors, REITs and investment banks in a variety of capital markets transactions, including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities and initial public offerings, as well as acquisition finance, spin-off, liability management and restructuring transactions.
Kaufmann frequently works with asset managers, private equity firms and family offices on a variety of transactions, including the IPO path of dual-track processes, minority investments, negotiation and execution of rights and liquidity transactions for public stakes, and other capital markets-related transactions. Some of her clients have included BlackRock, Blackstone, JAB, OceanSound Partners, Permira and Wendel.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers | 2026 | REITs |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America | 2026 | Capital Markets, Private Equity |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers | 2025 | REITs |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America | 2025 | Capital Markets, Private Equity |
Kaufmann’s significant transactions include:
- BlackRock, Inc. in its $12.5 billion acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners; its proposed $12 billion acquisition of HPS; the $13.2 billion secondary offering of its common stock by PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.; its repurchase of $1.1 billion of its common stock from PNC Financial; and multiple debt offerings totaling in excess of $18 billion; as well as multiple offerings of debt securities for its business development companies (BDCs)
- Elon Musk in connection with financing matters related to his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, now X, and X in connection with financing matters
- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in numerous transactions, including its offerings of common stock; its $1 billion at-the-market equity program; its offerings of several tranches of convertible notes; and its offerings in excess of $14 billion of senior notes
- Janus Henderson in its Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of senior notes
- Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiaries in senior debt offerings totaling in excess of $45 billion
- J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Jefferies LLC as joint bookrunning managers in the initial public offering of common stock of CAVA Group, Inc.
Kaufmann also counsels numerous REIT clients and underwriters of REIT securities in a wide variety of transactions. Among others, she has advised:
- SL Green Realty Corp. in a number of financings, including offerings of senior notes, exchangeable notes, and common and preferred stock, as well as debt tender offers and issuances of units for property acquisitions
- Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (formerly HCP, Inc.) in its spin-off of a portion of its real estate assets into a split publicly traded REIT called Quality Care Properties, Inc., and in numerous debt and equity offerings
- Alexander & Baldwin in its at-the-market equity program