Desiree M. Baca
The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Desi’s principal areas of practice are corporate and securities law, including securities offerings, general corporate representation, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions. As a senior member of V&E’s Shareholder Activism Practice, she has significant experience representing clients, including in more than 75 activism campaigns over the past seven years. Desi routinely advises public companies in competitive proxy solicitations, withhold campaigns, merger contests, consent solicitations, settlement negotiations, hostile takeover and other unsolicited bids, strategic investor relations, and corporate governance.
Experience Highlights
eHealth, Inc. in defense of the proxy fight by Starboard Value LP and the shareholder activism campaign by Hudson Executive Capital LP
Blackwells Capital in its campaign in opposition to the merger between Monmouth Real Estate Corporation and Equity Commonwealth
Hudson Global in the defense of the exempt solicitation by Cannell Capital
CrownRock in its $1 billion offering of senior notes
Progenics Pharmaceuticals in the defense of the “withhold the vote” campaign and consent solicitation by Altiva Management
First United Corporation in the defense of the proxy fights by Driver Management Company
AB Value Management in its activism campaigns against Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Owens Realty Mortgage in its proxy contest defense against Hovde Capital Advisors and Opal Advisors
Matrix Service Company in its proxy contest defense against Engine Capital Management, LLC
Simpson Manufacturing in its proxy contest defense against Iron Compass
Routinely advises multiple publicly traded corporations and MLPs on 1933 Act and 1934 Act compliance, listing exchange requirements, corporate governance, strategic investor relations, engagement with proxy advisory services and board of directors matters
Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in its $248 million public offering of common stock
EZCORP, Inc. in its $173 million offering of convertible senior notes
CrownRock Holdings in its $475 million Series A perpetual preferred equity investment from funds managed by Magnetar Capital and EIG Global Energy Partners
EZCorp, Inc. in its $144 million offering of convertible senior notes
Milestone Apartments Real Estate Investment Trust in its $2.85 billion sale to Starwood Capital Group
Daseke in its merger with Aveda Transportation and Energy Services, one of the largest oil rig moving companies in North America
Pon Holdings in the acquisition of IndiGO Auto Group Holdings
Credentials
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 2016 (Lawrence Lederman Fellow in Law and Economics; Articles Editor, NYU Journal of Law and Business)
- Brigham Young University, B.A., Public Relations; B.A., American Studies, 2012
- Legal 500 U.S., M&A/Corporate & Commercial: Shareholder Activism: Advice to Boards, 2023 and 2024
- Texas
- New York
- CLE EventNovember 21, 2024Vinson & Elkins - Houston Office
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Deals & CasesMay 11, 2023
- Deals & CasesJune 28, 2022
- Press ReleaseMarch 30, 2022
- Press ReleaseMarch 29, 2022