Justin Klein

Justin P. Klein

Senior Counsel He / Him / His
Philadelphia

As a respected corporate counselor in the areas of securities and corporate governance, Justin P. Klein advises publicly and privately held companies on diverse securities matters, including day-to-day corporate governance and other transactional matters. His practice also encompasses representation of other firms in the securities industry, including investment advisers, banks, and investment companies.

Justin has significant experience representing both issuers and underwriters in public and private offerings of common stock and debt securities. He frequently provides public companies and their boards and independent committees with both regulatory and strategic advice in merger and acquisition transactions, including going-private transactions. He also represents boards of directors and committees of public and private companies, as well as municipal issuers, in special investigations and parties in regulatory and enforcement proceedings before the SEC, state securities commissions, and securities industry self-regulatory organizations.

Justin has served as a court-appointed trustee in SEC enforcement matters. Before entering private practice, he spent nine years at the Securities and Exchange Commission, including as assistant director of the Division of Corporation Finance.

In September 2021, Justin was appointed Director of The Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. The Center is one of the oldest corporate governance centers in academia. The mission of the Center is to provide a neutral forum for the discussion of important corporate governance issues.

Professional Highlights

Professional Activities

Philadelphia Bar Association, past Chair, Business Law Section, Executive Committee; past Chair, Committee on Securities Regulation

National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (now FINRA), past Chair and member, National Arbitration and Mediation Committee

Pennsylvania Securities Commission, Attorney Advisory Committee

Recognition & Accomplishments

Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A and Securities Law, Highest Ranking (Band One); Corporate/M&A and Private Equity Law, 2003-2022; "Senior Statesman," 2023

The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities/Capital Markets Law, 2006-2024; "Lawyer of the Year," Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Philadelphia), 2014, 2020 and Securities/Capital Markets Law (Philadelphia), 2018 and 2024

Legal 500, Private Practice Powerlist, M&A (Pennsylvania), 2024

Named "Highly Regarded—Pennsylvania" by IFLR 1000 for M&A, 2018-2023

Named one of Philadelphia Business Journal's 2014 Outstanding Board Directors for his service on the Board of Directors of The Mann Center for the Performing Arts

Speaking Engagements

Frequent speaker at securities law conferences

Board Memberships & Community Service

Pomfret School; Board Chair, 2015-present; Board Member, 1986-2001 and 2008-present

The Mann Center for the Performing Arts; Board Member, 2000-present; past Chair, 2005-2014

John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware; Advisory Board Member

Settlement Music School; Board Member, 2014-present

Publications

Writes extensively on a wide variety of securities law issues, including corporate governance, executive compensation, and securities regulations

Co-author, "Pennsylvania's Strong Protections for Corporate Boards," Insights Magazine: Corporate Governance, February 2012

Credentials 

Education

George Washington University Law School (J.D. 1972, with honors)

University of Pennsylvania (B.A. 1969)

Admissions

District of Columbia

Maryland

Pennsylvania