Stelios G. Saffos, Global Vice Chair of Latham’s Capital Markets and Public Company Representation Practices and Global Chair of the Hybrid Capital Practice, advises many of the world’s leading private equity sponsors, asset managers, financial institutions, and companies on investments and financings at all levels of the corporate structure, from initial public offerings and traditional loan and bond structures through complex structured equity and mezzanine financings.

Stelios advises clients on investments and accessing capital through:

  • Initial public offerings, direct listings, and deSPAC mergers
  • Secured and unsecured high-yield debt offerings
  • Direct lending and other private capital transactions
  • Bridge lending and loan commitments
  • Preferred, growth, and control equity investments
  • Debt exchange offers and tender offers
  • Workouts and restructuring transactions
  • Mezzanine financings

He also serves as a strategic advisor to both domestic and foreign companies with respect to their most sensitive and highest-stakes general corporate, finance, and securities matters.

Stelios provides clients a sophisticated understanding of what is at market, drawing on diverse financing experience and deep relationships with global investment banks, private equity funds, venture capital funds, direct lenders and alternative capital providers, and innovative companies, including high-growth and disruptive entities in the technology, consumer, retail, and healthcare sectors.

Prior to joining Latham, Stelios served as a Judicial Clerk to United States District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez. He is a former member of the firm’s Strategic Client Committee.

Accolades

  • “Knows the market inside and out.”
    “My first call when approaching complex situations. He brings a depth of experience and judgment to deliver exceptional outcomes.”
    “An exceptional lawyer. He has both a strong set of technical capabilities and is very commercial in representing his clients.”
    “An amazing lawyer with terrific knowledge of the market and a commercial approach.”
    Chambers USA 2024
  • “The best lawyer with whom I have ever worked.”
    “Excellent at connecting individuals and institutions across wall street. This is certainly above and beyond what most lawyers do and is additive to any lender’s experience.”
    The Legal 500 US 2024
  • “He is highly intelligent and able to handle complex situations well. Importantly, given his leadership in the market, he has a full grasp of the most cutting-edge concepts.”
    “Stelios is a very bright, savvy and skilled attorney who has an encyclopedic knowledge of his area of expertise.”
    “He has a wealth of knowledge and a vast network to draw on to get things done.”
    Chambers USA 2023
  • “Stelios is my first call when I have a complex deal that needs thoughtfulness, creative structuring, execution and white-glove service.”
    “He has an exceptional knowledge with a level of client service you don't find everywhere. He is always calm, cool and collected, bringing resolution to difficult situations.”
    “He has established his market standing as a force in the New York capital markets space, displaying strengths in IPOs and high-yield debt, as part of a wide transactional skill set.”
    Chambers Global 2023
  • “Master of craft with market-leading knowledge of capital markets, trends, players, and overall activity.”
    “Within private credit…the gold standard of buy-side counsel particularly for complex transactions.”
    The Legal 500 US 2023
  • Band 1 – Private Credit
    Chambers USA 2024
  • Leading Lawyer – Finance: Capital Markets: High Yield Offerings 
    The Legal 500 US 2024
  • Ranked – Capital Markets: Debt & Equity
    Chambers USA 2020-2023
  • “He has an exceptional knowledge with a level of client service you don't find everywhere. He is always calm, cool and collected, bringing resolution to difficult situations.”
    Chambers USA 2022
  • “He knows everyone and he has a network of people that provides a lot of insight into how people think.”
    Chambers Global 2022
  • USA: Finance: Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt Offerings: Advice to Issuers: “Stelios Saffos has become a big name in the market.”
    The Legal 500 US 2022
  • Recommended Lawyer for Capital Markets: High Yield
    The Legal 500 US 2022
  • “A force in the New York capital markets space.”
    Chambers USA 2021
  • “He has the right combination of encyclopedic knowledge as well as knowing all the right players. He prioritizes us as a client and is excellent in response time. He is also very personable.”
    Chambers USA 2020
  • “An increasingly prominent up-and-coming partner.”
    The Legal 500 US 2020

Stelios has represented sponsors, issuers, direct lenders, and underwriters in more than 725 transactions across various industries, including IPOs, control and minority equity investments, senior and junior lending and private credit transactions, and high yield offerings. This includes more than 300 lending and private credit deals, 150 high yield offerings, and 200 IPO and other equity offerings. Select clients and issuers include:

  • Activant Capital
  • AEA Investors
  • Allbirds
  • Apollo
  • Argo Blockchain
  • Arhaus
  • Centerbridge
  • Charlesbank Capital Partners
  • Content Partners
  • Crescent Capital
  • Driven Brands
  • Dun & Bradstreet
  • Dutch Bros
  • Dyal Capital
  • EngageSmart
  • Faherty
  • Floor & Décor
  • Fortress Investment Group
  • GFL Environmental
  • GoHealth
  • Golub Capital Partners
  • Guggenheim Partners
  • HPS Investment Partners
  • Instacart
  • Iris Energy Limited
  • KKR
  • Leonard Green
  • Leslie’s Pool
  • Litmus Music
  • Manchester United
  • Marathon Digital Holdings
  • Mavis
  • Neuberger Berman
  • Oatly
  • Odyssey Investment Partners
  • Partners Group AG
  • Phreesia
  • Riskified 
  • Silver Rock
  • SmileDirect
  • The Carlyle Group
  • The Farmer's Dog
  • The Vita Coco Company
  • Torrid
  • Traeger
  • Trilantic Capital Partners
  • Turvo
  • UGI
  • Vuori
  • Warby Parker
  • Xponential Fitness
  • ZoomInfo

Bar Qualification

  • New York

Education

  • JD, Rutgers University School of Law
  • BA, Bucknell University