Arthur C. Hall III

Art’s practice focuses on the representation of public company clients and investment banks with respect to capital raising activities, corporate governance and executive compensation matters and merger and acquisition transactions. His experience includes representing issuers and underwriters in more than 80 public equity and debt offerings, including initial public offerings and 144A offerings, as well as tender offers and exchange offers.

He routinely assists public company clients in preparing Securities and Exchange Commission filings, such as Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and proxy statements. Art also advises public companies and their boards with respect to corporate governance and executive compensation matters and provides counsel on fiduciary duties and a variety of federal securities law compliance issues.

Art’s practice in this area includes counseling on shareholder activism matters, and he has been actively involved in several proxy contests, including a recent high-profile national contest.

Art has routinely been recognized by Chambers USA, most recently in 2021 in Band 3 for Corporate/M&A - Ohio: North. Chambers USA researchers commented, "[Art] is particularly well versed in advising public companies and investors on financing issues and corporate governance matters." A client interviewed by Chambers USA researchers remarked, "He's a no-nonsense corporate lawyer who is candid and transparent about his client's position and tries to facilitate the transaction." Another client said, "He's responsive, practical and on point in his advice and work."

He also has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© (2016-2022) in the areas of Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, and Corporate Law. Art was named the Best Lawyers Securities Regulation "Lawyer of the Year" in Cleveland (2021 and 2019).

Prior to practicing law, Art worked as a corporate relationship officer for two money center banks and served as the manager of corporate development for a large energy company.

Honors & Recognitions

• Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, Band 3 (2015-2021)
• The Best Lawyers in America^©, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, and Corporate Law (2016-2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America, Securities Regulation “Lawyer of the Year," Cleveland (2021 and 2019)
• Cleveland Magazine, "Cleveland 500" List (2021-2022)

Education

J.D., magna cum laude, University of Notre Dame Law School, 1993

M.B.A., Duke University, 1986

B.A., Franklin and Marshall College, 1984

Experience

• Acted as counsel to Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. in connection with two primary Common Stock offerings raising in excess of $480 million, as well as a $200 million secondary Common Stock offering by the Company's largest stakeholder (a substantial private equity fund).
• Acted as counsel to Chart Industries, Inc. in connection with two Convertible Note offerings raising in excess of $500 million.
• Represented a variety of national Underwriters in connection with more than 25 public offerings in the last decade for Welltower Inc. (formerly Health Care REIT), including two common stock offerings in 2014 and a common stock and two Senior Note offerings in 2015. The 2015 equity offering had the distinction of being the largest overnight common stock offering completed since 2013. Likewise, the 2014 offerings were the largest overnight common stock offerings completed by a NYSE-listed company in 2014.
• Advised several clients, including Agilysys, Inc. and DATATRAK International Inc. in connection with proxy contests with activist shareholders. Recently served as Ohio counsel for a market-leading, highly engaged shareholder in connection with a nationally recognized proxy contest.
• Represented national Underwriters in connection with multiple debt offerings for Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison and The Illuminating Company, electric utilities and subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp., raising more than $1.2 billion. 
• Represented Initial Purchasers in connection with a 144A offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes of American Transmission Systems, Incorporated, a regulated transmission utility and subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. 
• Served as Ohio counsel for entities affiliated with Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison and The Illuminating Company in connection with an approximately $450 million public offering of pass-through certificate in trusts formed in connection with this complicated stranded cost securitization.
• Advised DATATRAK International, Inc. in connection with the delisting of its Common Shares from NASDAQ and the subsequent deregistration of its securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In connection with such engagement, advised DATATRAK with respect to various aspects of the deregistration process, including preparing and negotiating a no-action request with the SEC in order to complete the deregistration process.
• Represented several clients in connection with establishing U.S. commercial paper programs, including a recent program for a multi-national German corporation.
• Represented various clients in connection with mergers and acquisition transactions, including serving as local counsel for a number of public company mergers.

Professional & Community

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
• Leadership Cleveland Class of 2021
• Business Volunteers Unlimited, Board of Directors
• Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s Capital Campaign, Cabinet Member
• Great Lakes Theater, Board of Trustees
• The City Mission, Board of Trustees
• Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes, Former Chancellor and Standing Committee Member 

Client Feedback

• "The 'superb' Arthur Hall wins praise for his 'expert but practical advice,’ with clients also citing his 'extensive knowledge in federal securities law' as a key strength. He is particularly well versed in advising public companies and investors on financing issues and corporate governance matters." — Chambers USA researchers, as reported in the Chambers USA 2020 Guide
• "Art has it all: he’s got that depth of SEC knowledge and understands how it really works, as well as a wonderful practical side.” — Calfee client, as reported in a Chambers USA Guide