Suzanne K. Hanselman

Partner

Cleveland
T +1.216.861.7090
F +1.216.696.0740

"Suzanne Hanselman is a 'superb attorney with tremendous securities knowledge,' according to impressed interviewees."

— Chambers USA 2017

Overview

Bringing a holistic view to her practice, Suzanne Hanselman counsels companies on day-to-day corporate issues, ensures compliance with federal securities law and provides guidance to general counsel. Because Suzanne sees her connection with clients as a partnership, they feel that she is part of their team while she works to navigate their needs and concerns.

Suzanne is ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, where she has gained "particular praise for her work in securities. Clients note that she is 'very good, responsible and cost-effective,'" (Chambers USA 2015). She also is listed in The Best Lawyers in America©. Suzanne is the business development leader for BakerHostetler's Cleveland office, a member of the national Women's Steering Committee and the former Cleveland Business Group coordinator.

Select Experience

  • Represented a long-standing client of the firm in a $1.1 billion conversion offering of senior notes and preferred shares. Client priced a deal within two weeks after seizing an opportunity to take advantage of public market conditions, giving the team minimal time to prepare and file a registration statement with the SEC, finalize offering materials, prepare an amendment to company’s articles of incorporation and negotiate an underwriting agreement, while also coordinating with the client, the underwriter and its attorneys, the transfer agent and the trustee on underlying documentation. With her ability to draw resources together quickly and her understanding of the way in which the client operated, she addressed necessary matters within the limited time frame.
  • Advised company on its governance, structure and corporate policies, as well as on executive corporation matters, for its initial public offering. Team members involved in this representation were chosen for their extensive IPO experience, as well as their ability to work with the issuer's counsel that had been hired by a private equity firm to ensure that all the client's constituencies were protected. Helped client put structure policies in place to make the transition into a public company, and the subsequent functioning as a public company, as easy as possible.
More »

Experience

  • Represented a long-standing client of the firm in a $1.1 billion conversion offering of senior notes and preferred shares. Client priced a deal within two weeks after seizing an opportunity to take advantage of public market conditions, giving the team minimal time to prepare and file a registration statement with the SEC, finalize offering materials, prepare an amendment to company’s articles of incorporation and negotiate an underwriting agreement, while also coordinating with the client, the underwriter and its attorneys, the transfer agent and the trustee on underlying documentation. With her ability to draw resources together quickly and her understanding of the way in which the client operated, she addressed necessary matters within the limited time frame.
  • Advised company on its governance, structure and corporate policies, as well as on executive corporation matters, for its initial public offering. Team members involved in this representation were chosen for their extensive IPO experience, as well as their ability to work with the issuer's counsel that had been hired by a private equity firm to ensure that all the client's constituencies were protected. Helped client put structure policies in place to make the transition into a public company, and the subsequent functioning as a public company, as easy as possible.
  • Designed executive compensation programs and disclosures around an initial public offering for a longtime BakerHostetler client. Representation of client required an understanding of corporate governance, shareholder views, tax issues, and SEC disclosure and reporting issues within the industry.
  • Performed work as member of a team serving as primary legal counsel to interrelated family trusts. Provided advice associated with trust administration and fiduciary compliance matters. Advised trusts on consolidated investment policy under applicable law, securities matters related to investments held in sub-trusts, decanting the situs change issues associated with revocable trust entities, and income shifting analysis under domestic and foreign tax accounting rules.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA: Corporate/M&A in Ohio (2007 to 2022)
    • Band 2 (2012 to 2022), Band 3 (2009 to 2011), Up and Coming (2007)
  • Women in Law Award: Outstanding Contribution in Mentoring (2014)
  • The Legal 500 United States (2017 to 2021)
    • Recommended in M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Corporate Governance
  • BTI Client Service All-Star (2016, 2020, 2022)
  • BTI Transactions All-Star Team (2008)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Ohio: Corporate Compliance Law (2009 to Present)
      • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (2018, 2020)
    • Ohio: Corporate Governance Law (2009 to Present)
      • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (2015, 2017, 2019)
    • Ohio: Corporate Law (2009 to Present)
      • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (2013)
    • Ohio: Securities / Capitals Markets Law (2015 to Present)
    • Ohio: Securities Regulation (2015 to Present)
      • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (2022)
  • Ohio "Super Lawyer" (2008 to 2023)
  • Midpark High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame

Memberships

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
    • Securities Law Section: Past President
  • Law and Capital Markets @ Ohio State: Advisory Board

News

News

Press Releases

Community

  • Leadership Cleveland: Class of 2013
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law: Adjunct professor, securities and corporate law
  • Greater Cleveland YWCA: Board
  • Beaumont School: Board
  • ZenWorks: Board

Admissions

  • Ohio

Education

  • J.D., The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, 1991, Order of the Coif
  • B.A., Miami University, 1985