NEW YORK, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Practising Law Institute (PLI), the nation's leading provider of continuing legal education, announces the release of the new Initial Public Offerings: A Practical Guide to Going Public, the first comprehensive and practical guide to focus exclusively on the planning, procedures, opportunities, and pitfalls involved in the complicated IPO process. Initial Public Offerings is written by Partner David Westenberg, of the Corporate Practice Group at WilmerHale, and draws upon his and the firm's decades of experience as a leader in the IPO market.

An essential resource for C-level officers, board members, and company counsel, Initial Public Offerings shows how to weigh an IPO's advantages, drawbacks, demands, and alternatives before deciding whether or not to go public; lay the groundwork for an IPO, including securing the right senior management and pre-IPO financing; prepare for the rigors of due diligence; and master accounting matters vital to the IPO process.

Initial Public Offerings enables executives and attorneys to implement critical corporate policies; address the issues and risks associated with pre-IPO acquisitions; take advantage of pre-IPO tax and financial planning opportunities; assemble a powerful IPO team; and implement a "dual-track" strategy that maximizes flexibility and upside.

Initial Public Offerings also helps users to craft a Form S-1 that attracts investors, meets SEC rules, and minimizes liability; manage risks when selling stockholders are included in the IPO; sell the deal through strong marketing; and address post-IPO challenges, from satisfying myriad public company obligations, to interacting with securities analysts and investors, to capitalizing on liquidity and fundraising opportunities.

"There is no better practical tool for anyone needing an in-depth, step-by-step guide to the IPO process. Anyone embarking on the IPO road will benefit from the book's insights on dealing with the SEC, and from its practical advice on every business and corporate governance issue that must be addressed in taking an enterprise public," said Larry Sonsini, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Initial Public Offerings: A Practical Guide to Going Public by David A. Westenberg (Partner, Corporate Practice Group, WilmerHale, Boston) is $295 and is available for a 30-day free examination.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David A. Westenberg has guided numerous clients from formation through venture financing and on to successful IPOs or acquisitions. He led the dual-track IPO/sale process for EqualLogic, resulting in its $1.4 billion acquisition by Dell in early 2008 -- at the time the acquisition agreement was signed, this was the largest all-cash purchase price in history for a private VC-backed company. Mr. Westenberg is the editor and principal author of WilmerHale's annual IPO Report and is the editor and co-author of its annual Venture Capital Report and M&A Report. Mr. Westenberg is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of corporate, venture capital, mergers & acquisitions and information technology law. Previously, he was selected by American Lawyer magazine as "Dealmaker of the Year" for equities and was named an "All Star for Law & Technology" by Mass High Tech for fostering the development of New England technology companies. A graduate of MIT and Harvard Law School, Mr. Westenberg joined WilmerHale in 1983 and became a partner in 1992.

ABOUT WILMERHALE

WilmerHale provides legal representation across a comprehensive range of practice areas that are critical to the success of its clients. The law firm's leading corporate, intellectual property, litigation/controversy, regulatory and government affairs, securities, and transactional practices participate in some of the highest-profile legal and policy matters. With a staunch commitment to public service, the firm is renowned as a leader in pro bono representation. WilmerHale has more than 1,000 lawyers in 12 cities worldwide. For more information, please visit www.wilmerhale.com.

ABOUT PLI

Practising Law Institute (PLI) is a non-profit continuing legal education organization dedicated to providing the legal community with the most up-to-date information available. Founded in 1933, PLI has a continuing mission to enhance the professionalism of attorneys and other qualified persons by providing the highest quality and most innovative programs. PLI also offers one-hour briefings, online CLE, publications, and other services to enable attorneys to practice competently and ethically, as well as to fulfill pro bono responsibilities. PLI offers more than 300 programs annually in locations across the U.S., including live webcasts, interactive multimedia, web programs, course handbooks, and annually supplemented treatises. In addition, PLI annually awards more than 3,000 full and partial scholarships to its programs. Learn more about PLI at www.pli.edu.

SOURCE Practising Law Institute