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Erik F. Franks
Partner
Corporate
Palo Alto

D650-565-3879

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  • Extensive Experience in Debt and Equity Offerings

    Erik has represented issuers and investment banks in more than 100 debt and equity offerings, including convertible, high-yield, and investment-grade notes; preferred stock; and other structured financial instruments.

  • Prominent Technology and Growth Clients

    Erik has represented numerous technology companies in convertible note, high-yield note, and investment-grade offerings, including Adobe Systems, LinkedIn, Netflix, NetApp, and Twitter.

  • Underwriter Counsel Expertise

    Erik has advised investment banks such as BofA Merrill Lynch, Goldman, Sachs, Jefferies, J.P. Morgan, and Morgan Stanley in company offerings.

Erik Franks is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and a co-leader of the firm's corporate finance practice. He focuses on corporate finance and securities law and has represented issuers and investment banks in more than 100 debt and equity offerings, including convertible, high-yield, and investment-grade notes; preferred stock; and other structured financial instruments. Erik has worked with numerous issuers to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock or debt securities, including through private market repurchases, tender offers, or exchange offers. In addition, he represents borrowers in the negotiation of secured and unsecured bank financings, including Term Loan A, Term Loan B, revolving credit, and commercial paper facilities.

Erik also has experience advising on a broad range of derivative instruments, including commercial hedging arrangements such as foreign exchange derivatives, interest rate swaps, and commodity derivatives, and complex structured derivative transactions such as capped calls, tax-integrated bond hedge and warrant transactions, capped and collared accelerated stock repurchases, and prepaid forward stock purchase transactions.

Erik has been ranked and recognized as a leader in the capital markets practice in various publications, including Chambers Global and Chambers USA. Recognized by both Chambers USA and Chambers Global for having “noteworthy command of convertible offerings” and “an impressive practice that sees him advise some of the best-known technology companies and investment banks,” clients remark Erik is “a great debt specialist” who is “very responsive and knowledgeable.” 

Experience

Erik Franks is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and a co-leader of the firm's corporate finance practice. He focuses on corporate finance and securities law and has represented issuers and investment banks in more than 100 debt and equity offerings, including convertible, high-yield, and investment-grade notes; preferred stock; and other structured financial instruments. Erik has worked with numerous issuers to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock or debt securities, including through private market repurchases, tender offers, or exchange offers. In addition, he represents borrowers in the negotiation of secured and unsecured bank financings, including Term Loan A, Term Loan B, revolving credit, and commercial paper facilities.

Erik also has experience advising on a broad range of derivative instruments, including commercial hedging arrangements such as foreign exchange derivatives, interest rate swaps, and commodity derivatives, and complex structured derivative transactions such as capped calls, tax-integrated bond hedge and warrant transactions, capped and collared accelerated stock repurchases, and prepaid forward stock purchase transactions.

Erik has been ranked and recognized as a leader in the capital markets practice in various publications, including Chambers Global and Chambers USA. Recognized by both Chambers USA and Chambers Global for having “noteworthy command of convertible offerings” and “an impressive practice that sees him advise some of the best-known technology companies and investment banks,” clients remark Erik is “a great debt specialist” who is “very responsive and knowledgeable.” 

Focus Areas
Recent Insights
News Articles
Wilson Sonsini Practices, Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Chambers USA Guide
The 2026 Chambers USA guide has recognized Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as a leading law firm in 44 geography-specific practice categories and named 87 Wilson Sonsini attorneys among the best in their fields. This year, the firm received four new practice area rankings, including in the nationwide National Security and Capital Markets: Convertible Debt categories, and three improved practice area rankings.
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Client Highlights
Firm Advises Marvell Technology on Strategic Partnership and $2 Billion Investment from NVIDIA
On March 31, 2026, NVIDIA announced it has invested $2 billion in Marvell Technology as part of a strategic partnership to connect Marvell to the NVIDIA AI factory and AI-RAN ecosystem through NVIDIA NVLink Fusion™. This partnership offers customers building on NVIDIA architectures greater choice and flexibility in developing next-generation infrastructure. The companies will also collaborate on silicon photonics technology. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Marvell on the transaction.
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Recent Trends in the Convertible Bond Market
When financial markets become uncertain and volatile, one capital market has historically weathered the unknown better than others. Wilson Sonsini, together with J. Wood Capital Advisors, invites you to join us as we discuss the latest conditions and trends in the convertible bond market. In addition, the presenters will provide insights into why issuers pursue convertible financings, and things that could impact the market for the remainder of 2022.
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