Where are you from?

An earlier post talked about all the different countries blogees here are representing. I thought I would give you a flavor of what types of companies and enterprises are here. Google has some incredible analytic tools that keep track of what networks our visitors come from- and each month you come from nearly 1000 different network locations. You should always know with whom you are keeping company! Here's my unscientific review of the categories of folks who are here just in the past month (in no particular order):

1. My competitors: I am glad to see a number of my competitors (smaller law firms focusing on this space) are regular visitors. It's OK guys, happy to see you, since you are all friendly competitors. In fact one of my competitors is one of my top visitors (good to see you at the conference this week)!

2. Big law firms: As I have noted in previous posts, I am most heartened to see that large law firms have opened their minds to learn more about reverse mergers and IPO alternatives. Visitors are from the likes of Duane Morris, Skadden Arps, Morrison & Foerster, Troutman Sanders, Cooley Godward, Jones Day, Milbank Tweed, K&L Gates, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, Kaye Scholer, O'Melveny & Myers, Akin Gump, Andrews & Kurth, Debevoise & Plimpton, Kirkland & Ellis, Pepper Hamilton, Pillsbury Madison, Thelen Reid, Baker & Botts, Clifford Chance, Davis Polk, Fried Frank, Goodwin Proctor, Greenberg Traurig, Holland & Knight, Mayer Brown, Preston Gates, Proskauer Rose, Cahill Gordon, Curtis Mallet-Provost, Dechert, Foley & Lardner, Gibson Dunn, Hale & Dorr, Latham & Watkins, Mintz Levin, Orrick Herrington and Paul Hastings.

3. The regulators: Yep, the US Securities and Exchange Commission monitors us, and I'm very happy to have them. Of course I would never write in any way other than respectfully to our regulators, even when I respectfully disagree. We also welcome visitors from the Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange to our humble blog. Also FINRA is here (although their network name is still National Association of Securities Dealers, their former name)! We also have visits from the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Justice.

4. Dealmakers: I know most of you and thanks for being here! Houlihan Lokey, Gruss & Company, GH Venture, Roth Capital, Jesup & Lamont, Keefe Bruyette, Maxim Group, Rodman & Renshaw, Sanders Morris, etc.

5. The big brokerage houses: CIBC, JP Morgan Chase, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada, Brown Brothers Harriman, Legg Mason Wood Walker have all taken a look. In truth, every major house is now involved in financings related to reverse mergers and SPACs.

6. Educators & Students are also here from Harvard University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, New York University, Baruch College, University of Wisconsin (Madison), University of Bologna, Central Missouri State, Concorida University, Fuzhou University, Korea University, Pepperdine University, Southern California University, University of Miami, University of Rochester and University of Stellenbosch. This is cool and bodes well for the future of our industry as those coming from academia learn the benefits of these alternatives.

7. Accountants: My friends from Rothstein Kass, Deloitte & Touche, Stonefield Josephson, and others. Where are the rest of you? Probably too busy!

8. Chinese visitors: My friends from dozens of different locations. Welcome!

9. Press: Welcome Crain Communications, Boston Globe, DealFlow Media and others.

There are many others who visit from bigger networks such as AOL or a cable company that are all lopped together, but I know you are out there! Thanks again to all for your support. In just a week's time I'm off with the family for our annual trip to paradise...see you all soon!