Stephanie Gayle Daley-Watson

Stephanie Daley-Watson is a founding member of Prism Law Group and her practice focuses on the representation of emerging and public companies.  In nearly 20 years as an attorney, Stephanie has had a diverse practice focusing on capital market offerings, venture capital finance, corporate governance, and securities law compliance.  She has extensive experience handling general corporate matters, including advising boards of directors, audit, compensation, and nominating/corporate governance committees, preparing and filing periodic SEC reports and advising on related securities law compliance matters (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), and disclosure issues with respect to current reporting requirements and Regulation FD.  She enjoys working with clients to identify their needs and areas of risk, and the challenge of advising on the ever-changing reporting and governance requirements faced by publicly traded companies.

Before forming Prism Law Group, Stephanie served as Vice President, Secretary and Associate General Counsel at Safeco Corporation, a Fortune 500 property and casualty insurer. During her six years at Safeco, Stephanie handled complex transactions, including numerous capital market offerings, lines of credit and accelerated share repurchases.   She was responsible for Safeco’s compliance with federal securities laws and listing requirements.  She advised the board of directors and senior leaders on corporate governance matters and established Safeco’s compliance policies and procedures mandated by the Sarbanes Oxley Act.  She also oversaw Safeco’s compliance with labor and employment matters, employee benefits, and executive compensation. 

Before Safeco, Stephanie was Of Counsel at Perkins Coie LLP, where she advised public company clients on corporate governance, executive and equity compensation, and 1934 Act compliance matters. Stephanie also played a significant role as company counsel in numerous public and private offerings, and represented emerging companies in venture capital financings, mergers and asset sales.

Stephanie received her J.D. in 1990 from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, and her B.A. in Political Science from Washington State University. Stephanie is a member of the bar in Washington State and the District of Columbia.

Representative work:

•Advising the board of directors and management regarding the $6.2 billion acquisition of Safeco by Liberty Mutual Group; leading negotiations relating to change of control agreements and advising on federal securities law compliance, including primary responsibility for Safeco’s proxy statement and related disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

•Advising the board of directors and management regarding the $1.3 billion sale of Safeco’s life insurance, asset management and independent agency businesses.  Lead in-house counsel negotiating and drafting purchase and sale, transition and separation agreements.

•Lead counsel for Safeco in connection with $1.25 billion in debt and equity financings, a $600 million tender offer and over $1 billion share repurchases through 10b5-1 trading plans or accelerated share repurchase programs.

•Stephanie has worked with many west coast public companies advising on corporate governance and securities matters, including Coinstar, Inc., Emeritus Corporation, The Gymboree Corporation, Puget Energy, Inc. and Shurgard Storage Centers, Inc.

•Representative initial public offerings and follow-on offerings include: NeoPath, Inc., Quinton Cardiology Systems, Targeted Genetics and Visio Corporation.