Ferrell M. Keel

Ferrell Keel represents clients in a broad range of complex capital markets transactions, as well as high-stakes corporate governance matters relating to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and stock exchange rules and regulations.

Ferrell's corporate governance practice particularly focuses on the intersection of shareholder activism and environmental, social & governance (ESG). She regularly counsels clients on shareholder proposals and the SEC's proxy rules and regulations and was a leading member of the Jones Day team that represented ExxonMobil in its lawsuit against shareholder activists in 2024. Ferrell has also testified to the Texas State Senate Committee on State Affairs and the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services on shareholder proposals, proxy advisors, and ideas for reform.

Ferrell also facilitates annual evaluations for public company boards of directors, addressing corporate governance matters such as risk oversight, effective communication between management and the board, and succession planning.

On the transactional side, Ferrell has led the full range of capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings (IPOs) and follow-on equity offerings; spin-offs; high yield, investment-grade, and convertible debt offerings; commercial paper programs; rights offerings; private placements of equity and convertible securities; and tender and exchange offers.

Ferrell works regularly with a diverse set of clients that span a wide range of industries — energy, technology, financial services, consumer, retail, industrials, and health care. Notable clients that Ferrell has recently worked with include Lennox International, Valero, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo, Marathon Petroleum, MPLX, Cleveland-Cliffs, ExxonMobil, Newell Brands, Nutrien, KKR, Enhabit, and Nanobiotix.