Sullivan
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Biography

David is the managing partner of Sullivan's New York office, where he is also director of the Corporate Department. He has extensive transaction experience representing issuers, broker-dealers and investment funds in financings, capital markets transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. David's clients span a variety of industries, and his practice includes such matters as general corporate governance, securities regulation, mergers and acquisitions, and financings. He also maintains several securities industry licenses, including the Series 24 (Registered Principal), Series 7 (General Securities), Series 79 (Investment Banking), and Series 99 (Operations), which gives him a unique insight into the challenges facing regulated firms.

David handles both regulatory and transactional work for broker-dealers. His regulatory practice addresses virtually all securities law-related statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to broker-dealers and their affiliates, covering employee issues; sales and trading; development of compliance and supervisory procedures; satisfaction of margin, capital and recordkeeping requirements; the rules of the financial industry self-regulatory organizations; anti-money laundering; and privacy.

Education
  • Boston University School of Law (LL.M.)
  • Suffolk University Law School (J.D.)
  • Kenyon College (A.B.)
Bar & Court Admissions
  • New York
  • District of Columbia
  • Massachusetts
  • England and Wales (Registered foreign lawyer)
Awards & Honors
  • The Legal 500 U.S., 2020
Client Highlights
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Viewpoints
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SEC Establishes Retail Fraud Working Group to Combat Fraud Targeting Everyday Investors
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced on July 7, 2026, the creation of the Retail Fraud Working Group, a new initiative within the Division of Enforcement designed to identify and combat fraud targeting main street investors. The announcement formalizes a priority that SEC Enforcement Director David Woodcock previewed in his May 13, 2026, remarks to the Managed Funds Association Legal & Compliance Conference, reflecting the current Commission’s broader back-to-basics enforcement posture. For issuers, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and private fund managers with retail exposure, the announcement signals that retail-facing enforcement will be a sustained focus of the Division’s work in the months and years ahead. Overview The Retail Fraud Working Group will leverage staff and resources across the Commission to identify fraud and other misconduct targeting retail investors, including offering frauds, pump-and-dump schemes, market manipulation, and breaches of duties owed to customers by investment advisers and broker-dealers. The Group’s initiative is threefold: (i) to serve as a dedicated resource to proactively generate cases; (ii) to work with the Commission’s domestic regulatory partners and foreign counterparts; and (iii) to assist with educating retail investors in coordination with the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance. The Group will be led by Kate Zoladz, Deputy Director, West, and Kim Frederick, Assistant Director of the Asset Management Unit. Ms. Frederick’s role in the Asset Management Unit suggests that adviser and private fund conduct affecting retail investors will be a focus area for the Group. Chairman Paul S. Atkins described the initiative as “a return to the core values and principles of the enforcement program,” and Director Woodcock emphasized the Group’s role in “generating cases, building partnerships with our regulatory counterparts, and using data and technology to find and stop those who seek to take advantage of retail investors.” About Our Small-Firm Task Force Sullivan & Worcester’s Small-Firm Task Force is actively engaged in advising clients on the implications of the Retail Fraud Working Group and can assist with responding to any related SEC inquiries. The Task Force unites the firm’s Capital Markets, Regulatory Compliance, Government Investigations, and Financial Services Litigation practices, each with deep experience advising issuers, broker-dealers, investment funds, and institutional investors in the small-cap, micro-cap, and mid-market segments. Our interdisciplinary team is well-positioned to help clients navigate the SEC’s renewed retail-fraud enforcement priorities and to develop practical, risk-based compliance strategies aligned with the current regulatory environment.
Sullivan & Worcester Submits Rebuttal Comment Letter to SEC on Nasdaq’s Proposed Market Value Listing Requirement
On June 3, 2026, Sullivan & Worcester submitted a rebuttal comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in response to comment letters supporting Nasdaq’s proposed continued listing requirement mandating that companies maintain a minimum Market Value of Listed Securities of $5 million. The letter was authored by partners David Danovitch, Angela Gomes, and Brendan O’Brien, and associate Phillip Carnevale. Building on the firm’s prior submissions, Sullivan argued that the comment letters that were in support of the Nasdaq proposal failed to provide empirical evidence linking the proposed $5 million threshold to fraud, manipulation or enhanced investor protection. Sullivan's letter also buttressed its earlier letters by highlighting additional market data demonstrating that many companies that temporarily fell below the proposed threshold subsequently recovered above a $5 million market capitalization threshold, resulting in the creation of significant shareholder value. For these reasons, Sullivan urged the SEC to disapprove the proposal. Through its interdisciplinary Small-Firm Task Force, Sullivan continues to advocate for practical, evidence-based regulatory approaches affecting small-cap, micro-cap and mid-market public companies and their investors.  To stay informed on developments affecting small-cap and micro-cap market participants, visit Sullivan’s Small-Firm Task Force resource center, which provides ongoing insights, commentary and updates on the evolving regulatory landscape.
Sullivan Advises Lake Street Capital Markets as Underwriter on $25 Million NeoVolta Public Offering
Sullivan served as underwriter’s counsel to Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC in connection with the pricing of a $25.0 million public offering of common stock by NeoVolta Inc. (Nasdaq: NEOV), a U.S.-based energy technology company delivering scalable energy storage solutions. The offering consisted of 12,195,122 shares of common stock priced at $2.05 per share, generating gross proceeds of approximately $25.0 million before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses. NeoVolta also granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,829,268 shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Lake Street Capital Markets acted as sole book-running manager for the offering, which was conducted pursuant to NeoVolta’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering closed on May 29. The Sullivan team consisted of Angela Gomes, David Danovitch, Michael DeDonato, Zachary Sobel and Karly Roux. Read the full pricing press release here. 
SEC Turns the Spotlight On Nasdaq Delisting Standards
David Danovitch was quoted in the article "SEC Turns the Spotlight on Nasdaq Delisting Standards," published by Law360 [sub. req'd] on May 1, 2026. The article discusses the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to delay implementation of proposed Nasdaq delisting standards to allow for additional public comment, following concerns that the changes could expose smaller companies to market abuse and limit their ability to appeal delisting decisions. “It’s not the norm,” David says, referring to the SEC’s decision to pause its review. “And I think it reflects the fact that the comments, particularly the comments in opposition or expressing concern about the proposal’s implementation, gave the SEC quite a lot to think about,” he adds.

David E. Danovitch

David is the managing partner of Sullivan's New York office, where he is also director of the Corporate Department. He has extensive transaction experience representing issuers, broker-dealers and investment funds in financings, capital markets transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. David's clients span a variety of industries, and his practice includes such matters as general corporate governance, securities regulation, mergers and acquisitions, and financings. He also maintains several securities industry licenses, including the Series 24 (Registered Principal), Series 7 (General Securities), Series 79 (Investment Banking), and Series 99 (Operations), which gives him a unique insight into the challenges facing regulated firms.

David handles both regulatory and transactional work for broker-dealers. His regulatory practice addresses virtually all securities law-related statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to broker-dealers and their affiliates, covering employee issues; sales and trading; development of compliance and supervisory procedures; satisfaction of margin, capital and recordkeeping requirements; the rules of the financial industry self-regulatory organizations; anti-money laundering; and privacy.

Client Highlights
All Client Highlights
Viewpoints
All Viewpoints
SEC Establishes Retail Fraud Working Group to Combat Fraud Targeting Everyday Investors
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced on July 7, 2026, the creation of the Retail Fraud Working Group, a new initiative within the Division of Enforcement designed to identify and combat fraud targeting main street investors. The announcement formalizes a priority that SEC Enforcement Director David Woodcock previewed in his May 13, 2026, remarks to the Managed Funds Association Legal & Compliance Conference, reflecting the current Commission’s broader back-to-basics enforcement posture. For issuers, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and private fund managers with retail exposure, the announcement signals that retail-facing enforcement will be a sustained focus of the Division’s work in the months and years ahead. Overview The Retail Fraud Working Group will leverage staff and resources across the Commission to identify fraud and other misconduct targeting retail investors, including offering frauds, pump-and-dump schemes, market manipulation, and breaches of duties owed to customers by investment advisers and broker-dealers. The Group’s initiative is threefold: (i) to serve as a dedicated resource to proactively generate cases; (ii) to work with the Commission’s domestic regulatory partners and foreign counterparts; and (iii) to assist with educating retail investors in coordination with the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance. The Group will be led by Kate Zoladz, Deputy Director, West, and Kim Frederick, Assistant Director of the Asset Management Unit. Ms. Frederick’s role in the Asset Management Unit suggests that adviser and private fund conduct affecting retail investors will be a focus area for the Group. Chairman Paul S. Atkins described the initiative as “a return to the core values and principles of the enforcement program,” and Director Woodcock emphasized the Group’s role in “generating cases, building partnerships with our regulatory counterparts, and using data and technology to find and stop those who seek to take advantage of retail investors.” About Our Small-Firm Task Force Sullivan & Worcester’s Small-Firm Task Force is actively engaged in advising clients on the implications of the Retail Fraud Working Group and can assist with responding to any related SEC inquiries. The Task Force unites the firm’s Capital Markets, Regulatory Compliance, Government Investigations, and Financial Services Litigation practices, each with deep experience advising issuers, broker-dealers, investment funds, and institutional investors in the small-cap, micro-cap, and mid-market segments. Our interdisciplinary team is well-positioned to help clients navigate the SEC’s renewed retail-fraud enforcement priorities and to develop practical, risk-based compliance strategies aligned with the current regulatory environment.
Sullivan & Worcester Submits Rebuttal Comment Letter to SEC on Nasdaq’s Proposed Market Value Listing Requirement
On June 3, 2026, Sullivan & Worcester submitted a rebuttal comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in response to comment letters supporting Nasdaq’s proposed continued listing requirement mandating that companies maintain a minimum Market Value of Listed Securities of $5 million. The letter was authored by partners David Danovitch, Angela Gomes, and Brendan O’Brien, and associate Phillip Carnevale. Building on the firm’s prior submissions, Sullivan argued that the comment letters that were in support of the Nasdaq proposal failed to provide empirical evidence linking the proposed $5 million threshold to fraud, manipulation or enhanced investor protection. Sullivan's letter also buttressed its earlier letters by highlighting additional market data demonstrating that many companies that temporarily fell below the proposed threshold subsequently recovered above a $5 million market capitalization threshold, resulting in the creation of significant shareholder value. For these reasons, Sullivan urged the SEC to disapprove the proposal. Through its interdisciplinary Small-Firm Task Force, Sullivan continues to advocate for practical, evidence-based regulatory approaches affecting small-cap, micro-cap and mid-market public companies and their investors.  To stay informed on developments affecting small-cap and micro-cap market participants, visit Sullivan’s Small-Firm Task Force resource center, which provides ongoing insights, commentary and updates on the evolving regulatory landscape.
Sullivan Advises Lake Street Capital Markets as Underwriter on $25 Million NeoVolta Public Offering
Sullivan served as underwriter’s counsel to Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC in connection with the pricing of a $25.0 million public offering of common stock by NeoVolta Inc. (Nasdaq: NEOV), a U.S.-based energy technology company delivering scalable energy storage solutions. The offering consisted of 12,195,122 shares of common stock priced at $2.05 per share, generating gross proceeds of approximately $25.0 million before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses. NeoVolta also granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,829,268 shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Lake Street Capital Markets acted as sole book-running manager for the offering, which was conducted pursuant to NeoVolta’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering closed on May 29. The Sullivan team consisted of Angela Gomes, David Danovitch, Michael DeDonato, Zachary Sobel and Karly Roux. Read the full pricing press release here. 
SEC Turns the Spotlight On Nasdaq Delisting Standards
David Danovitch was quoted in the article "SEC Turns the Spotlight on Nasdaq Delisting Standards," published by Law360 [sub. req'd] on May 1, 2026. The article discusses the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to delay implementation of proposed Nasdaq delisting standards to allow for additional public comment, following concerns that the changes could expose smaller companies to market abuse and limit their ability to appeal delisting decisions. “It’s not the norm,” David says, referring to the SEC’s decision to pause its review. “And I think it reflects the fact that the comments, particularly the comments in opposition or expressing concern about the proposal’s implementation, gave the SEC quite a lot to think about,” he adds.

David E. Danovitch

Biotech Focused On Developing Non-Opioid Therapeutics to Alleviate Pain Announced IPO

Sullivan was issuer's counsel for Chromocell Therapeutics Corporation, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing and commercializing new, non-opioid therapeutics to alleviate pain, in their $6.6 million initial public offering of common stock.

The Sullivan team was led by David Danovitch, director of the firm’s Corporate Department, with partners Charles E. Chambers Jr., Aaron Schleicher and associate Brian Hurley. Sullivan has developed a strength in working with entrepreneurial biotech and tech companies in the U.S. and in Israel.

David E. Danovitch, Charles E. Chambers Jr. and Brian P. Hurley