The SPAC Podcast: Special Purpose Acquisition Company

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , hosts Michael Blankenship and Joshua Wilson sit down with Dr. Daniele D’Alvia , a renowned lecturer in Banking and Finance Law at Queen Mary University of London, to unpack the critical role of governance in the success—or failure—of SPAC deals. Dr. D’Alvia explains how law and corporate governance provide the structural integrity needed for SPACs to succeed i...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Adeel Rouf, CEO of Voyager Acquisition Corp. and President & CFO of Titan Acquisition Corp., explains what makes SPACs so unique and exciting. Unlike hedge funds or private equity firms that manage portfolios of companies, SPACs focus on one transaction at a time — giving full attention to a single deal and industry. He also highlights how SPACs combine el...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Adeel Rouf, CEO and President of Voyager Acquisition Corp. and President & CFO of Titan Acquisition Corp., shares his background and journey into the SPAC world. From his early career in investment banking at Sumitomo Mitsui and J.P. Morgan to learning the nuances of SPACs at Cohen & Company, Adeel has built extensive experience as a sponsor and leader...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Patrick Sturgeon, Managing Partner at Brookline Capital Markets, explains why many private companies ultimately choose to go public. He highlights how listing on exchanges like the NYSE or NASDAQ can provide existing shareholders with liquidity, attract new types of investors, and expand access to capital. Patrick also discusses how being public can increase t...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Patrick Sturgeon, Managing Partner at Brookline Capital Markets, introduces his background and shares his experience navigating the SPAC landscape. With a career spanning investment banking and hands-on leadership as CFO of three SPACs that each completed acquisitions, Patrick has gained valuable insights from both the advisory and principal sides of the marke...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , host Mike Blankenship is joined by Derek from Centri to walk through what really happens behind the scenes of a SPAC transaction. From the importance of early-stage capital markets readiness to preparing pro forma financials and navigating the SEC comment process, this conversation covers the critical technical and strategic steps in a successful de-SPAC. Dere...

In this SPAC Podcast Spotlight , Candice Beaumont, Chief Investment Officer of L Investments, shares the key fundamentals she evaluates when assessing SPAC sponsors. She explains why a proven track record in the SPAC space is critical, and why partnering with experienced operators — such as the Cohens — can make a significant difference in execution. Candice also highlights the importance of selec...

In this SPAC Podcast Spotlight , Managing Director Dimitre Genov of Brookline Capital Markets highlights the growth areas and global demand shaping SPAC activity in the coming months. He points to high-growth industries such as AI, nuclear energy, rare earths, digital assets, quantum computing, fintech, and digital health as sectors where SPACs could play an important role. Dimitre also discusses...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we welcome Dimitre Genov, Managing Director at Brookline Capital Markets. Dimitre brings over 25 years of investment banking and buy-side experience, including time at Lazard, JP Morgan, Julius Baer, Magnetar, and Balyasny. Having become one of the most prolific investors in the SPAC market, he now uses his expertise and network to help sponsors identify and s...

In this SPAC Podcast Spotlight , Chaz Churchwell, President of The Churchwell Agency, explains how he helps clients determine the right level of D&O insurance coverage. Rather than relying on vague estimates, Chaz emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging sources such as Stanford Law Review, Cornerstone Research, and peer analytics to assess litigation trends and coverage benchmarks. He de...

In this SPAC Podcast Spotlight , Nick Morgan, President and Founder of the Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN), shares his perspective on how the SEC approaches SPAC enforcement. Drawing on past enforcement activity and rulemaking debates, he explains why Commissioner Hester Peirce’s dissents may offer insight into how the Commission views SPACs today. Nick also references the SEC’s first SPA...

In this SPAC Guest Spotlight , Nick Morgan introduces himself and shares his journey from serving as a Senior Trial Counsel at the SEC to founding the Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN). As President of ICAN, Nick leads a unique pro bono defense organization focused on SEC investigations and litigation, offering services at no cost to those who need representation. With a career spanning the...

What’s behind the renewed interest in SPAC IPOs? In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , hosts Michael Blankenship and Joshua Bruce Wilson sit down with Cayman Islands attorney Alexandra Low to explore the current SPAC IPO landscape. Ali shares insights from the front lines—discussing sponsor behavior, timing considerations, and the growing momentum among repeat and first-time SPAC sponsors. From th...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike Blankenship and Derek discuss how target companies can effectively prepare for a SPAC transaction—and what often gets overlooked. Derek highlights the importance of completing a capital markets readiness assessment, a structured evaluation that helps management understand what’s required to become a public company. This assessment typically includes finan...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , James Graf, CEO of Graf Global Corp., shares his perspective on how backend deal costs and promote economics are evolving for SPAC sponsors and founders. With over a decade of experience leading multiple SPACs and a background in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch, James brings a seasoned view on what’s driving competitive changes in the mar...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , legal scholar Daniele D’Alvia joins Michael Blankenship to break down one of the most pressing topics in the market today: regulation. Daniele explains that the biggest regulatory issue SPACs now face is ensuring proper disclosure and investor protection. He walks through how new SEC rules have shifted SPACs closer to traditional IPO standards—particularly aro...

What really happens behind the scenes when a SPAC deal closes? In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we speak with Seth Farbman, Chairman of Vstock Transfer, about how legal teams, underwriters, sponsors, and custodians coordinate during the final stages of a SPAC transaction. Seth shares how relationship management, trust, and experience come together in a “final call” where everything converges—...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Candice Beaumont, Chief Investment Officer of L Investments and Chairwoman of Salsano Group, shares her perspective on the renewed energy in the SPAC market. With deep experience in capital markets, M&A, and board leadership, Candice discusses how the SPAC cycle has evolved from a major cooldown to an emerging wave of enthusiasm, particularly in certain hi...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we sit down with Chaz Churchwell, Founder & Principal of Churchwell Insurance Agency, to discuss the shifting landscape of public Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance. With nearly two decades in the insurance industry and a reputation for guiding clients through complex coverage needs, Chaz shares why current D&O pricing levels may not be susta...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , co-hosts Michael Blankenship and Joshua Wilson are joined by Cayman-based attorney Alexandra Low to explore a key decision every SPAC sponsor must make: Where should the SPAC be incorporated—Delaware or Cayman? Alexandra draws from years of experience leading SPAC transactions in both jurisdictions, offering a grounded perspective on why many sponsors favor th...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Michael Blankenship sits down with Alexandra Low, Counsel in the Capital Markets and Corporate team at Appleby’s Cayman Islands office. Ali leads the firm’s SPAC practice and brings extensive experience advising on both SPAC IPOs and de-SPAC transactions for public and private companies, sponsors, and asset managers. Ali shares how she transitioned from workin...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike Blankenship and Derek break down one of the most common myths about going public through a SPAC: that it’s quicker and easier than a traditional IPO. While SPACs may provide access to capital up front, the reality is that operational readiness is critical to completing the merger. Companies still need to have audited financials, robust governance, interna...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , hosts Michael Blankenship and Joshua Wilson sit down with seasoned SPAC sponsor James Graf to explore one of the most pressing issues facing the market today: why even strong private companies are hesitant to go public via SPAC. Graf shares candid insights into the challenges sponsors now face—from widespread redemptions to post-merger underperformance. He exp...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Michael Blankenship is joined by Daniele D’Alvia—legal scholar and corporate finance lawyer—to explore the long-term viability and evolution of SPACs. Daniele argues that SPACs are not disappearing but rather maturing into a more transparent and governance-driven vehicle for accessing the capital markets. From the SPAC boom of 2020–2021 to today’s more cautiou...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Michael Blankenship welcomes Daniele D’Alvia, a globally recognized academic and legal expert in banking and finance law. Daniele serves as a lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and deputy director of the Institute of Banking and Finance. He is also an associate researcher with the European Banking Institute in Frankfurt. In addition to his academic wo...