Jocelyn M. Arel

Jocelyn Arel is a pioneer in the US for her innovative work for clients on SPACs, with nearly two decades of successful SPACs transactions under her belt. Jocelyn advises clients in all aspects of the SPAC lifecycle, including the formation of and structuring sponsor entities, representing SPACs and SPAC sponsors in initial public offerings (IPOs); representing operating companies, their investors and SPACs in business combinations, or “SIPO transactions;” structuring the debt and equity financing transactions that are often needed to facilitate the closing of SIPO transactions; and advising investors in both SPAC IPOs and SIPO transactions. In addition to her extensive knowledge of the legal issues related to SPACs, Jocelyn has a deep understanding of the business, financial and marketing issues that affect the success of SPACs.

In addition to her leadership in the SPAC market, Jocelyn represents clients in a wide range of capital market transactions, including initial and follow-on public offerings, private placements of debt and equity, alternative financing and 144A transactions, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. She has extensive experience in cross-border financings and acquisitions, as well as in providing advice on other US-based activities for companies headquartered in Canada. A significant portion of Jocelyn’s practice includes counseling clients on ongoing reporting requirements of public companies, corporate governance matters and various other matters affecting public companies, their officers and directors. She also has considerable expertise in structuring and executing secondary sales and other private liquidity programs for private companies and their investors.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Jocelyn was a partner in the Business Practice Group at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, where she was co-chair of the Corporate Finance and Securities Group and a member of the Canadian Initiative. Before that, she was an associate in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Listed in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 editions of Chambers USA Legal Guide and in the 2024 and 2025 editions of Chambers Global, Jocelyn is ranked for her work in SPACs, and as highlighted by the guide, is described as “a walking encyclopedia on anything SPACs. She is very knowledgeable, can easily balance the weeds with the big picture and can effortlessly tailor her remarks to her audience.” While attending law school, she was a member of the American University Law Review.

Jocelyn is a frequent speaker on matters related to corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance and securities law. She has lectured at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School courses on corporate finance, and is co-author of "Liquidity in the Post-Sarbanes-Oxley Environment: Preparing for Exit and Maximizing Returns," which appeared in Global Corporate Governance Guide 2004: Best Practice in the Boardroom. Jocelyn’s recent podcasts and presentations include:

• Panelist, “Renewed Focus on Quality Deal and Due Diligence” SPAC Conference 2025 (June 18, 2025)
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee Meeting (March 11, 2021)
• “REITs Expected to Take Keener Interest in SPAC Structure Going Forward,” Nareit's REIT Report Podcast (February 15, 2021)
• “How the 2020 SPACs Revolution Will Impact the IPO Market for 2021 and Beyond,” Goodwin + KPMG @ J.P. Morgan Symposium (January 27, 2021)
• “Why SPACs Are Becoming Increasingly Popular,” Nasdaq’s #TradeTalks (September 11, 2020)
• “SPACs: A Mainstream IPO Alternative + What You Should Know,” Goodwin's "What Next?" Webinar Series (August 12, 2020)