OUR TEAM

  Founder – SOW.GOLD

Joseph (Sunny) Barkats is a former Wall Street attorney turned transaction advisor, with over 20 years of experience in structuring and executing complex public market transactions.

He is the Founder of SOW.GOLD (Securities Origination & Wealth | Global Opportunity Listings Desk), a platform focused on originating, structuring, and executing reverse mergers, change-of-control transactions, M&A, and NASDAQ up listings.

Joseph’s background combines legal, financial, and execution expertise across U.S. and international markets. As a former securities attorney on Wall Street, he developed deep experience in capital markets, regulatory frameworks, and transaction structuring, which he now leverages as a hands-on dealmaker and execution advisor.

He holds:

· LL.M. in Banking & Financial Law from Boston University School of Law 

· Master’s Degree in Banking and International Law from the University of Avignon (France) 

· Certification from the Program on Negotiation (PON) at Harvard Law School 

Throughout his career, Joseph has led and advised on transactions involving:

· Acquisition of publicly listed vehicles (OTCQB and NASDAQ) 

· Reverse mergers and public company formations 

· Strategic M&A and cross-border transactions 

· PIPE financings and capital structuring 

· Board and governance restructuring for public companies 

Joseph operates not as a passive advisor, but as a transaction lead, quarterbacking the entire process from origination through execution and public listing.

He is known for a deal-driven, execution-focused approach, combining legal precision with strategic control to deliver outcomes in complex capital markets transactions.

 Partner – SOW.GOLD

Sergei Orel is a New Jersey-based attorney with over 20 years of experience in corporate, transactional, and securities-related matters.

He holds a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School–Newark and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hunter College, and has been admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey since 2001.

Sergei’s practice focuses on the structuring and execution of complex business transactions, including:

• Corporate and transactional matters 
• Securities and capital markets-related work 
• Commercial and cross-border transactions 
• Intellectual property and business advisory matters 

He has worked in both law firm and private practice environments, advising clients on a broad range of legal and strategic issues.

At SOW.GOLD, Sergei plays a key role in:

• Legal structuring of transactions 
• Coordination with U.S. counsel and regulatory frameworks 
• Oversight of documentation and execution processes 
• Acting as Escrow Agent in connection with corporate and capital markets transactions 

He is known for a practical, execution-focused approach, supporting the firm’s mandate to deliver structured, compliant, and efficiently executed transactions.