Exhibit 5.1
SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
ONE MANHATTAN WEST
NEW YORK, NY 10001
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TEL: (212) 735-3000 FAX: (212) 735-2000 www.skadden.com |
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Moelis & Company
399 Park Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10022
| Re: | Moelis & Company |
| Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States counsel to Moelis & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed on the date hereof by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), of shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”). The Common Stock offered pursuant to the Registration Statement is referred to herein as the “Securities.”
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:
(a) the Registration Statement;
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April 30, 2026
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(b) a copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of April 30, 2026, as being in effect on the date of the resolutions referred to below and as of the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”);
(c) a copy of the Company’s bylaws, as amended and in effect on the date of the resolutions referred to below and as of the date hereof; and
(d) a copy of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on April 27, 2026.
We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including electronic signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photocopied copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials, including the facts and conclusions set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.
As used herein, “Transaction Documents” means any applicable underwriting or purchase agreement.
The opinion stated below presumes that all of the following (collectively, the “general conditions”) shall have occurred prior to the issuance of the Securities referred to therein: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to such Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations; (iii) the applicable Transaction Documents shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, including, if such Securities are to be sold or otherwise distributed pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement or purchase agreement with respect thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including
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any duly authorized committee thereof, shall have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and sale of such Securities and related matters and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all related action as directed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company; and (v) the terms of the applicable Transaction Documents and the issuance and sale of such Securities have been duly established in conformity with the certificate of incorporation of the Company so as not to violate any applicable law, the certificate of incorporation of the Company or the bylaws of the Company, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company or its properties, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that with respect to any shares of Common Stock offered by the Company (the “Offered Common Stock”) when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) if the Offered Common Stock is to be certificated, certificates in the form required under the DGCL representing the shares of Offered Common Stock are duly executed and countersigned or, if the Offered Common Stock is to be issued in uncertificated form, a resolution of the Board of Directors has duly authorized the issuance of the Offered Common Stock in uncertificated form and (c) the shares of Offered Common Stock are registered in the Company’s share registry and delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the shares of Offered Common Stock, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document, will be duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company under the DGCL and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Common Stock.
The opinion stated herein is subject to the following assumptions and qualifications:
(a) this opinion letter shall be interpreted in accordance with customary practice of United States lawyers who regularly give opinions in transactions of this type; and
(b) we have assumed that the laws of the State of New York law will be chosen to govern any Transaction Documents entered into subsequent to the date hereof and that such choice is and will be a valid and legal provision.
We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. This opinion letter is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP
MJH