December 15, 2021
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that the firm will expand its London corporate team with four new partners.
Wim De Vlieger, Till Lefranc, Isabel Berger and Hugo Hernández-Mancha will join the firm as partners in the London office. De Vlieger, Lefranc and Berger, formerly with Sidley Austin LLP, will continue their private equity practice, and Hernández-Mancha, formerly with Linklaters LLP, will continue his capital markets and leveraged finance focus.
Today’s announcement is a continuation of the firm’s strategy of expanding its transactional offerings around the globe. In October, Federico (Fede) Fruhbeck joined as Gibson Dunn’s Co-Head of Private Equity in Europe and Co-Chair of the Projects and Infrastructure Practice Group, alongside partners Robert Dixon and Alice Brogi. De Vlieger will serve as Co-Head of Private Equity in Europe, along with Fruhbeck, and will also co-chair the firm’s Emerging Companies Practice Group.
“We are thrilled to welcome Wim, Till, Isabel and Hugo to Gibson Dunn,” said Barbara L. Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “They are extremely successful, established lawyers who have forged significant practices that strategically align with our London, European, Asian and global private equity and capital markets practices. Their transactional experience will further deepen our global bench of top-notch practitioners as we help navigate our clients seamlessly through increasingly complex cross-border markets.”
“We’re delighted that Wim, Till, Isabel and Hugo will begin the next chapter of their careers as part of our growing London team,” said Penny Madden, Co-Partner-in-Charge of the London office. “We believe that their addition, following on the heels of the arrival of Fede, Robert and Alice, is a transformational step for our London corporate practice. They also have developed substantial experience in private equity real estate, which will also complement our London and global real estate practice. Their joining caps an exciting year for the London office, and we are well primed for the new year ahead.”
“We are excited to welcome our new colleagues,” said Federico Fruhbeck, Co-Head of Private Equity in Europe. “All four lawyers have impressive transactional track records representing high-profile, marquee private equity clients. They will provide a springboard for the continued investment in our London, European and Asian transactional practices.”
About Wim De Vlieger
De Vlieger advises private equity investors and their portfolio companies on a wide range of corporate transactions, including growth equity and control investments and co-investments, structured transactions, buy-out transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and exits. He also has considerable experience advising on strategic cross-border M&A transactions, and on international capital market transactions. He has broad experience counselling clients across a wide range of European jurisdictions, with a focus on transactions in the technology and life sciences sectors.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, De Vlieger practiced with Sidley Austin LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in London.
De Vlieger earned his law degree cum laude from the KU Leuven in 2002, a master’s degree from HEC Paris in 2003, and his LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in 2007.
About Till Lefranc
Lefranc focuses on private equity, M&A, and capital markets transactions across Europe. He advises clients on a broad range of transactions, including cross-border acquisitions and divestitures, growth and minority investments, management incentive plans, shareholder arrangements, buyouts and exits. He also advises private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, corporates and banks on U.S. capital markets transactions, including high-yield debt offerings and liability management transactions.
Before joining Gibson Dunn, Lefranc practiced at Sidley Austin LLP in London. He previously practiced at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
Lefranc earned his Master in Business Law, magna cum laude, in 2007 from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas, where he was the valedictorian. He received his LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2008.
About Isabel Berger
Berger advises clients on a broad range of private equity transactions with a particular focus on leveraged buyouts, minority and majority investments, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and management equity plans. She has broad experience advising sponsors across a range of industries including real estate private equity transactions.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Berger practiced with Sidley Austin LLP in London. She began her career at McDermott Will & Emery.
Berger completed her Legal Practice Course in 2010 with distinction and earned her Master of Laws with distinction from BPP University in 2017.
About Hugo Hernández-Mancha
Hernández-Mancha focuses on capital markets and leveraged finance with a particular emphasis on high yield and acquisition finance transactions advising corporate clients, investment banks and private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies. He also has experience working in New York, Paris, London and Madrid.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Hernández-Mancha practiced with Linklaters LLP in London and Madrid. He also previously practiced at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York and Latham & Watkins LLP in Paris.
Hernández-Mancha earned his law degree from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 2011 with Premio Extraordinario honors. He earned his LL.M. from Columbia Law School in 2012.