Congratulations to the 29 partners named to the inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators list, which recognizes the lawyers who “assiduously work to resolve disputes between nations, bring justice for human rights abuses, address financial fraud that crosses borders and unearth stashed assets.”
Kudos to Mohammed M. Bashir, Eric Bouffard, Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., Susy Bullock, Elaine Chen, Trey Cox, Patrick Doris, Theane Evangelis, Charles Falconer, Jean-Pierre Farges, Pierre-Emmanuel Fender, Brian Gilchrist, Osma Hudda, Perlette Michèle Jura, Penny Madden, Nooree Moola, Allan Neil, Patrick Pearsall, Piers Plumptre, Markus Rieder, Philip Rocher, Benno Schwarz, Andrea E. Smith, Orin Snyder, Robert Spano, William E. Thomson, Doug Watson, Betty Yang, and Finn Zeidler.
Litigation Daily’s Litigator of the Week has recognized a Gibson Dunn team that secured a $46 million jury verdict in Texas state court for Gala Capital Partners, LLC and its principal, Anand Gala.
A Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher team led by partners Trey Cox, Andrew LeGrand and Betty Yang landed a $46 million verdict in Texas state court for Gala Capital Partners and its principal Anand Gala, an investor and restaurateur based in California, in a case involving a joint investment in the pizza buffet chain Cicis Pizza, with Gala’s cousin, Sunil Dharod, and related entities. After eight days of trial and about five hours of deliberations, Dallas County jurors last week sided with Gibson Dunn’s clients on claims including breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty, while rejecting all the defendants’ counterclaims. The Gibson Dunn team included partner Brad Hubbard and associates Andrew Mitchell, Arjun Ogale, Alexa Acquista and Hunter Heck.
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Reprinted with permission from the July 25, 2025 edition of “The AmLaw Litigation Daily” © 2025 ALM Global Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited, contact 877-256-2472 or asset-and-logo-licensing@alm.com.
Associate Annekathrin Schmoll is the author of the LexisNexis practice note, “Enforcing ICSID Awards in Germany.”
The practice note considers the recognition and enforcement of International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) awards in Germany.
Partner Matt Axelrod recently spoke to Dow Jones about the potential impact of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security’s proposed 50% rule for export controls, if implemented.
Matt told the publication, “It’s unclear how many more parties would be swept into Entity List restrictions… [It] would mean more license applications and more sales foregone.” He added that larger companies use third-party screening vendors may be better positioned to adapt than smaller businesses that rely solely on BIS-provided lists.
Five Gibson Dunn partners have been named in Law360’s Rising Stars 2025 list, which recognizes those lawyers “under 40 whose legal accomplishments belie their age.”
Congratulations to partners Michael Q. Cannon, Gina Hancock, Michael J. Kahn, Eric Meer, and Wesley Sze.
Sticking with real estate and antitrust for the moment, shout-out to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Christopher Dusseault and associate Sarah Kushner, who represent HomeServices of America in a separate proposed class action brought on behalf of homebuyers alleging that the brokerage conspired with NAR to inflate real estate commissions. U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore this week granted Home Services’ motion to dismiss, holding that the homebuyers were indirect purchasers lacking antitrust standing since sellers paid the commissions.
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Reprinted with permission from the July 18, 2025 edition of “The AmLaw Litigation Daily” © 2025 ALM Global Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited, contact 877-256-2472 or asset-and-logo-licensing@alm.com.
Gibson Dunn advised Blue Earth Capital on the $44 million Series B funding round of GeologicAI, a leader in applying advanced AI and high-resolution decision engineering to the critical minerals mining industry.
The Gibson Dunn corporate team was led by partner Federico Fruhbeck and associate Mark Goldman and included associates Sam Shapiro and Hannah Gonzalez. Associates Nate Hancock and Yaz Kaveh advised on IP aspects.
Gibson Dunn advised Luxembourg-based satellite company SES on its $3.1 billion acquisition of US satellite communications provider Intelsat.
Gibson Dunn’s Antitrust & Competition team in the U.S., U.K., and EU coordinated closely to secure unconditional clearances from a dozen competition authorities on six continents, ranging from Nigeria and Papua New Guinea to the U.S., U.K., EU, and other jurisdictions along the way.
The competition clearances enabled the parties to close a transaction that has been described in the press as a “milestone” for the satellite communications industry, creating a major global player with multi-orbit capabilities to challenge LEO mega-constellations.
The Gibson Dunn team secured unconditional clearances despite a global campaign of opposition from certain competitors and customers, including public filings in which the opponents claimed that the transaction was a merger to monopoly in certain sectors. Although prior transactions in the satellite communications industry took almost two years to complete and were nearly blocked in the U.K. and EU, the Gibson Dunn team secured unconditional clearances worldwide in just over 13 months.
Gibson Dunn led highly detailed and technical antitrust reviews canvassing the supply of satellite capacity in various industry sectors including media/broadcasting, aviation, maritime and government (and multiples of possible smaller market segments therein) across the world. The team also provided detailed assessments covering the vertical links between the companies’ activities in the (upstream) supply of satellite capacity and the (downstream) supply of satellite services.
The Gibson Dunn team secured unconditional Phase I clearances in numerous jurisdictions worldwide including the EU, the U.K. and Mexico, with authorities such as the European Commission recognizing that the transaction would allow the companies to “increase coverage and resilience as well as to remain competitive.”
Our team was led by corporate partners David Wilf and Phillip Sanders and associates Nicolette Fata and Willow Stowe. Partner Eric Scarazzo and associate Nneka Chukwumah advised on capital markets; partners Joshua Lipton, Attila Borsos, Ali Nikpay, Sophia Hansell, Scott Hvidt, of counsel Alana Tinkler; and associates Steve Pet and Alexander Merritt advised on antitrust; and partner Matthew Donnelly advised on tax.
Gibson Dunn advised J.P. Morgan and the other initial purchasers in connection with Beach Acquisition Bidco, LLC’s offering of euro-denominated €1 billion 5.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2032 and $2.2 billion 10.000% / 10.750% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2033. The proceeds were funded into escrow and are expected to be used to finance a portion of the previously announced acquisition of Skechers U.S.A., Inc. by 3G Capital Partners. Beach Acquisition Bidco, LLC is an affiliate of 3G Capital Partners L.P.
Led by partners Doug Horowitz and Michael Saliba, our corporate team included associates Paul Rafla, Malakeh Hijazi, James Sullivan, Melody Karmana, Caroline Bakewell, and Caroline Simms. Partner Jennifer Sabin and associate Bree Gong advised on tax aspects.
In an interview with Politico Pro’s Morning Trade, partner Matt Axelrod shared his insights on the Trump administration’s approach to export controls, their use in trade negotiations, and his experience as the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
Matt is Co-Chair of our Sanctions and Export Enforcement Practice Group.
Partners Mellissa Campbell Duru, Jina Choi, and Osman Nawaz recently shared their insights with Law360 on the evolving landscape at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — including the easing of crypto regulation and proposed regulations on cybersecurity risk management, environmental disclosures, and equity market reform.
Drawing on their deep experience as former SEC officials, our lawyers discussed the agency’s priorities under the Trump administration, anticipated further potential changes, and outlined the steps companies should take to remain compliant in a rapidly shifting regulatory and enforcement environment.
Partner Heather Richardson has been named to the Leaders of Influence: Litigators and Trial Attorneys list by the Los Angeles Business Journal. The list honors the “trusted advisors you want in your corner in court,” who will “go to the proverbial mat to fight for their clients.”
Gibson Dunn represented The Williams Companies, Inc. in a public offering of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Senior Notes due 2030 and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.300% Senior Notes due 2035. Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc., and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. acted as representatives of the Underwriters.
Our team included partner Robyn Zolman and associates Nicholas Linke, Sarah Ediger, and Lauren Guzman. Partner Dora Arash and associate Bree Gong advised on tax.
Gibson Dunn is advising Marriott International on its proposed minority equity investment in Concept Hospitality Private Limited, one of India’s leading hotel management companies with a portfolio of six brands, including The Fern, The Fern Residency, and The Fern Habitat, and over 100 hotels operating in 90 locations.
Our team is led by partner Marwan Elaraby and includes associates Krishna Parikh and Anthony Forde. Partner Attila Borsos, of counsel Claire Shepherd, and associate Christian Liborius are advising on antitrust aspects.
Our Litigators of the Week are a Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher team led by partners Helgi Walker and Lucas Townsend and associate Michael Corcoran. We previously recognized them as Runners-Up in November after they secured a writ of mandamus from the Fifth Circuit ordering the Federal Trade Commission to comply with the federal lottery statute requiring the agency to alert the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation about challenges to the proposed “click to cancel” rule—a rule aimed at making recurring subscriptions easier to cancel.
With the challenges consolidated and routed to Eighth Circuit, this week the Gibson Dunn team secured a ruling blocking the rule just seven days before it was set to go into effect. A unanimous panel of the court held that the FTC exceeded its statutory authority and failed to conduct the required preliminary regulatory analysis during the rulemaking process.
Lit Daily: Who were your clients and what was at stake here?
Helgi Walker: Our clients were seven trade associations representing a broad cross-section of the American economy and a family-owned home alarm company in Minnesota. All of these clients and the companies they represented were deeply concerned about the impact of the FTC’s Negative Option Rule on their businesses and relationships with customers. Consumers value the convenience and certainty of knowing that important things like their newspaper subscriptions, security services, lawn care services and pet food deliveries will continue uninterrupted, until they choose to cancel. Recurring subscriptions have long been an important contractual alternative and business model for consumers and businesses alike. But the Rule would have made those agreements unworkable, requiring companies to put their customers through layers of unwieldy disclosures and consent mechanisms, and consumers were at risk of losing critical services they depend on—for example, if terminating a subscription was too “easy,” an unauthorized person–or worse, a criminal–could just “click to cancel” your home alarm or internet service. Service providers would lose customer goodwill, and consumers ultimately would bear the costs. These were some of the pressing concerns that brought together so many diverse entities from across the economy to take on this oppressive rule.
How did this matter come to you and the firm?
Lucas Townsend: Gibson Dunn has longstanding ties to many businesses and industries that would have been hurt by the Rule. Helgi was approached by several long-term clients familiar with her work on regulatory challenges; we brought together other parties from different industries who also wanted to challenge the Rule.
Who was on your team and how have you divided the work?
Michael Corcoran: We had an amazing team of talented lawyers who live and breathe the law and excel in cutting-edge administrative law matters. Helgi is a co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s administrative law and regulatory practice group and has won countless fights with administrative agencies; she led the matter and delivered the winning argument in the Eighth Circuit. Lucas is an appellate and administrative law partner who supervised the day-to-day work and kept our broad coalition of clients working together. I am a senior associate, joining the firm two years ago after my clerkship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and had the opportunity to serve as the lead associate on the matter, working to help draft the briefs and build out our arguments with the team.
Our Dallas-based colleagues Allyson Ho, Brad Hubbard and Brian Richman gave invaluable assistance on the mandamus petition in the Fifth Circuit after the FTC refused to notify the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation of the multi-circuit petitions for review. Connor Mui in D.C. helped with critical research and analysis for that petition on an emergency timeline and our moot courts.
When the FTC didn’t transmit the petitions filed in multiple circuits challenging this rule to the JPML, how did that shape how this litigation unfolded?
Townsend: Ultimately, that refusal only helped to underscore that the FTC was not taking its procedural obligations seriously. The lottery statute requires agencies to notify the JPML of multi-circuit petitions for review, and in our experience, other agencies do this all the time, even when they think a petition is problematic. The FTC’s refusal to simply transmit the petitions to the JPML was unprecedented. And it delayed all petitioners from presenting a unified request for relief to a single court of appeals. While it was unfortunate that we had to spend precious litigation time and resources fighting the FTC on this issue, the Fifth Circuit granted our request and compelled the FTC to do its job, and we ultimately got to press our case for the coalition in the Eighth Circuit and persuade the court that the FTC had ignored yet another important procedural requirement—the requirement to perform a preliminary regulatory analysis—that was fatal to the Rule itself.
You raised issues concerning the FTC’s statutory authority as well as other Administrative Procedure Act arguments in your briefs, but going into oral argument, you focused on the substantive and procedural limits that Congress put on the FTC in Section 22. Why focus there?
Walker: We deliberately raised a strong suite of arguments in our briefing to show the many legal and practical problems with the Rule. Going into argument, we trained our fire on Section 22 because it’s such a unique statute: It imposes limits on the FTC that were purposely designed to rein in the agency’s rulemaking power, above and beyond the normal Administrative Procedure Act requirements. As I told the panel, the procedural violation under Section 22 was the narrowest and cleanest ground for decision that would resolve the case and result in vacatur of the entire Rule. We thought that targeted approach might have broad appeal to the entire panel, and indeed that is the path the panel took in its unanimous decision.
What’s important in this decision for companies that use these types of contracts?
Townsend: Vacating this Rule was critical for the many companies across the economy that offer these contracts. While some aspects of the Rule might sound good in theory, the reality is much more complex. Because the Rule indiscriminately covered any kind of recurring subscription, whether it was about medical monitoring devices or lawncare services, it was impossible to implement in a way that would not frustrate or annoy customers and crush this business model. Of course, the FTC can continue taking enforcement action where appropriate under statutes like the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act or pursuant to its existing cease-and-desist authority, but without imposing a one-size-fits-all straitjacket on American business.
Let me echo something Judge Ralph Erickson said during oral argument: “My experience tells me that when you’re sitting at your keyboard trying to cancel one of these things, they ask you 14 questions, but when you signed up, they asked you one.” How do you respond to that?
Walker: No matter how good (or bad) an idea is as a policy matter, agencies must always follow the law. That’s the entire point of the APA. Here, the FTC completely skipped a critical procedural step that was designed to give the public a chance to help the FTC shape its rules and avoid overburdening businesses. And while there are always bad actors who may abuse this particular type of contract—just as any contract can be abused—there are many respected companies, like our clients and their members, that do the right thing and whose customers are happy with their services. But at the end of the day, the law is the law. I can’t say it better than the panel opinion did: “While we certainly do not endorse the use of unfair and deceptive practices in negative option marketing, the procedural deficiencies of the Commission’s rulemaking process are fatal here.”
Helgi, with this decision in hand, are there any other moments from the oral argument that stick out to you?
Walker: The panel asked many good and probing questions of both sides that showed a real understanding of the issues in play, and it’s always a pleasure to appear before such a well-prepared and engaged panel. But my ears definitely perked up when one of the judges asked at the end of the argument when the Rule would take effect. That seemed to be a clue that the panel might be considering ruling before the Rule’s compliance deadline. And sure enough, that’s what happened: The court issued a decision just 29 days after oral argument and seven days before the deadline, which indicated that the panel understood the need to provide certainty to regulated entities before the Rule kicked in and caused massive disruption for them and for consumers.
What will you remember most about this matter?
Corcoran: I will never forget Helgi first calling me to ask if I’d be interested in working on a rule challenge—to which I responded “love to!”; the invaluable mentorship she and Lucas offered throughout the whole case; pivoting to an unexpected, all-hands-on-deck emergency mandamus petition because of the FTC’s curveball; and traveling to St. Paul to watch Helgi deliver a spectacular oral argument before the Eighth Circuit panel.
Townsend: I will always remember working with such a broad cross-section of the economy. We partnered with lawn care companies, home security companies, newspapers and many other businesses of varying sizes and industries. It’s not every day you get to work with, and successfully manage, such a varied client base.
Walker: I will cherish the memory of the esprit de corps we had as a team, here at Gibson Dunn and with our fantastic client group, all collaborating closely to put together our strategic plan and then executing with precision and determination. And the famous wild rice soup at the St. Paul Hotel, a delicious Minnesota specialty!
Reprinted with permission from the July 11, 2025 edition of “The AmLaw Litigation Daily” © 2025 ALM Global Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited, contact 877-256-2472 or asset-and-logo-licensing@alm.com.
Gibson Dunn advised Constellation Wealth Capital, an alternative asset management platform focused on supporting the long-term growth of independent wealth management firms, on its strategic minority investment in Merit Financial Advisors.
Led by partners Michael Piazza and Daniela Stolman, our corporate team included associates Andrew Abell, George Hang, Adri Langemeier, Luke Smith, and Hunter Michielson. Partner Cromwell Montgomery, of counsel Ryan Searfoorce, and associates Nicole Kim and Sonari Chidi advised on financing; partner Daniel Zygielbaum and of counsel Kate Long advised on tax; partner Sean Feller and associate Spencer Bankhead advised on benefits; partner Eve Mrozek and associates Tom Rossidis and Ryan Adlem advised on investment funds; partner Kevin Bettsteller advised on regulatory aspects; partner Daniel Angel advised on IP; partner Cassandra Gaedt-Sheckter advised on data privacy; and partner Kimberly Schlanger advised on real estate.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Eugene Y. Park has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Business Restructuring and Reorganization and the Liability Management and Special Situations Practice Groups. Eugene leads high-profile and complex financing transactions in the rescue and distressed space.
Commenting on Eugene’s arrival, Scott J. Greenberg, Global Chair of the Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group, said: “Eugene is one of the industry’s next-generation stars—a well-known and highly respected distressed financing and restructuring advisor. His rare combination of experience in both areas will be invaluable to our market-leading platform. As restructurings and distressed financings continue their sharp upward trajectory, Eugene brings significant depth—particularly on the lender side—positioning us to meet the incredible global demand from our clients.”
“Gibson Dunn’s momentum is palpable, and I’m excited to join a growth-minded and incredibly ambitious team to supercharge my practice,” said Eugene. “Gibson Dunn has built its restructuring practice—representing both debtors and creditors—into a leading global powerhouse that is best positioned for today and the future. Having worked across the table from Gibson Dunn lawyers, I know firsthand the team’s impressive bench strength, collaborative approach, and unparalleled market knowledge. I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues to guide clients through complex restructurings.”
Steven Domanowski, Chair of the firm’s Liability Management and Special Situations Practice Group, added, “In this highly active distressed environment, Eugene’s addition will deepen our bench with an exceptionally skilled and experienced professional who will help clients address a variety of complex credit challenges.”
The firm’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group has expanded its global offering over the past few years, with Eugene as the most recent addition to the team. In May, restructuring partner Andrew Cheng rejoined the firm in Los Angeles; and in March, senior restructuring partners Chris Howard and Presley Warner joined in London. The group’s additions also include partners Lisa Stevens (London), Caith Kushner (New York), and Ryan Kim (New York), as well as the promotions of Stephen D. Silverman (New York) and Melissa L. Barshop (Century City) to partner.
Gibson Dunn’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group advises on the largest and most complex restructurings globally, dominating the market in the U.S. and Europe. It was named Lead Counsel in Debtwire’s Restructuring Advisory Mandates Report for North America in both 2023 and 2024. Within the practice, the Liability Management and Special Situations team has emerged as a pioneer in liability management, focused on devising and executing tailored solutions for ad hoc groups of debt holders and other debt investors.
About Eugene Y. Park
Eugene’s practice focuses on special situation and opportunistic financing transactions. He represents borrowers, equity sponsors, and credit investors in a wide range of liability management matters, opportunistic and distressed financings, and restructurings.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Eugene served as a partner at another international law firm. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 2016.
A Gibson Dunn deal, the Changhua 4 project, was recognized at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Infrastructure Awards 2025 as the Renewable Energy Deal of the Year – Offshore Wind: Taiwan. Our firm represented Cathay Life in the financing of its $900 million acquisition of a 50% stake in the 583MW project — the largest ever investment by the local insurance sector in offshore wind development.
Led by partner Ben Shorten, our team included partner Jamie Thomas, of counsel Claude Jiang, and associates John Cheah and Jun An Chee.
Gibson Dunn is advising Rehlko, a global leader in energy resilience, on the sale of its Curtis Instruments business to Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, for approximately $1 billion.
Our corporate team is led by partners Matthew Dubeck and Chris Harding and includes associates Kiel Sauerman, Uyen Tu, and Héctor González Medina. Partner Dora Arash is advising on tax, partner Sean Feller on benefits, partner Kari Krusmark on commercial transactions, partner Michael Murphy on environmental aspects, and partner Christopher Timura on international trade.
The Daily Journal has reported on Gibson Dunn’s significant victory on behalf of our client Western Digital in a patent infringement case brought by SPEX Technologies (SPEX). The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California overturned a previous jury verdict that had awarded SPEX more than $550 million and replaced it with nominal damages of $1.
Our team representing Western Digital included partners Daniel Thomasch, Kieran Kieckhefer, Jason Lo, and Stuart Rosenberg; of counsel Frank Coté; counsel Ahmed ElDessouki; and associates Darish Huynh, Isaac Rottman, Lillian Mao, Yan Zhao, and Eleni Ingram.
Read the full article, “Federal Judge Slashes $550M Western Digital Patent Verdict to $1,” in the Daily Journal (subscription required).