Gina Spinosa, Author at Gibson Dunn

Partner Prerna Soni has been named to the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s 20 Under 40 list, which recognizes and celebrates “outstanding young commercial real estate finance professionals who are reshaping the industry” with their creativity, determination, innovation, and fresh perspectives.

Partners Collin Cox, Sydney Scott, Gregg Costa, Andrea Smith, and Trey Cox recently spoke to Texas Lawyer about the strategic growth of our Houston trial team. As Collin told the publication, “The plan was, and is, to build the best litigation department in Houston with the resources of a big firm like Gibson Dunn.”

Gibson Dunn Building Trial Team in Houston With Lawyers Drawn to the Courtroom
After launching its Houston office in 2017 with transactional partners, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has strategically built a trial team over the last four years.
Law.com | Texas Lawyer
By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys
June 05, 2025

Since the hiring of litigation partner Collin Cox in 2021, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has strategically built a trial practice within its eight-year-old Houston office, which was launched with a splashy team of Big Law transactional partners.

Cox, who came from trial boutique Yetter Coleman as the first trial partner in the office, made the move with the goal of building a litigation practice on the firm’s Big Law platform. In 2022, the firm hired litigation partners Sydney Scott, formerly a partner with Houston’s Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, and Gregg Costa, who stepped down from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and joined the Houston team.

“The plan was, and is, to build the best litigation department in Houston with the resources of a big firm like Gibson Dunn,” Collin Cox said.

The trial team has grown to four partners—New York partner Andrea Smith recently transferred to the Houston office—and 13 associates, with more on the way in the fall.

Trey Cox, a Dallas partner who is co-chair of the firm’s global litigation practice group, said the plan is to continue to strategically grow the Houston trial team by acquiring “excellent talent at both the top end and at the junior level.”

“Look, it’s going great. Litigation is continuing to grow. We’ve got all of these companies moving in here. The economy has made the corporate side of things a little more uneven, the uncertainty, but frankly that uncertainty is good for litigation,” Trey Cox said.

Trey Cox, who joined Gibson Dunn’s office in 2020 from Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, said Houston was an outlier among Gibson Dunn offices when it lacked a litigation team. After he joined the firm in Dallas, he started working on recruiting Collin Cox to be the base of the Houston litigation team.

Bolstered by the associates, the team of Cox, Scott and Costa tried seven lawsuits to trial or arbitration in 2024.

And in 2025, a team led by Collin Cox, Costa and Trey Cox won a verdict in state court in North Dakota against environmental organization Greenpeace and affiliates. The jury awarded their clients nearly $667 million, after finding Greenpeace defamed the companies and incited protesters to trespass on their property and disrupt construction efforts.

“We had three first-chair lawyers. That’s crazy. I’m not sure who else can put three first-chair lawyers on the floor,” Trey Cox said.

“It’s a great place in terms of people and quality of work,” Collin Cox said.

Scott said when she decided to leave Smyser Kaplan, she figured Gibson Dunn would be a good fit, because the firm has a reputation for getting hired for “landmark cases” and winning them. And, she said, “I love trying cases.”

“I didn’t think that when I started at Gibson Dunn [that] I would have a year like last year. I tried four cases in a year, which is pretty remarkable,” she said.

Her trials included two defending Johnson & Johnson in talcum powder cases — one in Miami that ended in a hung jury, and one with Collin Cox in Dallas that settled during trial.

The number of significant trials shows that Collin Cox’s vision for growing the practice has panned out, she said, because they have been busy and getting hired for big lawsuits, some out of state, like the North Dakota litigation for Energy Transfer and the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“Texas has some of the best trial lawyers in the country, but the opportunity for me to take associates to Miami Dade County to try a case has sharpened us all as lawyers [with the] opportunity to argue to other jury pools,” Scott said.

Costa said that when he decided to leave the bench, he wanted to practice at a firm where litigation “really matters,” and it is roughly 50% of the work at Am Law 100 firm Gibson Dunn. The Houston office was also in a “sweet spot,” because it was “effectively launched” in 2017 and has grown.

In his view, the litigation team in Houston is doing what many Big Law firms don’t do, which is actually going to trial and also focusing on giving younger lawyers an active role in the trial.

“I gave up the federal bench and I didn’t want to go somewhere and shuffle paper,” he said.

Collin Cox, co-partner in charge of the Houston office, said the team sees potential for work stemming from the new Texas Business Court, a specialty court launched in 2024 to handle certain commercial disputes.

Costa, global co-chair of the Gibson Dunn trials practice group, said it’s not just the number of lawsuits the Houston team has tried, but the variety of litigation, including commercial, oil and gas litigation, and defending Johnson & Johnson in talc cases.

Reprinted with permission from the June 5, 2025 edition of “Texas Lawyer” © 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.

Partner Jason Schwartz told The Wall Street Journal that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing a woman to pursue a claim that she was denied a promotion because she is straight “will supercharge the current wave of reverse discrimination lawsuits by removing a significant obstacle for plaintiffs.”

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court found that the lower appeals court was wrong to require the plaintiff to show “background circumstances” indicating anti-straight bias by her employer — a burden that would not have applied had the plaintiff been gay.

Litigation Daily’s Litigator of the Week has recognized a pro bono team of Gibson Dunn lawyers for their precedential appellate win in a New Jersey anti-SLAPP case:

Shout-out to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Akiva Shapiro and associate Brian Yeh, who got an appellate win reviving a request for fees under New Jersey’s recently enacted anti-SLAPP law. The Gibson Dunn team represents a Jewish news outlet, two religious groups and a rabbi facing claims related to flyers and posts urging Bergenfield resident Allen Satz to grant his wife a religious divorce. In the first published decision under the state’s Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, New Jersey’s Appellate Division unanimously held last week that Satz’s voluntary dismissal of his complaint didn’t allow him to escape the defendants’ request for fees. Doing so, the court wrote, “would contravene legislative intent and create a loophole in the UPEPA allowing SLAPP plaintiffs to financially harm New Jersey residents who are the subject of their lawsuits and then strategically dismiss their suits, depriving our residents of the statutory right to seek recompense.” The Gibson Dunn team included associates Dillon Westfall, Apratim Vidyarthi, Stephanie Silvano and Beshoy Shokralla.

To read the complete article, visit Law.com (subscription required).

Reprinted with permission from the June 6, 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 Sammons Financial Group on its entry into a definitive agreement to acquire Wealthcare, a Registered Investment Advisor firm and platform services provider.

Our team was led by partners Michael Piazza and Carlos Soto and included and associates George Hang, Steve Wright, Mariana Lozano, and Yaz Kaveh.

Partner Matt Donnelly advised on tax; partner Matthew Schwartz advised on corporate; partner Sean Feller and associate Kayoko Fong advised on employee benefits and executive compensation; partner Cassandra Gaedt-Sheckter and associates Courtney Wang and Mitchell Zia advised on data privacy and security.

Gibson Dunn represented Barclays Capital, BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Securities, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Mizuho Securities USA, MUFG Securities Americas, TD Securities (USA), and Wells Fargo Securities (each of which will act as sales agent, and certain of their affiliates will act as forward purchasers) in an “at the market” offering of up to $1.3 billion of common stock of Alliant Energy Corporation, a public utility holding company that provides regulated electric and natural gas service to customers in the Midwest.

Our team included partners Andrew Fabens and Darius Mehraban, of counsel Adam Lapidus and Rodrigo Surcan, and associates Lawrence Lee, Ian Mathenge, and Stephen Huie. Partner William R. Hollaway and senior counsel Janine Durand advised on regulatory matters, partner Rachel Levick and associate Taylor Cathleen Amato advised on environmental matters, and partner Lorna Wilson advised on tax matters.

Partner Ibrahim Soumrany spoke to Arabian Gulf Business Insight about promising signs for Saudi Arabia’s IPO markets, as companies begin to list again following a period of geopolitical uncertainty.

Ibrahim told the publication that while some companies have chosen to delay their IPO plans by a few weeks, there is still momentum from those intending to list. “Everyone’s acknowledging that it’s not a very easy market, but I don’t think that anyone is taking the view that people are about to pull their IPOs. It also depends on how much you price your IPO; it’s a kind of balancing act.”

Washington, D.C. partner Matt Axelrod spoke to Global Investigations Review (subscription required) about a recent U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to decline prosecution of a company that voluntarily disclosed export controls violations.

He also discussed how the DOJ may view similar cases in future. “When a case fits this fact pattern [of] a less-serious national security harm and rogue employee … the message seems to be that if you do the voluntary self-disclosure, robust internal investigation [and] remediation, a declination is certainly possible,” Matt told the publication.

Partner Hagen Rooke has been featured in leading cryptocurrency news outlets, including Cointelegraph, discussing the impact of the Singapore central bank’s June 30 deadline for local crypto firms targeting overseas markets to halt operations or face fines of up to $200,000.

Hagen cautioned that while firms may apply for licenses from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to target overseas markets, approvals will be rare. “The MAS will grant licences under the new framework only in extremely limited circumstances, as this type of operating model generally gives rise to regulatory concerns, e.g. AML/CFT-related.”

He also urged companies to consider swift action to de-risk through operational restructuring to remove their Singapore touchpoints.

Partner Ari Lanin, Co-Chair of our Private Equity Practice Group, has again been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s LA500 list.

This marks the seventh consecutive year that Ari has been included among the publication’s “most influential leaders and impactful executives in Los Angeles.”

Gibson Dunn is once again ranked in the IAM Patent 1000 guide, which “shines a spotlight on the firms and individuals that are deemed outstanding in the pivotal area of patent law.” The 2025 edition of the guide recognizes our National, California, New York, Washington, D.C., and Texas patent practices, referring to our firm as “a frontrunner in the world of US patent litigation” that “is revered across the nation by clientele as a well-oiled machine highly adept at handling contentious matters in every venue.”

The guide also recommends 14 Gibson Dunn partners as “individuals who stand out for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights into patent matters”: Wayne Barsky, Brian Buroker, Benjamin Hershkowitz, Charlotte Jacobsen, L. Kieran Kieckhefer, Josh Krevitt, Jason Lo, Jane Love, Mark Reiter, Brian Rosenthal, Karen Spindler, Daniel Thomasch, Robert Trenchard, and Robert Vincent.

Gibson Dunn announced today that Atma Kabad has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the Capital Markets Practice Group. Atma advises public and private companies and private equity investors on a broad range of capital market transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities law matters.

“Atma is a highly skilled and solutions-oriented lawyer who is well-regarded in the Texas business and legal communities, and we are thrilled to have him join our growing team,” said Hillary Holmes, Co-Partner in Charge of the Houston office and Co-Chair of the firm’s Capital Markets Practice Group. “As the energy sector sees regulatory burdens ease and innovation drive capital raising and M&A activity, and as Texas continues to be a center of economic growth and the potential for even greater growth, Atma’s diverse corporate skillset will provide clients with the guidance they need to effectively navigate today’s market climate.”

“I’m excited to begin the next chapter of my career at Gibson Dunn,” said Atma. “The firm’s reputation precedes it, and I am looking forward to working alongside these extremely talented, collaborative colleagues. Gibson Dunn’s deep capital markets and energy platforms are truly market-leading, giving clients invaluable perspectives as they manage both the challenges and opportunities of a dynamic market.”

About Atma Kabad

Atma has a broad corporate and transactional practice. He advises public companies, sponsors, and their portfolio companies in their full range of capital markets transactional and securities law needs. Atma has extensive experience advising companies in registered primary and secondary equity offerings, initial public offerings, high-yield and investment grade debt offerings, liability management transactions and restructurings as well as public and private mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Atma served as a partner at an international law firm. He earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in 2013, where he served as an editor for the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law.

Gibson Dunn advised MidOcean Partners on its sale of the managed services provider InterVision Systems, LLC to technology solutions provider NWN Corporation.

Our corporate team was led by partner Andrew Herman and included associates Samantha Bollers and Kristen Lee. Partner Matt Donnelly advised on tax; partner Michael Collins advised on benefits; and partner Joshua Lipton advised on antitrust.

Gibson Dunn announced today that Mark Manson-Bahr has joined the firm’s London office as a partner in its Real Estate Practice Group.

Mark is ranked Band 1 for Real Estate Finance by Chambers UK 2025, which describes him as being “at the forefront of the market,” and as a Leading Partner for London Property Finance in Legal 500 United Kingdom 2025.

Commenting on his arrival, Eric Feuerstein, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Real Estate Practice Group, said: “Mark is best in class and widely regarded as one of the best real estate debt lawyers in Europe. We’re delighted to have him join us.”

“I am thrilled to join Gibson Dunn’s global real estate platform. Their clients are an integral part of the global real estate landscape. Working with Rob Carr in London, and colleagues throughout Europe and the U.S. is an opportunity I cannot pass up. I can’t wait to get to work for our clients,” said Mark.

Gibson Dunn’s Real Estate Practice Group is widely considered one of the best in the world: it was named a 2024 Real Estate Group of the Year by Law360 and is the Chambers USA 2024 Group of the Year for Real Estate: USA – Nationwide. The London team has worked on some of the most high-profile real estate financings in recent years, including the £1.2 billion financing of 100 Bishopsgate and advising Canary Wharf Group on its £610 million financing of its retail portfolio with clients and funds managed by Apollo.

Gibson Dunn has significantly expanded its transactional practices in London. Real estate partner Hayden Cameron joined the office in recent weeks, and other recent joiners include M&A partner Will McDonald, private equity partner Will Summers, and finance partners Kavita Davis and David Irvine.

About Mark Manson-Bahr

Mark is a real estate finance specialist who represents lenders and sponsors for investment in, and the development of, commercial real estate. He works across the capital stack, in all commercial real estate sectors, including data centres, office, PRS, hotels, cold storage, the care sector and student accommodation. Mark also has extensive experience in real estate restructuring across Europe, working with both consensual and court-based approaches. He joins Gibson Dunn from a leading U.K. firm where he spent his entire career, and where he was Global Head of Real Estate Finance.

Partner Matt Axelrod’s remarks during a recent webinar co-hosted by Gibson Dunn and the risk intelligence firm Kharon have been reported extensively in the Export Compliance Daily article “50% Rule Could Make Entity List Additions More Difficult, Former BIS Enforcement Chief Says.” In the webinar, Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Export Controls: Trends, Challenges, and Strategies, Matt and other industry leaders discussed the latest trends in export controls program developments, reviewed recent enforcement trends, and provided insights on what to expect going forward.

Read the article, “50% Rule Could Make Entity List Additions More Difficult, Former BIS Enforcement Chief Says,” in Export Compliance Daily.

Gibson Dunn’s New Associate Pods program, which has small groups of new associates in the same practice across different offices meeting once or twice a month with a professional development coach to brainstorm ideas and exchange personal experiences, is the subject of the Law360 Pulse article “Gibson Dunn Helps 1st-Year Associates Connect With ‘Pods.’”

Orange County associate Jonathan Ray and Ryan DuBose, director of professional development and one of six coaches who run the pods, describe how all first-year associates in the firm’s U.S. offices have participated in the virtual program since it was launched in 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — over 800 associates to date.

Ryan says the program originated from a desire to ensure that associates could make connections, meet people, and access information and resources while working in different offices. “It was such a success that we’ve just continued it ever since.”

Jonathan adds that, as a new associate, “hearing from other people who were going through that exact same transition in a different part of the country was hugely beneficial, because it allowed me to normalize successes, normalize challenges and really feel integrated and connected at an early stage.”

The New Associate Pods program also involves a lot of one-on-one confidential coaching and professional development with the six coaches, all of whom previously practiced law at big firms.

Read the article, “Gibson Dunn Helps 1st-Year Associates Connect With ‘Pods’,” in Law360 Pulse [PDF].

Speaking to Law360, partner Quinton C. Farrar has shared insights into how rising geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty are reshaping private equity dealmaking strategies. “Tariff policies and the corresponding threats to global trade have made companies with even modest tariff exposure difficult to price,” he explained.

Quinton added that the recent market turbulence has prompted a more cautious and technical approach. “Deals that are actually getting done are often taking longer and involve significant structure.”

Partners Theane Evangelis and Debra Wong Yang have been named to the Daily Journal’s list of Top Women Lawyers 2025.

The publication recognized Debra for her “strategic- and business-focused advice,” highlighting the breadth of her legal practice, which includes advising clients across “tech and fintech sectors, early-stage companies, and traditional corporate businesses on their most complex and high-stakes matters.”

Theane was honored for the impact of her work, with the Daily Journal noting that she “not only takes on cases of immense social significance … but also successfully litigates high-value business matters.” She was also commended for her landmark 2024 U.S. Supreme Court victory on behalf of municipal efforts to address homelessness.

Partner Matt Donnelly recently shared insights with Tax Notes about the changes to the foreign-entity-of-concern rules in relation to clean energy tax credits in the budget bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives — and the potential challenges these changes may pose for companies with international operations.

Partner Eric Sloan spoke to Tax Notes about a last-minute change in the tax bill passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives, which clarifies whether partnership rules on disguised sales and disguised fees for services are self-executing. While unexpected, Eric noted that the change may have limited practical impact.

“The subchapter K crowd has essentially practiced as if the [section 707] rules were operative in the absence of regulations for a long time, largely because we have all believed that a court would use one of many routes to reach the same result, even if a court found the code provision not to be self-executing,” he told the publication.

Eric is a Co-Chair of our firm’s Tax Practice Group.