The Best Lawyers in America® named eleven Gibson Dunn lawyers as the 2025 Lawyer of the Year in their respective practice areas and cities:

• Wayne Barsky – Los Angeles – Litigation: Patent
• Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. – Los Angeles – Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Jessica Brown – Denver – Employment Law: Management
• Gregg Costa – Houston – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Michael P. Darden – Houston – Oil and Gas Law
• Miguel Estrada – Washington, D.C. – Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Tull Florey – Houston – Corporate Law
• Ronald Kirk – Dallas – Sports Law
• Doug Rayburn – Dallas – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Karen Spindler – San Francisco – Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
• Beau Stark – Denver – Corporate Governance Law – Corporate Law

The lawyers selected received particularly high ratings in Best Lawyers’ survey by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism and integrity. Only one lawyer in each legal community is selected as the Lawyer of the Year for each practice area. The list was published August 15, 2024.

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Elizabeth “Liz” Ryan has joined the Dallas office as a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Trials Practice Groups.

“Liz is an outstanding trial lawyer known for her exceptional courtroom skills. She has an earned reputation as a tough, smart, and well-prepared trial lawyer. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Gibson Dunn litigation team,” said Trey Cox, Co-Partner in Charge of Gibson Dunn’s Dallas office and Co-Chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. “She has a proven track record of leading significant trials. Liz excels in navigating complex legal matters and providing invaluable counsel during challenging litigation. Her addition will enhance our robust litigation practice in Texas and beyond.”

“It is an incredibly exciting time to join Gibson Dunn. The firm’s growth in Texas is both explosive and impressive,” said Liz. “Even with this growth, Gibson Dunn has maintained a collaborative atmosphere, collegiality, renowned client service, and unparalleled litigation results. Having repeatedly co-counseled with outstanding Gibson Dunn attorneys throughout my practice, I’m now honored to join their ranks. I look forward to expanding my trial practice and appearing before courts and juries with even more frequency.”

Liz’s arrival continues the expansion of Gibson Dunn’s market-leading litigation practice in Texas, which features exceptional litigators who previously joined the firm, including Trey Cox and David Woodcock in Dallas and Gregg Costa, Collin Cox, and Sydney Scott in Houston, as well as recently promoted litigation partners, such as Christine Demana, Brad Hubbard, Ashley Johnson, and Betty Yang in Dallas. The firm’s Texas litigators are regularly recognized in industry rankings, such as Chambers USA, The Legal 500 United States, and Benchmark Litigation US. Last year, The American Lawyer named Gibson Dunn as the Texas Regional Litigation Department of the Year winner, which recognizes “the best litigation department in [the] jurisdiction.”

​About Elizabeth “Liz” Ryan

Liz is a first-chair trial lawyer who handles complex, high-stakes disputes involving a wide array of legal issues, including antitrust, breach of contract, business tort, employment, intellectual property, product liability and mass torts. She has extensive courtroom experience and advises clients on how to navigate disputes through federal courts, state courts, and arbitrations.

Liz was previously a partner at both an international law firm and a preeminent trial boutique. She clerked for Judge Eugene E. Siler, Jr. in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She earned her law degree in 2007 from William & Mary Law School, where she was admitted to the Order of the Barristers.

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Ekaterina (Kate) Napalkova has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the firm’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice Group.

“We are excited to welcome Kate to Gibson Dunn,” said Krista P. Hanvey, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice Group. “Kate has a reputation for being a trusted counselor to her clients, and with her excellent technical skills, she will add further depth and support for our growing transactional practices.”        

“I am thrilled to join the Gibson Dunn team,” said Kate. “The Gibson Dunn platform will serve as an excellent foundation on which to continue building my practice. The firm’s reputation precedes it, and I look forward to collaborating with my talented colleagues and mentoring the team’s future leaders.”

Kate’s arrival continues the growth of Gibson Dunn’s New York office, including the recent additions of leading M&A dealmaker George Sampas, private equity partner Brian Scrivani, special situations partner Caith Kushner, regulatory finance partner Ro Spaziani, and real estate finance partner Michael Weinberger.

About Kate Napalkova

Kate advises public and private companies, private investment funds, boards of directors and management teams on a broad range of compensation and employee benefits matters. Her advice focuses on the compensation and employee benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, public offerings, spin-offs, and other corporate transactions. She is experienced in the negotiation and implementation of benefit and compensation plans, as well as compensation-related securities and corporate governance matters. Before joining Gibson Dunn, Kate served as a partner at an international law firm. She received her law degree cum laude in 2009 from the Fordham University School of Law, where she also served as the editor-in-chief of the Fordham International Law Journal.

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Lore Leitner has joined the firm’s London office as a partner in the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group. She is also a member of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Group. 

Commenting on Lore’s arrival, Joel Harrison, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group, said: “A wave of new legislation is leading to unprecedented demand among our clients for top-tier advice, and Lore’s arrival is an important step in growing our global data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI capability. She brings a wealth of experience in advising on data strategies and adjacent issues across a number of industry sectors, as well as engaging with regulators in the U.K. and the EEA to advance and defend those strategies.”

“I am thrilled to be joining one of the world’s top firms in Gibson Dunn and cannot wait to work alongside a talented team of leading practitioners in the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group,” said Lore. “Laws governing the digital world are only increasing, and I am looking forward to helping a variety of clients navigate that complexity.” Gibson Dunn is the leading law firm in privacy, cybersecurity, and data innovation. It is ranked by Chambers USA as an Elite firm and Band 1 Nationwide in Privacy & Data Security: Litigation. Global Data Review named Gibson Dunn the #1 law firm for Investigations in 2023. The firm has been named Cybersecurity & Privacy Practice Group of the Year by Law360 in three of the past seven years, and BTI Consulting Group recognized the firm as the Best of the Best Firms in Cybersecurity/Data Privacy Litigation. Lore’s hire continues the expansion of the group, with recent arrivals including Alison Beal and Joel Harrison (London), Robert Spano (London and Paris), Vivek Mohan (Palo Alto), and Stephenie Gosnell Handler and Jane Horvath (Washington, D.C.).

About Lore Leitner

Lore’s practice covers data privacy, technology, AI, and cybersecurity clients, and focuses on strategic counseling and advice, corporate support, incident preparedness and response, and regulatory engagement and investigations. She supports clients with the design and implementation of strategic global data privacy compliance programs, including those driven by GDPR, and she has advised companies in the context of business strategies that involve large-scale data use, regulatory investigations and engagement strategies, and mitigation of cyber intrusions or data breaches. She has substantial expertise in M&A and capital markets transactions, as well as advising on privacy litigation matters.

Lore was recognized in Global Data Review’s 40 Under 40 and Women in Data listings in 2021 and 2022, and Lawdragon recently identified her as one of the 100 Leading AI & Legal Tech Advisors and 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers. She is a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 UK 2024 for Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, where clients highlight her “no nonsense, commercial approach” and “deep understanding of data protection compliance and industry expertise.” Lore earned a Master of Law magna cum laude from the University of Antwerp in 2008 and a postgraduate LLM from King’s College London in 2009.

About Gibson Dunn’s Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group

The Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group brings together a global team of former in-house executives and technologists, former regulators, prosecutors, and government leaders, as well as cross-disciplinary experts from our regulatory investigations, litigation and appellate, corporate, crisis management, and compliance practices. The practice stands out for the remarkable breadth of high-stakes matters handled, its successes for clients in cross-border regulatory and multijurisdictional matters, and deep technical knowledge of data-driven business models.

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Krystyna Blakeslee has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group.

“Krystyna is a brilliant lawyer who has built a formidable lender-side practice representing top-tier financial institutions,” said Eric Feuerstein, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Real Estate Practice Group. “She is a generational talent, and her addition to our best-in-class team will enable us to provide even more strength and experience to our leading real estate clients.”

“I have seen Gibson Dunn’s impressive real estate lawyers in action and I am looking forward to working with and building alongside the extraordinary talent here to scale the success of the Real Estate group,” said Krystyna.

Krystyna’s arrival continues the firm’s strategic transactional growth in New York, adding to recent hires including special situations partner Caith Kushner, M&A partner George Sampas, private equity partner Brian Scrivani, financial services regulatory partner Ro Spaziani, and real estate finance partner Michael Weinberger. The Real Estate Practice Group was recently named the 2024 Chambers USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, as well as Vault’s 2025 Best Law Firm for Real Estate Law.

About Krystyna Blakeslee

Krystyna is a commercial real estate finance lawyer, with a focus on lender-side representation in every phase of the life cycle of loans secured directly or indirectly by all types of commercial real estate. She has substantial experience in loan origination, loan purchases, loan dispositions (whether through syndication, sales, or securitization), financing/leverage transactions, post-closing loan modifications and loan workouts. 

She represents all types of commercial real estate lenders, including commercial banks, life

insurance companies, CMBS lenders, specialty finance companies, debt funds, mortgage REITs and hedge funds. She has substantial experience in wide variety of asset classes, including data centers, office and retail properties, hotels, and assisted living/nursing care and condominium properties. Before joining Gibson Dunn, Krystyna was a partner at a New York law firm. She graduated with high honors in 2009 from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she served as the Managing Editor of Connecticut Law Review. Krystyna was previously a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Iraq.

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce the appointment of George J. Sampas as Co-Chair of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group and Head of Cross-Border M&A. He will lead the global M&A practice with fellow Co-Chairs Robert Little in the Dallas office and Saee Muzumdar in the New York office.

“George is a preeminent M&A lawyer, and his extensive experience in cross-border deals is invaluable in an increasingly global world,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “As a trusted advisor for boardrooms across the globe, George brings a unique perspective and ability to advise our clients through a diverse range of deal structures and cycles. His addition to our leadership is a reflection of the firm’s commitment to growing our M&A platform across the globe.”

“I am thrilled to work with my Co-Chairs and colleagues at the firm to scale our exceptional M&A practice. Gibson Dunn’s global presence and the caliber of talent across the firm enable us to provide a tailored approach in our client offerings,” said George. George focuses on cross-border transactions, unsolicited U.S. and non-U.S. acquisitions and private equity transactions. He is consistently recognized as a leading adviser to companies on their most high-profile and strategically significant matters. His work spans a broad range of industries, including energy, aviation, food and beverage, and technology.

About the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group

Gibson Dunn’s M&A Practice Group is an international leader in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, proxy contests and joint ventures. The firm’s M&A capabilities are worldwide, as its combination of lawyers throughout the network of 21 offices in all major financial centers allows it to handle the most complex cross-border deals effectively and efficiently. 

Industry rankings regularly recognize Gibson Dunn as one of the world’s top M&A firms. Chambers USA, which consistently lists Gibson Dunn as among “The Elite” nationwide for corporate/M&A, has noted that the firm “is frequently enlisted on some of the most significant transactions in the market.”  The firm’s M&A clients include public and private companies, ranging from Fortune 100 and multinational corporations to smaller companies, private equity firms, boards of directors and special committees, selling shareholders, management teams, and financial advisors. Clients also regularly enlist Gibson Dunn to provide advice regarding takeover preparedness and the implementation of defensive measures.  The firm’s Hostile M&A and Shareholder Activism practices are some of the most well-respected in the world.

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Brian Scrivani has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner and a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups.

“Brian is a leading private equity partner who has worked with premier PE sponsors and their portfolio companies across all industries and verticals on some of their most complex and significant investments,” said Richard Birns, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Private Equity Practice Group. “His addition further solidifies our standing as a destination PE practice.”

“I am excited to join Gibson Dunn, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the firm’s extensive, market-leading platform,” said Brian. “The talent here is remarkable, and the firm’s investment in the M&A and private equity space, as well as the practices that are critical to the future of the addressable market, allows us to provide unparalleled support to clients on their most important transactions.”

Brian’s addition reflects Gibson Dunn’s commitment to growing its M&A and private equity groups globally. Over the past year alone, the firm has added over two dozen transactional lateral partner hires, including high-profile M&A partner George Sampas, and elevated over a dozen transactional partners worldwide.

About Brian Scrivani

Brian advises private equity firms and public and private clients on leveraged buyouts and other private equity transactions, public company acquisitions, sales and divestitures and mergers of equals. He also advises boards of directors and special committees on corporate and securities laws, and fiduciary and corporate governance matters, including unsolicited offers, proxy contests and other activist defense matters.

Brian previously was a partner at another leading international law firm. He graduated with honors in 2007 from The University of Texas School of Law, where he served as Chief Articles Editor for the Texas Law Review.

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Victoria “Tory” Lauterbach has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner and a member of the Energy, Regulation and Litigation Practice Group.

“We are excited to welcome Tory to the firm,” said Bill Hollaway, Chair of the firm’s Energy, Regulation and Litigation Practice Group. “She has a rare, broad-based energy practice that covers all the bases, from regulatory transactional work to FERC litigation, appellate work, and regulatory proceedings. Her addition will complement our existing team and position us for further growth.”

“Gibson Dunn has an impressive energy platform with other industry-leading practice areas that will support my practice,” said Tory. “I am looking forward to leveraging my relationships with the firm’s wide network.”

Tory’s arrival follows recent substantial growth for Gibson Dunn’s energy practices, which span offices in Asia, London, the Middle East, Paris, and United States. The firm has invested in these practices with the opening of an office in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh and the addition of partners Federico Fruhbeck, Alice Brogi, Trinh Chubbock, Robert Dixon and Ben Shorten in London; Darko Adamovic in Paris; Marwan Elaraby, Renad Younes, Laleh Shahabi, Jade Chu, and Samuel Ogunlaja in Dubai; and Megren Al-Shaalan, Mahmoud Abdel-Baky, Mohamed Hasan, Jonathan Langley, and Ibrahim Soumrany in Riyadh; and Rahul Vashi in Houston.

Gibson Dunn was named among Law360’s Energy Practice Groups of the Year in the last two years, and the firm’s energy practices are regularly ranked in Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States.

About Victoria Lauterbach

Tory represents energy sector clients, including investors, generation developers, independent power producers, independent transmission companies, investor-owned utilities, natural gas companies, and pipeline shippers in a variety of regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters. She has significant experience in administrative litigation and settlement proceedings. She regularly represents companies before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and federal appellate courts and has represented clients before the Department of Energy (DOE) and state public utility commissions.

She helps clients navigate heavily regulated energy industry market environments, including wholesale electricity and carbon markets. Tory advises companies on issues relating to the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Interstate Commerce Act, related federal and state statutes, and federally regulated tariffs. She is Co-Chair of the Professional Education Council of the Energy Bar Association.

Tory graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where she served as Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review.

Chambers named Gibson Dunn as “Real Estate Law Firm of the Year” at its 2024 USA Awards. The awards recognize “outstanding legal work and expertise, impressive strategic growth and innovation, and unparalleled excellence in client service delivery.” The awards were presented on June 13, 2024.

The Real Estate Practice Group handles the most sophisticated real estate transactions worldwide. Our team of lawyers handles complex and challenging matters for a wide array of clients, such as the owners, developers and financiers of the largest real estate projects in the United States and Europe, both in the private and public sectors. Chambers USA has consistently recognized us as a top-tier real estate practice.

Gibson Dunn earned 62 practice area rankings, including 19 top-tier rankings in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500 – United States. Fifteen partners were named to Legal 500’s Hall of Fame recognizing individuals who receive consistent feedback from their clients for continued excellence. Forty partners were named Leading Lawyers in their respective practices with an additional thirteen partners recognized as Next Generation Lawyers, and one lawyer named a Rising Star.

The firm achieved first-tier rankings in the following categories:

• Antitrust – Cartel
• Antitrust – Civil litigation/class actions: defense
• Dispute resolution – Appellate: Courts of Appeal
• Dispute resolution – Appellate: Supreme Courts (States and Federal)
• Dispute resolution – Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates
• Dispute resolution – General commercial disputes
• Dispute resolution – International litigation
• Dispute resolution – Securities litigation: defense
• Energy – Energy transactions: oil and gas
• Environment – Environment: litigation
• Environment – Environment: litigation – Climate change litigation
• Government – Government relations: Congressional Investigations
• Labor and employment – Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
• Media, technology and telecoms – Media and entertainment: litigation
• Media, technology and telecoms – Outsourcing
• Real estate – Land use/zoning
• Real estate – Real estate
• Real estate – Real estate finance
• Transport – Rail and road: litigation and regulation

Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for 2024 consists of:

• Theodore Boutrous – Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)
• Michael P. Darden – Energy – Energy transactions: oil and gas
• Patrick Dennis – Environment – Environment: litigation
• Michael Desmond – Tax – US taxes: contentious
• Scott Edelman – Media, technology and telecoms – Media and entertainment: litigation
• Scott Hammond – Antitrust – Cartel
• Peter Hanlon – Energy – Energy transactions: electric power
• Jane Horvath – Media, technology and telecoms – Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
• Perlette Michèle Jura – Dispute resolution – International litigation
• Stephen Nordahl – Media, technology and telecoms – Outsourcing
• Theodore Olson – Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)
• Tomer Pinkusiewicz – Finance – Project finance
• Jesse Sharf – Real estate – Real estate
• Daniel Swanson – Civil litigation/class actions: defense
• Joseph Warin – Dispute resolution – Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

The partners named as Leading Lawyers are:

Antitrust

Cartel

• Cynthia Richman

Civil litigation/class actions: defense

• Rachel Brass
• Cynthia Richman

Dispute resolution

Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

• Miguel Estrada
• Allyson Ho
• Thomas Hungar

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to individuals

• Reed Brodsky

General commercial disputes

• Theodore Boutrous
• Orin Snyder

International arbitration

• Rahim Moloo

International litigation

• Anne Champion
• Andrea Smith

M&A litigation: defense

• Brian Lutz

Securities litigation: defense

• Brian Lutz

Energy

Energy regulation: electric power

• William Hollaway

Energy transactions: electric power and Renewable/alternative power

• Nicholas Politan

Environment

Environment: litigation

• Stacie Fletcher
• Daniel Nelson

Finance

Capital markets: debt offerings

• Andrew Fabens
• Douglas Horowitz

Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

• Douglas Horowitz

Commercial lending

• Douglas Horowitz

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate

• Michael Cohen
• Scott Greenberg

Insurance

Advice to insurers

• Heather Richardson
• Deborah Stein

Intellectual property

Patents: litigation (full coverage)

• Josh Krevitt

International trade

Customs, export controls and economic sanctions

• Adam Smith

Labor and employment

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)

• Jason Schwartz
• Katherine Smith

Land use/zoning

• Amy Forbes
• Mary Murphy

M&A/corporate and commercial

M&A: large deals ($1bn+)

• Barbara Becker

Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+)

• Richard Birns

Media, technology and telecoms

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)

• Alexander Southwell

Media and entertainment: litigation

• Orin Snyder

Media and entertainment: transactional

• Benyamin Ross

Outsourcing

• Daniel Angel
• William Peters

Technology transactions

• Daniel Angel

Real estate

Real estate

• Eric Feuerstein

Real estate finance

• Jesse Sharf
• Michael Weinberger

Tax

US taxes: contentious

• Saul Mezei

Transport

Rail and road: litigation and regulation

Thomas Dupree Jr

The partners named as Next Generation Partners and Rising Stars are:

• Joshua Brody – Finance – Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
• Sarah Graham – Media, technology and telecoms – Media and entertainment: transactional
• Noam Haberman – Real estate finance
• Meghan Hungate – Media, technology and telecoms – Outsourcing
• Abbey Hudson – Environment – Environment: litigation
• Ilissa Samplin – Intellectual property – Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)
• Madalyn Miller – Transport – Aviation and air travel: finance
• Michael Perry – Antitrust – Merger control
• Ankita Ritwik – Dispute resolution – International arbitration
• Molly Senger – Labor and employment – Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
• Terrell Ussing – Tax – US taxes: contentious
• Edward Wei – Tax – US taxes: non-contentious
• Kahlil Yearwood – Real estate – Real estate finance
• Joseph Zujkowski – Finance – Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate

New York partners Shukie Grossman, Co-Chair of our Investment Funds Practice Group, and Sean McFarlane and associate Kate Timmerman participated in a keynote interview with Buyouts for its 2024 Secondaries Special Report and discussed the increasing popularity of the secondaries market—including current trends, challenges, and regulatory scrutiny—and shared their outlook for the short and long term.

Shukie noted that “…because GP-leds have be­come so interesting, many sponsors that have traditionally focused on rais­ing buyout funds are now raising sep­arate funds dedicated to investing in these vehicles. That is testament to the popularity of GP-leds, and as we see more dedicated capital raised, we can look forward to deployment driving more activity in this area.”

Regarding the evolution of GP-led secondaries transactions, Sean observed that “[w]here historically RWI only covered standard fundamental rep­resentations and maybe a few knowl­edge-qualified reps for portfolio com­panies, today’s buyers’ market has driven demand for better protections. Insurance has provided a solution to streamline processes.”

“We expect the GP-led mar­ket to become busier after a volatile few years, with more players en­tering the market and doing more sophisticated deals, both in terms of deal constructs and the documentation required,” Kate predicted.

The full article is available here [PDF].

World Trademark Review named Howard Hogan to its 2024 edition of WTR Global Leaders in private practice in the D.C. metro area. The list “brings together the world’s foremost…corporate trademark experts.” The list was published on June 5, 2024.

Howard Hogan’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling, including trademark, copyright, patent, false advertising, right of publicity, licensing, and trade secret matters. He has represented various corporations and individuals in a broad range of industries, including financial services, sports, fashion, cosmetics, entertainment, transportation, pharmaceuticals, and online services.

Gibson Dunn was named in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000 guide, which recognizes firms and “individuals that are deemed outstanding in the pivotal area of patent law.” The guide recognized the firm’s National, California, New York, Texas and Washington, D.C. patent practices. The guide additionally named 15 Gibson Dunn partners to its list of the “world’s leading patent professionals”: Wayne Barsky, Brian Buroker, Benjamin Hershkowitz, Charlotte Jacobsen, Kieran Kieckhefer, Josh Krevitt, Carrie LeRoy, Jason Lo, Jane Love, Mark Reiter, Brian Rosenthal, Karen Spindler, Daniel Thomasch, Robert Trenchard, and Robert Vincent. The guide was published in June 2024.

Gibson Dunn’s Intellectual Property Practice Group offers strategic insights and solutions to companies facing complex intellectual property issues. We have a deep bench of trial lawyers with technical backgrounds, advanced degrees and industry experience provides the necessary insight to develop and defend against sophisticated claims in a wide range of industries and complex technologies. Our litigators are recognized throughout the industry as leaders in prosecuting, defending and trying IP claims in federal and state courts, before administrative bodies including the U.S. International Trade Commission and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as before arbitration panels.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Claude Jiang has joined its Projects and Infrastructure Practice Group as an of counsel in the Singapore office.

Commenting on his arrival, Elaine Chao, Partner in Charge of the Singapore office, said: “We are delighted to welcome Claude to Gibson Dunn. His extensive project development and finance experience makes him an excellent addition to the team.”

Ben Shorten, partner and member of the firm’s Projects and Infrastructure Practice Group, added: “We have been growing our EMEA projects and infrastructure team, and Claude is a great fit, bringing extensive experience in energy and infrastructure projects across Asia and the Middle East. On a personal note, having previously worked with Claude, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him again.”

About Claude Jiang

Claude has over 17 years of energy and infrastructure related project development and finance experience across Asia and the Middle East. He has extensive experience working on both the project side and the financing side of transactions and has been involved in a variety of transactions from different project aspects including traditional project financing, structuring for projects without a financing component, project-related M&A as well as project-based bond offerings. Recently, he has concentrated on energy transition/renewables and assorted infrastructure projects while leading cross-border and cross-practice teams on several large-scale transactions.

Claude is admitted to practice in the State of New York and is qualified to practice in China.

About Gibson Dunn’s Projects and Infrastructure and Energy Practice Groups

Gibson Dunn’s Projects and Infrastructure Practice Group has in-depth knowledge and experience ranging from green field project development, major disposals, and acquisitions across energy and infrastructure and complex asset restructurings. The group advises all stakeholders from governments and corporate and financial sponsors, through to lenders and other credit providers.

The Energy Practice Group has a wide array of experience across all parts of the sector—from traditional sources of energy such as oil and gas, and electric utilities, to renewable forms such as solar and wind. The firm has handled energy-related matters involving numerous practice areas, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; debt and project finance; capital markets; joint ventures; fund formation; dispute resolution; commercial arrangements; and all manner of energy-related regulatory and antitrust issues.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Caith Kushner has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner and a member of the firm’s Liability Management and Special Situations Practice in the Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group.

“We are excited to welcome Caith to the firm,” said Scott Greenberg, Global Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group. “Our market-leading Restructuring and Liability Management and Special Situations teams are extremely busy, and Caith’s experience and in-depth finance analytical skills will be invaluable to our clients in a highly active distressed finance environment,” added Steven Domanowski, Chair of the firm’s Liability Management and Special Situations Practice.

“I am very pleased to join Gibson Dunn, and I look forwarding to working with the firm’s premier team to structure finance solutions to address our clients’ most critical matters in this challenging credit market,” said Caith.

Gibson Dunn’s Liability Management and Special Situations Practice is part of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group. The practice is a pioneer in liability management focused on devising and executing tailored solutions for ad hoc groups of debt holders and other debt investors, including asset managers, hedge funds, and credit opportunity funds. Led by Steven Domanowski, our industry-leading team works to understand the nuances and challenges of each transaction, delivering novel structures that can only be developed based on our years of experience in the field. The lawyers in this practice are at the forefront of every market-leading and altering transaction and are leaders in creating and implementing the needs of our clients in a growing and fast-paced market. Our group effectively tackles the complex and unique needs of each client by drawing on the incomparable expertise in Gibson Dunn’s finance, capital markets, M&A, litigation, and tax practices.

Caith’s arrival continues the expansion of Gibson Dunn’s premier restructuring practice, including the recent additions of finance partner Chad Nichols, restructuring partner Joseph Zujkowski, and bankruptcy litigator Lee Wilson.

About Caith Kushner

 Caith’s practice focuses on liability management and distressed financing transactions, including out-of-court debt exchanges and other restructurings, DIP financings and exit financings, as well as direct lending transactions. He also has experience in a wide range of leveraged finance and investment grade transactions, representing both private equity clients and public companies. In 2024, Caith was listed in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Dealmakers in America.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Caith served as a partner for a New York law firm. He received his law degree in 2005 from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a James Kent Scholar.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Ro Spaziani has joined the firm’s New York office, where she will serve as a partner and a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions, Global Financial Regulatory, and Global Fintech and Digital Assets Practice Groups.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ro to the Gibson Dunn team,” said Stephanie Brooker, Co-Chair of the firm’s Financial Institutions Practice Group. “Ro has a unique blend of traditional bank regulatory experience coupled with years of helping banks develop and expand financial technology businesses. This combination, as part of our financial services offerings, will be invaluable to clients.”

“I am excited to begin the next chapter of my career at Gibson Dunn,” said Ro. “The continuing evolution of financial services and the expansion of industry participants have increased regulatory scrutiny, complexity, and ambiguity across the market. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the firm in helping clients navigate these broad challenges.”

Ro’s addition highlights a period of growth for Gibson Dunn’s financial regulatory platform. Last year, partners Jason Cabral and Sara Weed who advise financial clients on a wide range of regulatory, transactional, policy, and enforcement matters joined the firm’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices, respectively. Additionally, one of the firm’s newer practice groups is the interdisciplinary Global Fintech and Digital Assets Practice Group, which advises traditional and emerging companies on a range of advisory, regulatory, policy, supervision and enforcement, transactional, and litigation matters involving fintech, digital assets, and blockchain technology.

About Rosemary Spaziani

Ro’s practice focuses on representing financial institutions in a broad range of corporate and regulatory matters, including in connection with mergers and acquisitions, strategic initiatives, partnerships, enforcement actions, compliance, and corporate governance matters. She has substantial experience with a wide array of bank regulatory issues, including payments; global structuring of complex financial institutions to maximize functionality, funding, and flexibility; risk management; and other key areas of regulatory focus. She regularly advises clients before the federal financial services regulatory agencies and state banking departments on a variety of matters, including regulatory applications and notices, chartering issues, and enforcement matters.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Ro served as an of counsel for a New York law firm. Previously, she was a managing director in the legal department at Goldman Sachs, where she spent over a decade and served as the head of the bank regulatory, deposits, and payments legal practice groups. In this role, she managed numerous strategic acquisitions and firm initiatives, including the acquisition of the retail deposit platform and the development and launch of the global transaction banking business.

Ro received her law degree from Columbia Law School in 2006.

Lawdragon named 15 Gibson Dunn partners to its 2024 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers guide, which highlights “lawyers who connect it all – data and security, innovation and inspiration, litigation and exploration.” Ahmed Baladi, Ashlie Beringer, Jason Cabral, M. Kendall Day, Lauren Goldman, Stephenie Gosnell Handler, Joel Harrison, Jane Horvath, Connell O’Neill, Rosemarie Ring, Ashley Rogers, Alexander Southwell, Robert Spano, Eric Vandevelde and Sara Weed were recognized. The list was published on April 26, 2024.

Managing IP named Brian Rosenthal as Intellectual Property – Litigator of the Year for New York at its annual Americas Awards event, recognizing the biggest achievements and developments in the IP sector over the past year. The awards were announced on April 25, 2024.

Brian Rosenthal is a trial lawyer with a particular emphasis on patent litigation. His patent litigation practice has spanned a wide range of technologies, with a concentration on computer software, electronics, and medical devices. He also has substantial experience handling Patent Office validity proceedings including inter partes review and post grant review petitions, most often in parallel with ongoing high-stakes litigation. His practice also includes strategic counseling and licensing related to intellectual property matters.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that David Irvine has joined the firm’s Global Finance Practice Group as a partner in London. He will serve as Co-Chair of Global Finance (Europe).

David is widely recognized as one of the leading finance lawyers in the U.K. He is ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global 2024, Chambers UK 2024, The Legal 500 UK 2024, and IFLR1000, where clients describe him as a “trusted advisor” and “persuasive in the most difficult conversations.”

Commenting on his arrival, Doug Horowitz, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Global Finance Practice Group, said: “David is recognized as one of the best in the market for private equity sponsors and debt financing sources. He has worked on a range of significant U.K., European, Asian, and cross-border acquisition financing transactions—at Gibson Dunn, he will apply his considerable talents, working closely with our private equity, infrastructure, and restructuring teams.”

Penny Madden, Co-Partner in Charge of the London office, said: “We’re pleased to welcome David to the London office, where his incredible experience on high-profile financing transactions makes him an important addition to the team.”

David’s hire follows a period of growth for Gibson Dunn’s Global Finance Practice Group, with other recent arrivals including partners Trinh Chubbock, Kavita Davis, and Ben Shorten in London, Jin Hee Kim and Doug Horowitz in New York, Chad Nichols in Houston/New York, Frederick Lee in Dallas, and Darko Adamovic in Paris.

About David Irvine

David advises private equity sponsors and private credit funds in major cross-border leveraged and acquisition financing transactions. He also advises on recaps, minority back leverage, special situations financings, margin loans, fund-level financings, and restructurings.

David is widely recognized as a leading finance lawyer in the U.K. He is ranked as a leading lawyer in Chambers Global 2024 and Chambers UK 2024 for Banking & Finance: Big-Ticket; is a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 UK 2024 for both London Acquisition Finance and London Bank Lending: Investment Grade Debt and Syndicated Loans; and is ranked as a Market Leader in IFLR1000 for UK Banking and Leveraged Finance.

He earned his Bachelor of Social Science in Politics and Law, and his Bachelor of Laws, from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

 About the Gibson Dunn Global Finance Practice Group

The Global Finance Practice Group serves clients around the world, including private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, major financial institutions, and hedge funds. It includes more than 85 lawyers in our offices worldwide, advising on a broad array of financing transactions. The group works closely with mergers and acquisitions colleagues on acquisition financings and with the firm’s capital markets team. The group also draws extensively on the knowledge and skills of other specialist practice areas, such as environmental, tax, employee benefits, and litigation.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Stuart Delery has rejoined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where he will serve as partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Crisis Management Practice Group and its Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Group. Stuart most recently served as White House Counsel for President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

“We are thrilled to have Stuart rejoin the firm,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “During his tenure as White House Counsel, Stuart was well known for his innovative thinking and his ability to navigate court challenges, changes in the law, Congress, and investigations—all while keeping an eye on workable solutions. His insight and experience will be invaluable to our clients and teams as we partner together on cutting-edge issues.”

“We are delighted to welcome Stuart back to Gibson Dunn,” said Helgi Walker, Co-Chair of the firm’s Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Group. “What sets us apart is our ability to offer our clients deep expertise in how and why the government regulates, how it makes and enforces the law, and what the best response to adverse government action is, whether negotiation or litigation. We have an unparalleled bench of exceptional lawyers with prior service in key government agencies that affect our clients’ businesses. Stuart’s return further strengthens our ability to give our clients the most current perspective on the government’s regulatory and related litigation efforts.”

“It was an honor to serve as White House Counsel, and I am excited for my next chapter at Gibson Dunn,” said Stuart. “I know firsthand that this is a world-class law firm, and I look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues across the firm to build on our robust litigation, regulatory and crisis management platforms.”

Stuart’s return highlights a period of growth for Gibson Dunn, as the firm continues to attract top talent from government. The firm’s team includes senior officials from the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and other agencies at the forefront of consumer protection, competition, white collar investigations, transactional, and policy areas. Recent additions to the firm include Katlin McKelvie, who joined after serving senior roles at the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services, Gus Eyler, who served as Director of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, Svetlana Gans, who served as Chief of Staff at the Federal Trade Commission, and former federal judges Gregg Costa and George Hazel.

About Stuart Delery

Stuart Delery is an experienced appellate and district court litigator who brings 30 years of experience at the highest levels of government and the private sector to help clients navigate major matters that present complex legal and reputational risks, particularly matters involving difficult statutory, regulatory and constitutional issues. His practice focuses on representing corporations and individuals in high-stakes litigation and investigations that involve the federal government across the spectrum of regulatory litigation and enforcement.

Stuart served as White House Counsel for President Biden from 2022-2023. As Counsel to the President, he advised the President on the full range of constitutional, statutory, and regulatory legal issues, including on questions of presidential authority, domestic policy, and national security and foreign affairs. He managed responses to high-profile congressional and other investigations, and he assisted the President in nominating and confirming federal judges. Stuart also served as Deputy Counsel to the President from 2021-2022. Throughout his time in the White House, he was deeply embedded in the administrative law and regulatory process, working closely with Cabinet secretaries, agency general counsel, and the Department of Justice on policy development and defending litigation challenging Administration actions. Previously, Stuart also served as the Acting Associate Attorney General of the United States, the third-ranking position at the Department of Justice, and as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division, the Department of Justice’s largest litigating division.

Stuart received his law degree from Yale Law School, where he served as an articles editor of The Yale Law Journal. He clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Byron White and for Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Gerald Bard Tjoflat of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.