Our 2024 Annual Report provides an overview of the exceptional results we achieved during the year, the many successes we attained for our clients, and the awards and accolades we received. It recognizes our impressive new partners, shines a spotlight on several of our practice groups and offices, and shares our outstanding Pro Bono and Diversity efforts. It also pays fitting tribute to our late partner and friend — and legal giant — Ted Olson. You can read the 2024 Annual Report here.
On behalf of Coinbase, a Gibson Dunn team won a major victory Tuesday against the SEC in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Coinbase challenged the SEC denial of Coinbase’s petition requesting that the agency issue new rules explaining the agency’s views about whether and how the federal securities laws apply to digital assets.
This has been a closely watched case, carrying potentially significant implications for the digital-asset industry, which has been targeted by the SEC in recent years with an aggressive campaign of enforcement actions.
In a blow to the SEC, a unanimous Third Circuit panel held that the SEC’s denial of Coinbase’s rulemaking petition was “conclusory and insufficiently reasoned” and therefore arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. In an opinion penned by Judge Ambro, the Court remanded Coinbase’s petition to the SEC for a more complete explanation.
A concurring opinion by Judge Bibas further took the SEC to task on due-process grounds. Judge Bibas faulted the agency for failing to provide “meaningful guidance on which crypto assets it views as securities,” adding that the SEC’s “silence and contradictory unofficial signals breed uncertainty,” target “a whole industry,” and risk “de facto banning it.” Judge Bibas added that the SEC’s “caginess” about how the securities laws apply to digital assets “creates a serious constitutional problem” that should be addressed in SEC enforcement actions against crypto firms.
The Gibson Dunn team was led by partners Eugene Scalia, Jonathan C. Bond, and Nick Harper and included associate Zach Young.
Gibson Dunn won a complete victory for United Services Automobile Association (USAA) in a class action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, where the plaintiffs sought nearly a billion dollars in damages and demanded changes to USAA’s business model. With this ruling, USAA has defeated every claim asserted in the complaint. The case is Coleman, et al. v. United Services Automobile Association, et al.
The Gibson Dunn team includes partners Kahn Scolnick and Brad Hamburger and associates Daniel Adler, Sean Howell, James Tsouvalas, Roark Luskin, and Milene Minassians.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Jake M. Shields has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner and member of the firm’s False Claims Act/Qui Tam Defense, Litigation, and White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Groups.
“We are excited to welcome Jake to Gibson Dunn,” said Jonathan Phillips, Co-Chair of the firm’s global False Claims Act/Qui Tam Defense Practice Group. “The number of False Claims Act cases continue to increase with no abatement in sight. We have built a destination practice for clients facing these high-stakes challenges, and Jake’s DOJ Civil Fraud litigation experience will bring further depth to Gibson Dunn’s defense team. Jake also has strong experience in cybersecurity fraud cases, having handled some of the first such cases to be opened under DOJ’s Civil Cyber Fraud Initiative, and his perspectives will significantly benefit clients facing challenges in this emerging area.”
“I’m thrilled to begin the next chapter of my career at Gibson Dunn,” said Jake. “Gibson Dunn’s premier litigation platform, coupled with its unmatched talent, will serve as a strong foundation on which to build. I look forward to collaborating with this high caliber team to help clients navigate their investigatory and litigation challenges.”
Gibson Dunn continues to attract top legal talent from government amidst one of the fastest growth periods in the firm’s history. 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 Osman Nawaz, former SEC Enforcement Senior Officer and National Unit Chief; Katlin McKelvie, who joined after serving senior roles at the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services; Stuart Delery, who formerly held positions of White House Counsel, Deputy Counsel to the President, Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ Civil Division, and Acting Associate U.S. Attorney General; Gus Eyler, who served as Director of DOJ’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 Jake M. Shields
Jake is a former Senior Trial Counsel in the Fraud Section of the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. While at DOJ, Jake also served on detail to the Technology and Digital Platforms Section of DOJ’s Antitrust Division. Prior to joining DOJ, Jake was in private practice for more than a decade.
With expertise in the False Claims Act, Jake is experienced in matters involving allegations of healthcare fraud, financial fraud, procurement fraud, and customs fraud, as well as violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, Tariff Act, Payroll Protection Program, and restrictions on off-label marketing of prescription drugs. Jake also has had significant involvement in DOJ’s efforts to enforce federal cybersecurity requirements through the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative. An experienced litigator, Jake has served as lead counsel in multiple False Claims Act and other complex civil and fraud litigations.
Jake earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2003, where he served on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review. From 2003 to 2004, Jake clerked for Judge Emilio M. Garza on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Gibson Dunn advised the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Finance on the arrangement of its US$2.5 billion (SR9.4 billion) Shariah-compliant revolving credit facility. The three-year facility, secured with the participation of three regional and international financial institutions, will support the Kingdom’s general budgetary requirements and is in line with Saudi Arabia’s public debt strategy to diversify funding sources.
The Gibson Dunn team was led by Riyadh finance partner Mahmoud Abdel-Baky.
Gibson Dunn today announced that a pro bono team of litigators has secured a settlement on behalf of client Dr. Bidisha Rudra, who was the victim of an unprovoked and violent assault unleashed on a group of Indian American women. While the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, the matter has been resolved to the parties’ satisfaction.
The suit arose from an August 24, 2022 incident in which Esmeralda Upton began an unprovoked and violent assault on Dr. Rudra and three other Indian American women, Sabori Saha, Indrani Banerjee, and Anamika Chatterjee, in the parking lot of a Plano, Texas restaurant. The attack lasted several minutes, during which Ms. Upton screamed racial epithets, struck the women, and threatened to shoot them. The victims were able to record Ms. Upton’s disturbing behavior on their cell phones while they waited for police to arrive.
Media coverage of the recorded attack sparked national outrage. Following a joint state and federal investigation, Ms. Upton pleaded guilty to three criminal counts of assault and one criminal count of making terroristic threats, with each count accompanied by hate-crime enhancements.
Dr. Rudra, along with Ms. Saha, Ms. Banerjee, and Ms. Chatterjee, filed a civil suit against Ms. Upton for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Gibson Dunn received Dr. Rudra’s case by referral from The Alliance for Asian American Justice (The Alliance), a national pro bono organization that advocates for victims of anti-Asian hate crimes. The Alliance co-founder and Gibson Dunn partner Debra Wong Yang said: “The Alliance was formed to try to deter acts of hate but to also protect our community of AANHPIs in America and show them they are not alone. We all stand together in condemning acts of hate.”
Following the civil suit settlement, Dr. Rudra looks forward to focusing on the future. Earlier this year, motivated by a desire to serve her community and bolstered by her experience working in the healthcare industry, Dr. Rudra opened the Frisco, Texas office of Senior Helpers, an organization that provides compassionate care to seniors in the Dallas-Fort Worth community while offering much-needed support for primary caregivers.
Commenting on the settlement, Dr. Rudra said: “While this settlement offers a measure of closure, the deep scar left by the racial hate crime I endured remains with me. The pain and trauma are not easily erased, and they fuel my resolve to keep fighting. This crusade against racism is far from over. I will stand as an ally and a voice for those who are too afraid or hesitant to speak out. I am also grateful to Gibson Dunn and The Alliance for Asian American Justice for their support and legal expertise in the fight against racism and bigotry. Together, we must continue the fight to eradicate racial hate and build a more just and equitable society. This journey toward justice continues—for me, for all of us.”
Poonam Kumar, partner at Gibson Dunn, remarked, “Gibson Dunn is proud to have represented Dr. Bidisha Rudra in the wake of this attack and throughout this multi-year litigation. While this case is now over, we look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Rudra and others in the ongoing fight against hatred and bias.”
The Gibson Dunn team representing Dr. Rudra was led by partners Debra Wong Yang, Betty X. Yang, and Poonam Kumar; and included associates Claire Piepenburg, Bina Nayee, Ryan Mak, Arjun Ogale, Maya M. Halthore, Nancy Ding, and Brianna N. Banks.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Hagen Rooke has joined the firm’s Singapore office as a partner in its Financial Regulatory Practice Group.
Commenting on his arrival, William Hallatt, Hong Kong partner and Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Financial Regulatory Practice Group, said: “We have seen rapid growth in our financial regulatory and fintech practices, and Hagen’s arrival will add firepower to our team. He is a top-ranked expert who is well known throughout the region, and who regularly works with regulators and industry associations across Asia.”
“On a personal note, having worked with Hagen in the past, I’m pleased to once again have him as a colleague,” he added.
“The Gibson Dunn team works with a range of fantastic clients and has made some eye-catching hires internationally, so I’m thrilled to become part of the team,” Hagen said.
Gibson Dunn has significantly expanded its financial regulatory offering in the past year, with the arrival of partners Jason Cabral and Ro Spaziani (New York), partner Sara Weed (Washington, D.C.), and of counsel Sameera Kimatrai (Dubai).
About Hagen Rooke
Hagen advises on regulatory applications and notifications, conduct of business matters, and governance and risk management. He also advises on regulatory investigations and enforcement matters, and terms of business, outsourcing, and brokerage agreements. His clients include financial institutions and corporates, such as banks, brokers, fund managers, and exchanges, as well as commodity groups and proprietary trading firms.
The Chambers Fintech Guide ranks Hagen in Band 1 for FinTech Legal – Singapore; clients say that he “consistently offers innovative solutions that address both the letter and the spirit of regulatory requirements.”
He earned his Bachelor of Laws (Distinction) from the University of Sussex and his Doctorate in Public International Law (Magna Cum Laude) from Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Paris. Hagen is admitted to practice in England and Wales. He is also able to practice in permitted areas of Singapore Law under Section 36B of the Legal Profession Act.
On Friday, December 20, Gibson Dunn and Solomon Simmons Law filed a reply brief in the appeal of a dismissed civil rights lawsuit. The case arises out of the death of Terence Crutcher, who was unarmed and had his hands raised, when he was shot and killed by a Tulsa police officer in 2016.
On September 16, 2016, Officer Betty Shelby approached Mr. Crutcher as he was walking down the street and then violently escalated the encounter to deadly force within minutes. Mr. Crutcher’s killing is captured on video—which was released shortly after his death following public outrage. At the time he was killed, Mr. Crutcher’s hands were raised, he had no weapon, and he was not under arrest. The Tulsa County District Attorney charged the officer with first-degree manslaughter, but she was acquitted after trial in May 2017. Mr. Crutcher’s Estate brought a civil rights lawsuit against the officer and the City of Tulsa in June 2017, but the lower court granted the officer qualified immunity and dismissed the Estate’s claims against the City for unconstitutional police practices. Those rulings are now on appeal.
The reply brief responds to several arguments made by Officer Shelby and the City of Tulsa. It notes that the Court cannot set aside the devastating video evidence showing that Officer Shelby needlessly pursued and killed an unarmed man who had his arms raised in the air. The brief further notes that any disputes about how to interpret the video of Mr. Crutcher’s killing should be resolved at trial by the jury. The reply brief also explains that the Estate has made sufficient allegations showing a widespread, unconstitutional culture and practice at the Tulsa Police Department of “shoot first, ask questions later.” For example, the complaint includes statistics showing that Black Tulsans are stopped, cited, arrested, jailed, and subjected to excessive force at disproportionate rates. Between 2012 and 2016 (when Mr. Cruther was killed), Black Tulsans were arrested twice as often as any other race in the City of Tulsa.
The filing of the reply brief means that this case is fully briefed and ready to be heard by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral argument is expected to be held early next year.
Karin Portlock, partner at Gibson Dunn, stated: “We look forward to presenting the Estate’s case to the Tenth Circuit. Terence Crutcher had his hands raised and posed no threat to anyone when Officer Shelby shot and killed him. Qualified immunity should not have been granted, and this case should proceed to trial. We are honored to represent the Crutcher family in their continued pursuit of justice for Terence Crutcher’s unjust killing.”
Damario Solomon-Simmons of Solomon Simmons Law also stated: “While I am confident that after watching the video of an unarmed, non-threatening Terence being shot while his hands were in the air, the Tenth Circuit will reverse the district court’s unjust dismissal of our case, we remain heartbroken that Terence’s unnecessary and unconstitutional shooting took him away from his loving family and community. Today, as I have for the last eight years as their lead counsel and decades-long family friend, I stand with the Crutcher family to remember Terence, and look forward to the Tenth Circuit allowing us the chance to hold the City of Tulsa and Officer Betty Shelby accountable for his death.”
Gibson Dunn has elected 35 lawyers to its partnership, effective January 1, 2025.
Commenting on the partnership class, Gibson Dunn Chair and Managing Partner Barbara L. Becker said: “These outstanding attorneys play an important role in the life of our firm and do extraordinary work on behalf of our clients—we are excited to see everything they will continue to accomplish as members of our partnership.”
The newly elected partners are:
John Adams (Litigation / Dallas) is a Texas-focused trial lawyer whose practice involves complex commercial disputes, with an emphasis on disputes in Texas and in the oil and gas industry. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2015.
Cassie Therese Aprile (International Arbitration and Litigation / London) focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation and international arbitration, representing clients across a broad range of industry sectors. She received her LL.B. from the University of Queensland in 2008.
Maxwell Ball (Mergers and Acquisitions / New York) has experience in a broad range of mergers and acquisitions transactions, with a particular focus on representing private equity sponsors in leveraged buyout acquisitions, joint venture transactions, divestitures, minority investments, leveraged recapitalizations, restructuring transactions, and other complex corporate transactions. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 2015.
Abbey A. Barrera (Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation / San Francisco) focuses on privacy and technology litigation, counseling, and regulatory matters, and represents several technology and social media companies in complex privacy class actions. She graduated from New York University School of Law in 2014.
Alex Bluett (Projects / Paris) is an energy and infrastructure specialist, advising all types of clients (infra funds, industrials, developers, funders) across all asset classes (infrastructure, renewable energy, energy transition) in relation to their industrial contracts, their financings, and their M&A transactions. He received his law degree from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law in 2008.
Tyler Cohen (Private Equity / Hong Kong) has experience across a broad range of private equity, M&A and corporate matters across the Asia-Pacific region, including leveraged buy-outs, growth equity investments, convertible instruments, infrastructure investments, and general corporate governance. He received his law degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2015.
Dana Lynn Craig (Litigation / San Francisco) leads the most consequential discovery challenges our clients encounter, establishing herself as an authority in effectively and efficiently guiding all stages of the process, including motion practice, oral argument, and framing trial themes. She graduated from Stanford Law School in 2007.
Jakob Egle (Private Equity / London) is an experienced private equity lawyer who assists sponsor clients with purchase agreements, shareholder arrangements, management equity plans, and other transactional requirements in a cross-border context. He received his LL.M. from Columbia Law School in 2015.
Sara Ghalandari (Land Use and Development / San Francisco) focuses her practice on land use law, advising clients on all aspects of land use and development, including entitlement processes, zoning regulations, environmental documentation, and transactional agreements between private and public entities. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2010.
Gina Hancock (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits / Dallas) focuses her practice on compensation and employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions and initial public offerings, including advising on incentive plans, employment and severance agreements, ERISA benefit plans, and corporate governance matters. She earned her JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015.
Nick Harper (Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice / Washington, D.C.) specializes in appeals and administrative law, with a particular focus on representing clients in the crypto sector. He received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 2015.
Grace E. Hart (Litigation / New York) represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial, employment, and trade secret litigation in federal and state courts, and has significant experience in matters involving emerging and established technology companies. She received her law degree from Yale Law School in 2016.
Scott K. Hvidt (Litigation / Dallas) focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and trial advocacy and is particularly experienced in antitrust litigation and commercial disputes in Texas courts. He earned his JD from Columbia Law School in 2015.
James Jennings (Tax / New York) has a broad transactional tax practice with a focus on complex M&A and capital markets transactions, as well as a variety of tax advisory matters, and particular experience in partnership taxation. He received his law degree from the University of Virgina School of Law in 2015.
Michael J. Kahn (Securities Litigation / San Francisco) focuses his practice on securities litigation, including shareholder class actions and derivative lawsuits. He earned his JD from New York University School of Law in 2012.
Harrison A. Korn (Mergers and Acquisitions / Washington, D.C.) advises public and private companies, private equity firms, boards of directors and special committees in a wide variety of complex corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, asset sales and other carve-out transactions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, joint ventures, and strategic investments and corporate governance matters. He earned his JD from Yale Law School in 2014.
Allison Kostecka (Securities Litigation / Denver) focuses her practice on securities litigation and complex civil litigation and has advised clients facing a broad range of commercial disputes in state and federal courts, as well as with regulatory agencies. She graduated from Duke University School of Law in 2010.
Poonam G. Kumar (White Collar Defense and Investigations / Los Angeles) focuses her practice on white collar criminal defense and investigations, litigation, and trials, helping clients in a wide range of industries navigate complex civil and criminal matters. She received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2007.
Melanie E. Neary (Capital Markets and Life Sciences / San Francisco) advises clients in the life sciences industry on a wide range of complex transactions and matters, with a particular focus on capital markets and private company financings and securities regulation and corporate governance. She earned her JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 2016.
Daniel Nowicki (Appellate and Constitutional Law / Los Angeles) focuses his practice on complex civil litigation—with an emphasis on trial advocacy and appellate brief-writing—and has litigated numerous cases at the trial and appellate level, as well as in arbitration. He received his law degree from New York University School of Law in 2014.
Andrew Robb (Intellectual Property / Palo Alto) has a wide range of experience litigating intellectual property disputes, with a focus on patent litigation. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 2013.
Sophie C. Rohnke (Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation / Dallas) has broad experience defending clients in regulatory investigations and high-profile class actions, with a particular focus on technology companies facing consumer protection and data privacy issues. She received her law degree from the University of Oxford Faculty of Law and her LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2011.
Elizabeth Romefelt (Mergers and Acquisitions / New York) has experience in a broad range of M&A transactions, including representation of both public and private companies and financial sponsors in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, minority investments, restructurings and other complex corporate transactions. She received her JD from The University of Texas School of Law in 2014.
David P. Salant (Litigation / New York) has a broad litigation practice focused on complex commercial, securities, and white-collar disputes in state and federal courts. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 2015.
Dennis Seifarth (Private Equity / Munich) focuses on private equity and M&A transactions and advises clients on complex domestic and cross-border acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, divestiture transactions, management equity programs, joint ventures, and all aspects of their M&A activities. He received his law degree in 2008 and his Dr. iur. in 2015 from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena Faculty of Law.
Stephen D. Silverman (Business Restructuring and Reorganization / New York) focuses on a broad range of restructuring and special situations matters, including comprehensive in and out of court restructurings, recapitalizations, financings and complex liability management transactions, in each case with a focus on creditor and investor side representations. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015.
Prerna Soni (Real Estate / San Francisco) has a broad real estate practice that includes acquisitions, joint ventures, mortgage and mezzanine financings, workouts, debt restructurings, and foreclosures. She received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2014.
Wesley Sze (Class Actions / Palo Alto) represents clients in class actions and complex civil litigation, with a particular focus on disputes at the intersection of law, technology, and privacy. He received his law degree from Stanford Law School in 2015.
Kate Timmerman (Investment Funds / New York) specializes in the establishment and operation of private funds, as well as advising fund managers with respect to GP-led secondary transactions and advising investors with respect to their investment in private funds and transfers of interest from such funds. She earned her LL.B. from Bond University Faculty of Law in 2012.
Todd J. Trattner (Life Sciences / San Francisco) focuses on intellectual property transactions in the life sciences industry, including royalty financings, licensing transactions, commercial agreements, asset acquisitions, and advising on complex intellectual property issues in connection with M&A and financing transactions. He earned his JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2011.
Jessica L. Wagner (Appellate and Constitutional Law / Washington, D.C.) is an appellate litigator who brings her strong analytical skills to a range of practice areas, including administrative law, judgment enforcement, and torts, helping clients present crisp arguments before all levels of federal and state courts. She earned her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2015.
Frances Waldmann (Artificial Intelligence / Los Angeles) advises clients in global regulatory compliance and enforcement, product counseling, litigation, and transactional matters related to artificial intelligence, data privacy, and emerging technologies. She received her law degree from the University of Oxford Faculty of Law in 2009.
Geoffrey E. Walter (Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance / Washington, D.C.) focuses his practice on advising public companies on a wide range of securities and governance matters, including corporate governance, shareholder activism, SEC compliance, annual meetings, investor engagement, and executive compensation. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 2013.
Adam Whitehouse (Mergers and Acquisitions / Houston) focuses his practice on M&A and advises clients ranging from private equity sponsors and portfolio companies to public companies, with particular experience in the energy space, including related to oil and gas, energy transition, oilfield services, and tax credit sales. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2010.
David A. Wolber (International Trade / Hong Kong) focuses on international trade and financial crime regulatory matters, spearheading the firm’s International Trade offerings in Asia, particularly around economic sanctions, export and import controls, cross border investment controls, and general geopolitical and national security-based advisory matters. He earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2011.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Emily Naughton has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner and member of the firm’s Projects and Infrastructure and Real Estate Practice Groups. Emily will continue to focus on real estate and infrastructure transactions, representing many of the largest owners and operators of data center facilities in the country.
“We are thrilled to welcome Emily to Gibson Dunn,” said Eric Feuerstein, Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. “Emily combines core real estate and transactional skillsets with exceptionally deep experience in the data center industry. With the global growth in AI, we are seeing and will continue to see an unprecedented rise in data center investments, and Emily’s experience representing top industry players will be an invaluable asset to our clients.”
“I’m excited to join the Gibson Dunn team,” said Emily. “Gibson Dunn’s premier platform is an excellent foundation on which to further build my practice. The firm’s talent is unmatched, and I look forward to working alongside this incredibly collaborative team.”
Gibson Dunn continues to attract top legal talent amidst one of the fastest growth periods in our history. In addition to Emily’s arrival, in the U.S. the firm has recently announced the joining of former Google Chief Privacy Officer Keith Enright, private credit partner Ryan Kim, special situations partner Caith Kushner, energy regulatory partner Tory Lauterbach, executive compensation and employee benefits partner Kate Napalkova, trial lawyer Liz Ryan, M&A partner George Sampas, private equity partner Brian Scrivani, regulatory finance partner Ro Spaziani, and real estate finance partners Krystyna Blakeslee and Michael Weinberger.
About Emily Naughton
Emily’s practice combines her core real estate and transactional background with deep industry expertise in the data center industry. Emily advises clients on a broad array of commercial real estate transactions, with an emphasis on digital infrastructure. She represents data center owners, developers, operators, and investors globally in connection with acquisition and development projects, disposition and transition of data center facilities, and data center leases and collocation agreements.
Gibson Dunn advised Delivery Hero and talabat in connection with the initial public offering (IPO) and listing of talabat on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), marking the largest technology sector IPO globally and the largest IPO in the GCC in 2024. This is the second year running that Gibson Dunn was issuer’s counsel on the largest IPO in the UAE, following last year’s $2.5 billion ADNOC Gas IPO.
The IPO, which raised gross proceeds of approximately $2 billion, resulting in an implied market capitalization of c.$10.1 billion, also marks the first-ever technology sector IPO on DFM.
talabat is the leading on-demand online food ordering, delivery, takeaway, and groceries and convenience retail marketplace in the MENA region, with operations in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Jordan, and Iraq.
The Gibson Dunn team comprised partners Marwan Elaraby, Jade Chu, and Ibrahim Soumrany; associates Omar Morsy, Krishna Parikh, Ashley Cywicki, Vlad Zinovyev, Rachel Treasure, Anthony Forde, Huw Thomas, Ian Mwiti Mathenge, and Sherif Hashem; and staff attorney Hazim Alfreahat.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Osman Nawaz has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner and member of the firm’s Securities Enforcement and White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Groups. Osman will advise clients on internal and government investigations and enforcement actions, as well as follow-on civil litigation and compliance-related issues.
“Osman is an exceptional addition to our Securities Enforcement team,” said Mark Schonfeld, Co-Chair of the firm’s Securities Enforcement Practice Group. “Having led a wide variety of complex investigations for many years throughout the United States during his time at the SEC, Osman will further enhance our already strong national practice. His ability to guide clients through the complexities of today’s enforcement environment is invaluable.”
“I’m thrilled and humbled to join Gibson Dunn,” said Osman. “The firm’s leading reputation across disciplines and in litigation and securities enforcement makes this an ideal platform for my return to private practice after the privilege of government service. I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues as we help clients navigate the most critical and complex issues in investigations and securities law.”
Gibson Dunn’s Securities Enforcement Practice Group advises clients on matters ranging from complex “bet the company” investigations and litigation to preventive compliance and targeted training of investment professionals and corporate officials. With a deeply experienced team spanning multiple offices, the group collaborates seamlessly to deliver holistic strategies. This is vitally important for securities issues, which often require a multi-pronged strategy for managing civil litigation in the trial and appellate courts, parallel regulatory enforcement actions, and related matters challenging the conduct of founders, officers, directors, and major shareholders.
About Osman Nawaz
Osman served the government for more than 14 years across multiple administrations. He held numerous leadership roles at the agency, including most recently serving as a Senior Officer and National Unit Chief in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Enforcement. As head of the agency’s Complex Financial Instruments Unit, a national group focused on complex products and trading, he led a team of SEC lawyers, a dedicated data analyst, and industry experts located in seven SEC offices, including its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Osman worked in parallel with the Department of Justice, CFTC, state and foreign regulators, and other authorities. He oversaw numerous first-in-kind actions and many of the SEC’s most complex investigations covering the entire breadth of the SEC’s subject matter involving investment advisers, broker-dealers, issuers, rating agencies, and other market participants.
Prior to becoming a Senior Officer, Osman served as an Assistant Regional Director and Senior Counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the SEC’s New York Regional Office. Before joining the SEC, he was an associate at an international law firm.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Will McDonald has joined the firm’s London office as a partner in its Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group.
Will has considerable experience in advising on complex cross-border M&A and brings deep expertise to U.K. public M&A transactions. During his two-year secondment at the U.K. Takeover Panel, he was involved in regulating over 250 transactions including Anheuser-Busch InBev’s £71 billion offer for SABMiller, the biggest takeover in U.K. corporate history.
Commenting on Will’s arrival, George Sampas, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group, said: “Will’s experience in complex mergers and acquisitions makes him an important addition to our London deal team. Clients will benefit, in particular, from his first-hand experience at the UK Takeover Panel, which gives him an edge in U.K. public M&A deals.”
“With Gibson Dunn’s reputation for excellence and network of private equity and M&A lawyers working across geographies and industries, the opportunity to join the firm was too good to pass up,” said Will. “I’m looking forward to getting to work in the London office, which has made some fantastic hires in the deals space in recent years.”
Gibson Dunn recently expanded its transactional practices in London, welcoming private equity partner Will Summers, and finance partners Kavita Davis and David Irvine in the past year. Transactional partners Isabel Berger, Alice Brogi, Wim de Vlieger, Robert Dixon, Federico Fruhbeck, and Till Lefranc also joined the firm in London in recent years.
About Will McDonald
Will is an experienced M&A lawyer specializing in U.K. public and private M&A. He undertook a secondment to the U.K. Takeover Panel for two years, during which time he regulated more than 250 transactions covered by the Takeover Code. He works across a range of industries including defence, aerospace and aviation, technology, real estate, and natural resources. He is a Recommended Lawyer in Legal 500 United Kingdom for London: M&A Upper Mid-Market and Premium Deals. Will earned his M.A. Hons. (first class) in History from the Universities of Edinburgh and Washington.
Gibson Dunn has advised Strategic Value Partners (SVP) on the signing of its acquisition and financing of Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, a prime retail and leisure destination in Ireland.
Blanchardstown Centre is a major retail complex in north-west Dublin, covering 1.2 million square feet and housing over 180 shops and restaurants. With an annual footfall of approximately 17 million visitors and 5,500 parking spaces, it is one of Ireland’s leading shopping destinations.
The Gibson Dunn team was led by corporate partner Claibourne Harrison and included associates Emily Mattley and Paavni Anand. Partner Rob Carr and associates Christina Olliver, Chara Sherwood and Hannah Newhall advised on finance aspects.
Gibson Dunn advised GIC on its investment in Septeo, a prominent French software group serving the notaries, legal, hospitality, and real estate markets. The transaction values Septeo at more than €3 billion and includes an investment from Téthys Invest, the investment holding company of the Bettencourt-Meyers family. Closing is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
The Gibson Dunn team advising GIC was led by partners Till Lefranc and Ariel Harroch and included associate Mitasha Chandok.
The team also included associate Alison Pereira Martins (Corporate); partner Jérôme Delaurière (Tax); partner Vera Lukic and associate Clémence Pugnet (IP/IT/Data Protection/Cybersecurity); partner Nataline Fleury and associates Rym Gouizi and Noémie Massé (Employment); partner Stéphane Frank, of counsel Michelle Weinbaum and associate François Vanherck (Antitrust); partner Michelle Kirschner and associates Marija Bračković, Amy Cooke, Irene Polieri and Martin Coombes (Compliance and Regulatory).
Gibson Dunn advised global private equity firm KKR on its growth investment in Lighthouse, a leading data analytics and commercial intelligence platform for the travel and hospitality industry.
The Gibson Dunn team advising KKR was led by partner Wim De Vlieger, and was comprised of partner Isabel Berger, of counsel Michael Skouras, and associates Sarah Reder and Lena Tarrin.
The team also included partners Stephane Frank and Kristen Limarzi and associates Jan Przerwa and Jesse Schupack (Antitrust); partner Lore Leitner and associate Chris Puttock (IP/IT and Data Protection); partner Benjamin Fryer and associate Jason Richards (Tax); partner James Cox, of counsel Christina Andersen and associate Georgia Derbyshire (Employment).
Gibson Dunn is deeply saddened by the passing of our partner and friend, Theodore B. Olson, on November 13, 2024. A towering figure on the national stage, Ted was a once-in-a-generation lawyer – and a central part of Gibson Dunn’s legacy and success.
He was a founder of the firm’s Appellate and Constitutional Law Practice Group and served in many firm leadership positions as well as senior government roles, including Solicitor General of the United States.
“Ted was a titan of the legal profession and one of the most extraordinary and eloquent advocates of our time,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “He was creative, principled, and fearless – a trailblazing advocate who cared about all people. We mourn his loss profoundly and send our condolences to his wife Lady, a cherished member of our firm family, and to all of Ted’s loved ones.”
“Ted has been the heart and soul of Gibson Dunn for six decades and made us who we are today,” said Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., partner at Gibson Dunn. “He was not just an incomparable lawyer, mentor, role model, and friend, but he has made immeasurable contributions to the rule of law, our Constitution, and our country. We will miss him with all our hearts.”
In June 2024, the firm held a ceremony, attended by Ted, to christen the Theodore B. Olson Moot Courtroom in Los Angeles, in honor of his pioneering methods of appellate argument preparation and his bold and powerful style of delivery. May his memory be a blessing.
About Theodore B. Olson
Theodore B. Olson was Solicitor General of the United States during the period 2001 to 2004. From 1981 to 1984, he was Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice. Except for those two intervals, he was a lawyer with Gibson Dunn in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. since 1965.
Selected by TIME in 2010 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, Ted was one of the nation’s premier appellate and U.S. Supreme Court advocates.
He argued 65 cases in the Supreme Court, including the two Bush v. Gore cases arising out of the 2000 presidential election; Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission; Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case upholding the overturning of California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages; and U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, successfully challenging the Trump Administration’s rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Ted’s Supreme Court arguments included cases involving separation of powers; federalism; voting rights; the First Amendment; the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses; patents and copyrights; antitrust; taxation; property rights; punitive damages; the Commerce Clause; immigration; criminal law; securities; telecommunications; the internet; and other federal constitutional and statutory questions.
Ted served as private counsel to two Presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, in addition to serving those two Presidents in high-level positions in the Department of Justice.
He was twice awarded the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edmund J. Randolph Award, its highest award for public service and leadership, and also received the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Service Award, its highest civilian award, for his advocacy in the courts of the United States, including the Supreme Court.
Ted was appointed by President Barack Obama to the 10-member Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States as well as the Commission on White House Fellowships. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, the Board of Visitors of the Federalist Society, the Board of Directors of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Foundation. He previously served as a member of the President’s Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.
Ted was a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. He received his law degree in 1965 from the University of California, Berkeley where he was a Member of the California Law Review and Order of the Coif.
Gibson Dunn represented J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Santander US Capital Markets LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., BCP Securities, Inc., Latin Securities S.A. Agent de Valores and Balanz Capital Valores S.A.U., as (i) initial purchasers in connection with an issuance of US$141 million of 11.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the “New Notes”) by Generación Mediterránea S.A. and Central Térmica Roca S.A., and (ii) dealer managers in connection with an offer to exchange any and all of their 13.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2026, 12.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2027, and 9.625% Senior Notes due 2027 (collectively, the “Existing Notes”) for approximately $215 million of their 11.000% Senior Secured due 2031, and a related consent solicitation to amend certain provisions of the indentures governing their Existing Notes, to among other matters, substantially eliminate certain restrictive covenants and events of default.
The New Notes constitute senior secured and unsubordinated obligations and will be jointly and severally guaranteed by the Albanesi Energía S.A. and secured by a first-priority lien over assets and equipment located in Argentina. Generación Mediterránea S.A. and Central Térmica Roca S.A. are part of the Albanesi Group, an Argentine private corporate group involved in the energy sector.
The early settlement of the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation and closing of the issuance of New Notes occurred on October 30, 2024, and the final settlement of the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation occurred on November 8, 2024.
The Gibson Dunn corporate team was led by partner Tomer Pinkusiewicz and included of counsel Rodrigo Surcan and associate Paul Rafla. Partner Kathryn Kelly and associates Galya Savir and Jennifer Fitzgerald advised on tax aspects.
Gibson Dunn advised Neinor Homes, the leading listed residential property developer in Spain, on the issuance of its €325 million senior secured notes due 2030, which was oversubscribed four times.
Neinor Homes has issued its second Green Bond, upsizing the initial targeted amount from €300 million to €325 million, and has pledged that it will invest an amount equivalent to 100% of the proceeds in Eligible Green Projects.
Neinor Homes intends to allocate €175 million to repay its existing corporate debt facilities and increase its corporate debt by an additional €150 million to fund new growth opportunities and for general corporate purposes including land bank acquisitions, further co-investments and shareholder remuneration.
The Gibson Dunn capital markets team advising Neinor Homes was led by London partners Federico Fruhbeck and Hugo Hernández-Mancha, and of counsel Cason Moore. The finance team was led by Kavita Davis.
The firm acted alongside Uría Menendez, whose team was led by partner Gabriel Nuñez and associate Manuel Suero Roiz.
Gibson Dunn advised Wrexham AFC owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney on the sale of a minority stake in the club to the Allyn family of New York, the creation of a new joint venture with the Allyn family called Red Dragon Ventures, and the acquisition of Wrexham Lager, the oldest lager brewery still operating in the United Kingdom.
The Gibson Dunn corporate team was led by partner Stefan dePozsgay and included associates Ciarán Deeny, Joey Herman and Colette McNeela. Partner Pamela Lawrence Endreny and associates Adam Gregory, James Chandler and Michael Benison advised on tax aspects. Partner A.J. Frey advised on investment funds aspects; and partner Kevin Bettsteller advised on regulatory aspects.