Chris Haynes and Steve Thierbach Discuss SpaceX IPO With Legal Business

In the Media  |  July 6, 2026

Legal Business

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“This was a successful transaction where U.K. retail contributed meaningfully in terms of sums raised,” said partner Chris Haynes of the SpaceX IPO in a Legal Business (subscription required) article.

Chris, along with partner Steve Thierbach, was part of the Gibson Dunn cross-border team that advised SpaceX on the listing.

Chris added: “I think one of the spin-offs of this will be additional interest in IPOs by U.K. retail investors, and hopefully a boost to the equity culture more generally.”

Looking ahead, Steve told Legal Business: “If a retail shareholding culture develops, there’s a real prospect of the London market becoming more attractive to more companies — they tend to see a big, retail shareholder base as more stable.

“There is much more optimism today than there was 12 months ago. I wouldn’t say we expect double the number of IPOs, but a much higher number.”