Michelle Kirschner is an English law partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and Co-Chair of the firm’s Financial Regulatory Practice Group. She advises a broad range of financial institutions, including investment managers, integrated investment banks, corporate finance boutiques, private fund managers and private wealth managers at the most senior level. Michelle has a particular expertise in fintech businesses, having advised a number of fintech firms on regulatory perimeter issues.
Michelle works closely with the Corporate team on financial services capital markets and M&A deals, in particular on investments by funds into regulated firms and related prudential issues.
Michelle has extensive experience in advising clients on areas such as systems and controls, market abuse, conduct of business and regulatory change management, including MiFID II, MAR and Senior Managers & Certification Regime. Following the EU referendum, she has spent considerable time advising regulated clients in relation to their options for conducting business in / into the EU following Brexit.
Michelle has particular experience in contentious regulatory matters, including acting as a section 166 skilled person under the Financial Services and Markets Act. She has also conducted internal investigations, in particular reviews of corporate governance and systems and controls in the context of EU and UK regulatory requirements and expectations.
Michelle is ranked as a leading lawyer by The Legal 500 UK 2024 and Chambers UK 2024 for Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory. In addition, she is recognised by the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom as a leading lawyer for Financial Services.
Capabilities
- Artificial Intelligence
- ESG: Risk, Litigation, and Reporting
- Financial Institutions
- Financial Regulatory
- Fintech and Digital Assets
- Investment Funds
- Securities Enforcement
- White Collar Defense and Investigations
Credentials
Education:
- City University London - 2001 Bar Vocational Course
- University of Birmingham - 2000 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Admissions:
- England & Wales - Solicitor