​Michael Nicklin is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Finance Practice Group.

Mr. Nicklin’s practice covers a broad range of debt financing transactions across the Asia-Pacific region.  He has particularly extensive experience in cross-border leveraged finance and regularly advises top-tier private equity sponsors and other sophisticated investors on complex leveraged financing including, cross-border acquisition financings (including public to private transactions) recapitalizations and workouts.  He also has significant experience in special situations transactions, direct lending, bridge financing, margin financing, rescue financing, junior capital, convertible debt, restructurings and other event-driven financings.

Mr. Nicklin is consistently recognized as one of Asia-Pacific’s leading finance lawyers in all of the major legal directories. Chambers Asia Pacific and Chambers Global both rank Mr. Nicklin in Band 1 for Leveraged & Acquisition Finance.  He is also recognized as a “Leading Individual” for Banking & Finance by Legal 500 Asia Pacific and as a “Leading Lawyer” for Private Equity by IFLR1000.  Euromoney’s Expert Guides has named Mr. Nicklin to its Banking, Finance and Transactional Guide.  Recent recognitions include:

• “one of the best negotiators I have ever worked with” (Chambers Asia Pacific 2017);
• “a recognised leader in leveraged finance, and ‘very good lawyer’” (Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2017);
• “interviewees admire his ability to ‘get the best terms for his clients on deals, drawing on his experience from transactions in a range of jurisdictions’ especially as he has negotiating ability and tenacity’” (Chambers Asia Pacific 2016);
• “a leader in sponsor-side leveraged finance, thanks to the presence of Michael Nicklin” (Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2016);
• “Michael Nicklin is admired for his in-depth knowledge of acquisition finance. He is praised for his ‘encyclopaedic market knowledge, incisive brain’ and ability to ‘recognise the commercial needs of the situation’” (Chambers Asia Pacific 2015); and
• “Leveraged specialist Michael Nicklin is recommended” (Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2015).

Mr. Nicklin is a frequent speaker and author on acquisition finance and syndicated lending.

Mr. Nicklin gained his LL.B. from Hertfordshire University in 1995 and his PG Dip from Staffordshire University in 1996. He is admitted to practice in Hong Kong, the State of New York and England and Wales.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Mr. Nicklin led the Asia Finance at Ropes & Gray LLP in Hong Kong where he practiced since 2011 and prior to that was a finance partner in the London office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Representative Matters

• Icon Group (a portfolio company of Goldman Sachs PIA, QIC and Pagoda Investments) in connection with its A$735 million and HK$401 million first-lien / second-lien Term Loan B refinancing.
• Goldman Sachs PIA, QIC and Pagoda Investments on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of Icon Cancer Care.
• A Bain Capital led consortium in the US$500 million acquisition of Trans Maldivian Airways, the largest seaplane operator in the Maldives.
• Bain Capital
  • on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of MYOB
  • on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of Skylark
  • on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of BankLink New Zealand
  • on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of Retail Zoo
  • on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of Only About Children
  • on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of Camp Australia
  • on its acquisition financing for its majority acquisition of Carver Korea Co., Ltd
  • on its acquisition financing for its acquisition of a 50% stake in Jupiter Shop Japan Co., Ltd
  • on its acquisition financing relating to L&T Holdings
• Baring in connection with its acquisition of a 40% stake in Weetabix
• Blackstone on its acquisition financing for its take-private acquisition of Pactera Technology International Ltd.
• Carlyle on its proposed acquisition financing for its acquisition of Metropolis Healthcare Limited
• CPPIB on the acquisition financing relating to its acquisition of an approximately 20% stake in Homeplus, Tesco’s South Korean business
• TPG on its acquisition financing for its take-private acquisition of ShangPharma Corporation
• Bellsystem24 Corporation (a portfolio company of Bain Capital) in connection with refinancings and recapitalizations
• Jupiter Shop Japan Co., Ltd (a portfolio company of Bain Capital) in connection with refinancings and recapitalizations
• MYOB (a portfolio company of Bain Capital) in connection with an ASX-listed  retail notes issuance, multiple refinancings, recapitalizations and cross-over credit facilities
• D&M Holdings (a portfolio company of Bain Capital) in connection with its senior, senior mezzanine and junior mezzanine facilities
• MEI Conlux (a portfolio company of Bain Capital and Advantage Partners) in connection with its senior and mezzanine facilities
• Multiple Global Private Equity Funds in connection with confidential margin financings and back-leverage facilities
• Multiple Private Equity Funds in connection with capital call and subscription facilities
• The Proprietary Trading Desk of a Global Investment Bank in connection with a proposed acquisition of an Indian debt portfolio
• The Proprietary Trading Desk of a Global Investment Bank in connection with the acquisition of debt issued in connection with the restructuring of a leading investment company in Kuwait
• The Proprietary Trading Desk of a Global Investment Bank in connection with a number of balance sheet restructurings involving new money investments through secured redeemable non-convertible debentures in Indian conglomerates
• Multi-National Hedge Fund in connection with the acquisition of distressed investments in Vietnam
• Multi-National Hedge Fund in connection with the acquisition of distressed investments in China
• Multi-National Hedge Fund in connection with the acquisition of distressed investments in Africa
• Multi-National Hedge Fund in connection with the acquisition of distressed investments in UAE