Michael Nicklin is a partner in the Dubai office and a partner (non-resident) in the Hong Kong office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. He has worked in the debt markets in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the USA for over 24 years. Michael’s practice covers a broad range of debt financing transactions, with particularly extensive experience in cross-border leveraged finance. He 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, real estate financing, junior capital, convertible debt, fund-level financings, restructurings and other event-driven financings. He has acted for many leading private equity sponsors, including Advent International, Bain Capital, Baring Private Equity Asia, Blackstone, Carlyle, Goldman Sachs, Hillhouse Capital, I Squared Capital, KKR and TPG.

Michael is consistently recognized as a leading finance lawyer in all of the major legal directories. Chambers Asia Pacific, Chambers Global and Chambers Greater China Region all rank him for Leveraged and Acquisition Finance. In the Chambers Greater China 2023 edition, an interviewee noted “Michael is an outstanding practitioner…his level of service and market knowledge is second to none.” In the 2022 edition, a source noted that “[he is] an extremely high-calibre professional [who] brings deep expertise and commerciality to deliver great outcomes.” He is also recognized as a leading lawyer and member of the Hall of Fame for Banking and Finance by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and as a leading lawyer for Private Equity by IFLR1000. Euromoney’s Expert Guides has named Michael to its Banking, Finance and Transactional Guide. In the most recent The Legal 500 Asia Pacific guides, clients were quoted saying, “Michael Nicklin is the standout sponsor side financing lawyer in the Asia market. He is creative, commercially savvy and technically excellent,” “[he is an] eminent practitioner and legal heavyweight in sponsor driven leverage finance,” and “[he has] has a great grasp of market positions and always drives for the best possible terms for his borrower clients who are often financial sponsors.”

Before joining Gibson Dunn in 2017, Michael 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. Michael received his Bachelor of Laws from Hertfordshire University in 1995 and his Postgraduate Diploma from Staffordshire University in 1996. He is admitted to practice in Hong Kong, the State of New York and England and Wales. Michael is a frequent speaker and author on leveraged finance, syndicated lending and private equity.