Lawyers Archive

Ryan Searfoorce is of counsel in the Houston office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher practicing in the firm’s Finance, Oil and Gas, Cleantech, and Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Groups.

Ryan represents public and private borrowers, private equity sponsors, senior secured lender groups, financial institutions and other capital sources in financing transactions, including asset-based loans, senior and subordinated debt, investment grade loans, reserve-based loans and commodity intermediation facilities with a focus on the energy sector. Ryan also represents senior secured lender groups in LME transactions, consensual restructurings and debtor-in-possession and bankruptcy exit financings.

Representative Clients and Transactions:

Borrower Representations

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc., a global manufacturing company, serving the oil, natural gas, industrial and renewable energy industries, on its $100 million senior secured Norwegian bond issuance
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. in its corporate conversion from a controlled publicly traded partnership to a non-controlled Delaware corporation newly listed on Nasdaq
ProFrac Holding Corp. on the $885 million refinancing of its existing senior secured term loan and other debt with a private offering of senior secured notes and a secured term loan
Calumet Shreveport Fuels, LLC in its up to 2.9 million barrel crude and products intermediation facility with Macquarie
Calumet Montana Refining, LLC in its up to 1.9 million barrel crude and products intermediation facility with Macquarie
Montana Renewables, LLC in its up to 600,000 barrel crude and products intermediation facility with Macquarie
Montana Renewables, LLC in its $120 million crude and products intermediation facility with Wells Fargo

Acquisition Financing

CenterPoint Energy in its disposition of Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, LLC for $2.6 billion, including a $1.2 billion seller note
Ovintiv Inc. in its $2.7 billion acquisition of NuVista Energy Ltd. and related $1.2 billion acquisition financing credit agreement
Noble Corporation in the sale of five rigs to Borr Drilling for $360 million, including a $150 million seller note
Aethon Energy Management LLC in connection with its $260 million agreement to purchase Tellurian Inc.’s upstream oil & gas assets
Veritas Capital in its $210 million senior secured credit facilities to fund the acquisition of Global Healthcare Exchange
Constellation Wealth Capital in its $410 million credit facility to fund the acquisition of a minority stake in Merit Financial Advisors

Restructuring Matters

Ad hoc group of secured lenders to WideOpenWest Finance, LLC in its $200 million Super-Priority Credit Agreement
Controlling group of first lien lenders to Juice Plus+ in its consensual restructuring and $22 million of new first lien term loans
Controlling group of first lien lenders to Confluence Technologies in its consensual restructuring and $60 million of new first lien term loans
Controlling group of first lien lenders to Dynata, LLC in its $32 million Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement and $82 million Bankruptcy Exit Credit Agreement
Controlling group of second-lien lenders to Alvogen Pharma US, Inc. in its consensual restructuring and $117 million Second Lien Credit Agreement
Ad hoc group of secured lenders to City Brewing Company, LLC in its incurrence of $35 million of superpriority term loans
Ad hoc group of secured lenders to Hearthside Food Solutions in its $150 million Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement and $725 million Bankruptcy Exit Credit Agreement

Ryan received his Juris Doctor from The University of Virginia School of Law in 2008. Prior to law school, he graduated from Ohio State University in 2005, where he received Bachelors of Science in mathematics and economics, with honors.

Rebecca is a litigation associate in the D.C. office of Gibson Dunn.

Rebecca received her J.D. with honors from the George Washington University Law School, earning a J.D. concentration in Privacy, Data Security and Technology. At GW Law, she was a member of the Federal Communications Law Journal and received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for over 250 pro bono hours. During law school, Rebecca interned at the Federal Election Commission.

Prior to law school, Rebecca worked as a litigation paralegal at a large firm and received her B.A. cum laude in Political Science from Barnard College.

Rebecca is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.

Carolyn Abram is a partner in the Dubai office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the Investment Funds, Financial Regulatory, Private Equity, Projects & Infrastructure and Real Estate Practice Groups.

Carolyn primarily represents fund sponsors on the structuring, formation, and operation of private investment funds across asset classes, delivering successful fund launches for emerging and spin out managers as well as some of the most established regional and global asset managers. Having practiced UAE fund formation for over 9 years, she has a proven track record in navigating the legal and regulatory intricacies of large scale, complex cross border funds and also applies her innovative and solution-oriented approach to other bespoke investment arrangements, including seed and stake arrangements with anchor investors, asset manager joint venture agreements, co-investment and warehousing arrangements, carried interest arrangements, and fund restructurings. Carolyn additionally advises on regulatory and structural matters relating to the operations of asset managers in the Middle East, particularly for global asset managers seeking to enter the UAE market.

Carolyn’s deep market knowledge also enables her to advise significant institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, seeking to deploy capital into a range of investment structures including open- and closed-ended funds, separate managed account arrangements, co-investments, and other bespoke private placements across asset classes.

Her international perspective is shaped by her experience practicing law from London, New York, and the UAE, and she has been seconded to both the New York and London offices of one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers.

Carolyn is ranked for her funds expertise by Chambers and The Legal 500. She is admitted to practice in England and Wales, and is registered legal consultant with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department.

Clients note that “Carolyn has an absolute depth of knowledge in funds. She has extensive experience of private equity funds and is also readily available and a pleasure to deal with” (Chambers Global) and “she is commercial and understands our needs when it comes to negotiating with stakeholders” (Chambers Global). Clients also regard Carolyn as “outstanding in her responsiveness, innovative solutions and can do attitude. Nothing is too much and everything is undertaken with utmost professionalism.” (Legal 500 EMEA).

Representative Experience*

Fund Formation: Represented and advised multiple investment managers (GCC and global) on the establishment of open- and closed-ended private investment funds across asset classes, domiciled across the GCC and internationally, including:

$2 billion “fund of hedge funds” in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM);
$1.5 billion MENA infrastructure fund primarily domiciled in the ADGM and operated by a global asset manager;
Venture debt fund targeting $250 million domiciled in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC);
$220 million MENA private equity fund in the ADGM;
$300 million Shari’a-compliant private credit fund domiciled in the Cayman Islands with a DIFC asset manager, targeting both MENA and US investments;
$1 billion MENA infrastructure fund with a structure involving both GCC and international vehicles;
$250 million venture capital fund domiciled in the ADGM, targeting incubator investments;
$150 million MENA private credit fund in the ADGM, one of the first funds to be classified as a Private Credit Fund under the ADGM rules;
$500 million real estate fund domiciled in the DIFC; and
Cayman domiciled fund of funds structured as a segregated portfolio company and managed by a DIFC asset manager;

While seconded in-house to one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, assisted with raising private funds across private equity, real estate, and infrastructure platforms, including one of the largest private infrastructure funds ever raised at the time.

Investor Representation: Represents multiple Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other sovereign wealth funds, family offices and institutional investors on the investment of billions of US dollars, including into private funds across asset classes, separate managed accounts, co-investments, and funds-of-one.

Financial Services Regulatory: Regularly provides advice on UAE asset manager regulation, and fund distribution for the GCC region to international investment managers.

*Includes representations prior to Carolyn’s association with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Erin Kim is an associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She currently practices with the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Erin has a wide base of experience in all stages of intellectual property litigation, and has been a member of multiple trial teams. She also has experience in various federal courts, including the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the District of Delaware, and the Northern and Central Districts of California. Erin has worked on cases for high-tech, media, and consumer product clients, addressing patent, trademark, and other intellectual property issues.

Erin joined the firm in 2023 after serving as a law clerk for the Honorable Eric N. Vitaliano of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Erin received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 2022 from New York University School of Law, where she was an Articles Editor of the New York University Law Review. She was also a Robert McKay Scholar and a recipient of the Edmond Cahn Law Review Award. While in law school, Erin served as a civil litigation intern with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Erin received her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature with departmental and general honors in 2016 from the University of Chicago.

Erin is admitted to practice in the State of New York.

Francesco Mancuso is an associate in the London office of Gibson Dunn and is a member of the Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project and Infrastructure and Capital Markets Practice Groups.

Francesco regularly advises private equity and corporate clients on a wide range of cross-border corporate and M&A transactions. He also has experience advising issuers, selling shareholders, and underwriters on a variety of significant SEC-registered and unregistered capital markets transactions, particularly on initial public offerings, private placements, and other equity and debt transactions as well as advising on white collar investigation-related diligence in the context of broader corporate transactions. Francesco is triple-qualified in New York, England & Wales, and Italy.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Francesco practised in the New York, London and Milan offices of other major international law firms.

Luca Bernini is of counsel in the London office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups.

His practice focuses on cross-border private equity transactions in Europe. With more than a decade of experience in Italy as a corporate lawyer, Luca is an active member of the Italian practice of the firm. Luca is triple-qualified in England & Wales, New York, and Italy.

Luca has also extensive experience in venture capital and growth equity transactions, including early and later stage investments following NVCA and BVCA standards. He has also gained experience advising on white collar investigation-related diligence in the context of broader corporate transactions.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, he practised in the London and Milan offices of an international law firm and in the Milan office of a domestic law firm.

Luca received his law degree with honors from Università Commerciale L. Bocconi in Milan in 2008 and a Master of Laws with honors from Columbia Law School, New York, in 2012, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Luca is a native Italian speaker and is fluent in English.

Jamie France is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Practice Group.

Jamie represents clients in merger and non-merger investigations before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, as well as in complex private and government antitrust litigation. She also counsels clients on a range of antitrust merger and conduct matters. Her experience encompasses a broad set of industries, including healthcare, technology, consumer goods, retail, pharmaceuticals, software, financial services, medical devices, and gaming. Jamie has been recognized in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Antitrust Law and Litigation – Antitrust.

Jamie joined the firm after six years as an attorney in the Mergers IV Division of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition, where she served in lead roles on high-profile merger investigations and enforcement actions. Jamie has significant experience litigating merger challenges on behalf of merging parties and the government and was an integral member of the FTC’s trial teams on FTC v. Thomas Jefferson University, FTC v. Hackensack Meridian Health, FTC v. Sanford Health, FTC v. Advocate Health Care Network, and FTC v. Benco Dental Supply. She was twice honored with the FTC’s Janet D. Steiger Award for her contributions to the Sanford and Advocate litigations. Before joining the FTC, Jamie was an associate in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office. She served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Representative matters include:

Trial counsel for Community Health Systems in FTC v. Novant Health (W.D.N.C.), defeating the FTC’s motion for a preliminary injunction.
Trial counsel for Edwards Lifesciences in the FTC’s challenge to the proposed acquisition of JenaValve Technology (D.D.C.).
Lead counsel for Nielsen and NCS in obtaining FTC clearance for the sale of advertising targeting and measurement businesses to Circana.
Represented Amazon in securing FTC clearance for the acquisition of One Medical.
Lead counsel for PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay business in obtaining FTC clearance for the acquisition of Siete Foods.
Lead counsel for Hershey in securing FTC clearance for the acquisition of snack company LesserEvil.
Represented Merck in securing global antitrust clearance for the acquisition of Acceleron Pharma.
Representing Hartford HealthCare and its affiliates in private antitrust litigation brought by a competitor and in separate antitrust actions brought by two putative classes of customers.
Represented financial services company as a successful claimant in antitrust arbitration involving monopolization claims.
Represented multiple employers in FTC investigations related to labor competition.
Represented global food producer in FTC 6(b) study on supply chain disruptions.

Jamie graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 2011, where she served as a Notes Editor on the Texas Law Review. Jamie was recognized with a Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing in 2011 for her publication, A Proposed Solar Access Law for the State of Texas, 89 Tex. L. Rev. 187 (2010). She graduated magna cum laude from the George Washington University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Spanish.

Jamie is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York, and before multiple federal district courts across the country, including the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Andrea Shen is an associate in the San Francisco office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she currently practices in the firm’s Corporate Department.

She received her J.D., Order of the Coif, from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 2020, where she served as Executive Editor for the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. While in law school, Andrea worked in the Advanced New Business Counselling Practicum where she advised emerging companies on transactional matters. She also earned a Certificate in Business Law.

Andrea received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration with High Honors from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

She is admitted to practice law in the State of California.

Prerna Soni is a partner in the San Francisco and New York offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group. She serves as the Co-Chair of the firmwide Associate Committee and is a member of the firm’s Hiring Committee.

Her practice involves a broad range of commercial real estate transactions. She represents private equity funds, REITs, developers, and other real estate investors in connection with acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, preferred equity transactions, construction and permanent financings, and development matters. Prerna also represents institutional lenders in connection with mortgage and mezzanine financings, loan sales and acquisitions, subordinate debt structures and intercreditor agreements. Her practice covers a wide variety of asset classes across the country.

A significant portion of Prerna’s practice focuses on distressed transactions. She regularly advises investors and lenders on the acquisition and disposition of distressed and non-performing loans, as well as structured loan portfolio transactions. She has extensive experience counseling clients throughout the full life cycle of distressed investments, including loan workouts and restructurings, enforcement strategies and remedies, and matters involving intercreditor conflicts, litigation, and bankruptcy concerns. Her experience includes foreclosures, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, assignments-in-lieu of foreclosure and receiverships.

Prerna often advises lending clients in connection with all aspects of taking title to underlying real estate assets, including organizational structure and corporate governance, negotiating joint venture agreements and property management agreements, and positioning assets for stabilization and disposition. Although her practice covers assets in various jurisdictions, she has particular expertise with nonjudicial foreclosures (and other enforcement of remedies) in California.

Prerna was recognized as a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ 2023-2025 in Real Estate Law. She was also selected as one of CREFC’s 20 Under 40 in 2025.

Prerna received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2014. She received a B.S. in Finance and a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Law from Binghamton University in 2011.

Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Prerna was an associate at Dechert LLP in New York. She is admitted to practice law in New York, California, and Pennsylvania.

Alin Potra is a senior associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Finance Practice Group.

Alin represents financial sponsors and lenders across a wide range of complex credit and financing structures involving investment funds, including private equity funds, private credit funds, secondaries funds and real estate funds. His practice includes advising on subscription credit facilities, NAV-based facilities, hybrid facilities, liquidity facilities, GP financings and employee co-investment facilities. He also has significant experience structuring and implementing sophisticated rated note feeder and collateralized fund obligations transactions and related offerings.

Alin received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) and his Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) from McGill University.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Alin was an associate at another leading international law firm in New York as a member of the Finance practice group.

Alice Brogi is a partner in the London office of Gibson Dunn. Alice is a member of the Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions and Infrastructure Practice Groups.

Alice practices private equity M&A, representing sponsors in cross-border transactions across a number of sectors with a focus on infrastructure and hard assets. She has advised clients on domestic and cross-border acquisitions, disposals, preferred equity and debt investments, joint ventures, loan-to-own restructurings, and portfolio acquisitions in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and the Nordics.

Alice has extensive experience in advising private equity firms on investments across a number of sectors, including digital infrastructure, transport, utilities, climate investment and energy transition projects. She has previously completed secondments at Hudson Advisors UK and to the merchant banking division of Goldman Sachs.

Alice is recognised in the Chambers UK 2026 guide for Infrastructure. She is additionally recommended by The Legal 500 UK 2026 as a next generation partner for Infrastructure and Private equity (high-value deals, £500m+). She was also recognised by Law.com as one of the 2023 International Rising Stars, highlighting the industry’s ‘best and brightest’ female lawyers and among Europe’s 25 best up-and-coming private equity lawyers in Law.com International’s Rising Stars 2022 list. Alice is also named in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2023 list, which celebrates the most daring, innovative, and creative lawyers.

Private Equity Transactions:*

Advised Asterion Industrial Partners (AIP) and the management team on their sale of Energy Assets Group (EAG), a UK-based utility infrastructure company involved in delivering utilities services (including gas, electricity, water and fibre) to end users, to Macquarie.
Advised KKR on its strategic control investment in Green Mobility Partners (GMP), aimed at creating a leading European rail leasing platform to meet growing demand for sustainable rail infrastructure across Europe.
Advised Asterion Industrial Partners on its acquisition of a 25% stake in FluxDune and, indirectly, an approximately 15% stake in Dunkerque LNG, France’s largest LNG receiving and regasification terminal facility and one of the largest in continental Europe.
Advised KKR on its acquisition of a minority stake in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets, which operates 38 gas pipelines and two export terminals in the United Arab Emirates.
Advised HBX Group (and its shareholders CCPIB, Cinven and EQT) on the establishment and launch of The Luxurist, the world’s first fully integrated luxury travel ecosystem.
Advised Blackstone on its agreement to acquire Safe Harbor Marinas, the largest marina and superyacht servicing business in the United States, from Sun Communities, Inc.
Advised KKR in their investment in Gulf Data Hub, one of the largest independent data center companies in the Middle East, creating a landmark strategic partnership to invest $5 billion in the region.
Advised a client on their bid to acquire a co-control stake from Iliad in OpCore, a leading operator of data centres in France and in Poland.
Advised EQT in their acquisition of ju:niz energy, a battery storage company in Germany and the first investment of EQT out of their Transition Energy strategy.
Advised a client on their bid to acquire Spanish leading data centre platform, Nabiax from Asterion and Telefonica.
Advised KKR on the agreement to launch a new power-to-X platform with IGNIS, a leading integrated global renewable group based in Spain, to develop green hydrogen and ammonia projects.
Advised KKR in their investment into Dukes Education, a UK-based premium school operator.
Advised Cinven on its disposal of its stake in the Planasa group, a global leader in the agri-food sector, specializing in breeding the next generations of berry varieties, to EW Group.
Advised John Laing and KKR on John Laing’s agreement to acquire HICL Infrastructure PLC’s interest in four UK public-private partnership projects (the Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital PFI Project, the Queen’s Hospital PFI Project, the South Ayrshire Schools PFI Project and the Priority Schools Building Programme North East Batch) and a 37.5 per cent stake in the Hornsea II offshore transmission assets.
Advised The Carlyle Group in its acquisition of a majority stake in Spain-based plywood manufacturer Garnica from Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) and certain shareholders.
Advised KKR and Oslo Pensjonsforsikring in their investment in 30% of Telenor Fibre ASA, Telenor’s fibre optic business, for $1 billion.
Advised H.R.L Morrison on its acquisition of 33.3% in Lyntia Networks, one of the leading dark fibre providers in Spain.
Representing the consortium formed by AXA IM and Swiss Life in their acquisition of Lyntia Networks, a leading wholesale operator in the Spanish telecommunications market and the only neutral provider operating both lit and dark fibre.
Representing Blue Earth Capital AG in their participation in Sense Labs, one of the leading companies in real-time home energy intelligence.
Advised KKR on its investment in Northumbrian Water, a UK water and waste-water services company controlled by CK Group.
Advised KKR on its investment in 49% of Reintel, the leading dark fibre infrastructure operator in Spain, creating a strategic partnership with Red Eléctrica de España, the partly state-owned and listed Spanish corporation which operates the national electricity grid in Spain.
Advised Asterion Industrial Partners in its partnership with MS3, a provider of full fibre services to homes and businesses, to expand the company’s fiber network and create an emerging fiber platform in the North of England.
Advised KKR in connection with the investment, alongside OTPP, in Caruna Oy, Finland’s largest electricity distribution company. The transaction, which represented the second deal undertaken under KKR’s core infrastructure strategy, involved the acquisition of First Sentier Investors’ 40% stake in Caruna Oy as well as the separate acquisition of OMERS’ 40% stake.*
Advised KKR in the sale of European Locomotive Leasing, a leading pan-European provider of electric locomotive leasing solutions, to AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets and Crédit Agricole Assurances.*
Advised a private infrastructure fund in their bid to acquire Adven, a district heating company in the Nordics, from Infracapital and AMP Capital.*
Advised a private infrastructure fund in their bid to acquire Miya Water, a water concession company, from Bridgepoint (ultimately acquired by Antin).*
Advised a private infrastructure fund in their bid to acquire Urbaser S.A., a waste management / waste collection, from CNTY.*
Advised Helios Towers plc in relation to the acquisition of Airtel’s passive infrastructure operating companies in Madagascar and Malawi and the potential acquisition of Airtel’s passive infrastructure assets in Chad and Gabon, together with related long term service contracts.*
Advised Spartan Acquisition Corp. III, a SPAC, in its $3.14 billion business combination with Allego Holding B.V., a leading pan-European electric vehicle charging network.*
Advised Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, the Belgium-based investment holding company, in its acquisition of a majority stake in Webhelp, one of the world’s leading call centre operators headquartered in Paris; Deal values Webhelp at €2.4bn (enterprise value), making the acquisition both the largest LBO transaction in France in 2019 and the first for Groupe Bruxelles Lambert.*
Advised a US private equity sponsor on its bid to acquire, using vendor stapled debt, the Project Helix portfolio of Cypriot real estate backed corporate loans and other non-performing exposures from Bank of Cyprus.*
Advised a US private equity fund on the acquisition of a German building materials manufacturer and the related financing, co-investment and management incentive arrangements.*
Advised a US private equity fund in a joint venture and acquisition of real estate in France.*
Advised a US private equity fund and its portfolio company on the acquisition of a French building material company.*
Advised a US private equity fund on the acquisition of a building materials manufacturer and the related financing, co-investment and management incentive arrangements.*
Advised a US private equity fund on the IPO of a portfolio company.*
Advised a US private equity fund on the acquisition of a European bad bank.*
Advised a US private equity fund on the bid to acquire a leading European industrial group specialized in the design and manufacture of precast concrete products.*
Advised a US private equity fund and its portfolio company on the bid to acquire petrol stations in Italy.*
Advised a US private equity fund on the acquisition of a US commercial carpet manufacturer, its related integration with another portfolio company and associated management incentive arrangements.*
Advised TPG and Oaktree Capital on the acquisition of Iona Energy company and the related financing, co-investment and management incentive arrangements.*
Advised Advent International in relation to its investment in Europe’s largest independent insurance intermediary.*
Advised a global leading reinsurer, in connection with its envisaged acquisition of the Wittington Group.*
Advised a private client in relation to its investment in a gold mine in Afghanistan.*
Advised Mubadala in relation to its acquisition, in consortium with Sony, of the EMI Music Publishing business.*
Advised Vitruvian Partners on its acquisition of an international consultancy business.*
Advised HiT Entertainment on its internal reorganisation prior to its sale to Mattel, Inc.*
Advised a leading global investment bank’s merchant banking division in connection with its acquisition of one of the largest printing and packaging companies worldwide, the related co-investment and management incentive arrangements and subsequent bolt-ons.*

Special Situations Transactions:*

Advised Deutsche Bank and EOS on the acquisition and financing of a loan portfolio secured on CRE in CEE.*
Advised Deutsche Bank on the financing of the acquisition of a loan portfolio in Spain.*
Advised Deutsche Bank and CarVal on the acquisition of the Project Forge CRE NPL portfolio and related financing.*
Advised Deutsche Bank in transactions to acquire various loan portfolios and related financings.*

Capital Markets Transactions:

Advised Obi Worldphone on several rounds of equity capital raising.*
Advised P2P Global Investments on equity and debt investments in several peer-to-peer lending platforms.*

Restructuring Transactions:

Advised Lion Capital in relation to the recapitalisation of one of its portfolio company, a Dutch frozen food producer.*
Advised Lion Capital in relation to the financial restructuring and recapitalisation of the Findus Group.*
Advised Findus Group in its private placement of senior notes.*
Advised the administrators of MF Global UK Limited on the sale of MF’s metals division to INTL FCStone.*

*Some of these representations occurred prior to Alice’s association with Gibson Dunn.

Publications:

Alice is a co-author of the Chambers chapter focused on Energy & Infrastructure M&A 2024.

Alice received a master’s degree in French and German corporate law, magna cum laude, from the Universite Paris Nanterre and an LL.M. in corporate law from the London School of Economics in 2007. She is admitted to practice in England and Wales and France. Alice is a native French speaker and also fluent in English and German.

Adam M. Smith is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn and serves as co-chair of the firm’s International Trade Advisory and Enforcement, as well as the Sanctions and Export Enforcement Practice Groups. He is an experienced international lawyer with a focus on international trade compliance and white collar investigations, including federal and state economic sanctions enforcement, tariffs, CFIUS, embargoes, export and import controls, and anti-bribery/anti-corruption regulations.

Chambers USA and Chambers Global consistently rank Adam as a leading attorney in International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions. In those publications, clients describe Adam as “a terrific resource for clients” and a “reassuring lawyer in a complex area of law.” Most recently, Legal 500 US 2025 named Adam a “Leading Lawyer” in International trade: Customs, export controls and economic sanctions. Global Investigations Review has named him to its “25 Most Respected Sanctions Lawyers in Washington, D.C.” list, which features individuals who work on the most significant cases. The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes him for International Trade and Finance Law. Who’s Who Legal regularly recognizes him as a Thought Leader for Trade & Customs, International Sanctions, and in its Global Elite Guide.

Clients benefit from Adam’s experience in the Obama Administration, where he was Senior Advisor to the Director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Director for Multilateral Affairs on the National Security Council. At OFAC, he was instrumental in shaping and enforcing sanctions policies, briefing Congressional and private sector leaders, conducting extensive international outreach, and negotiating complex agreements. On the National Security Council, he advised the President on international sanctions, coordinated inter-agency efforts, and developed strategies to counter corruption and promote asset recovery.

Representative Engagements

Successfully represented a regional financial institution before OFAC and other agencies in responding to a subpoena following revelations of potentially sanctionable conduct.
Assisted U.S. branch of a foreign financial institution in successfully responding to multi-agency regulatory inquiries and examinations.
Ongoing sanctions representation for major corporation addressing multi-agency civil and criminal enforcement.
Advised the board of directors of major financial institution in addressing sanctions governance short-falls and assisted the bank in developing robust policies, procedures, and training protocols.
Providing ongoing sanctions, anti-corruption, and AML compliance advice to major financial institutions, Fortune 500 manufacturers, and insurers.
Overhauled sanctions compliance oversight and processes at a major e-payments company.
Retained by a Fortune 100 manufacturer to conduct an internal FCPA investigation and provided sanctions advice in the context of a proposed deal.
Worked with a major manufacturer to obtain regulatory approvals for sale of products into high-risk jurisdiction and to manage ongoing licensing and compliance issues.
Retained by a major cybercurrency enterprise to develop compliance procedures and engage with regulators.

Clients, governments, academia, and other law firms regularly seek Adam’s advice. He is a prominent thought leader, and his analysis regularly appears in print and broadcast media, including in The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and on BBC and NPR. He is the author of three legal texts and dozens of articles and book chapters, has testified before the U.S. Congress and the U.K. Parliament, and is a frequent presenter at industry, governmental, and academic conferences globally.

Adam is a 2006 magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School where he was a Chayes Fellow, the recipient of the Laylin Prize for the best work in international law, and the Senior Editor of the Harvard International Law Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics, and an MPhil in Politics from Oxford University in 1998 where he was the Seaton Scholar in Politics at St. Hugh’s College. Following law school, Adam served as a law clerk for the Honorable James Baker on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Adam subsequently practiced for more than three years at a major international law firm in Washington, D.C., where he advised clients on trade policy, national security, regulatory reform and risk, FCPA, and international investment. He has also held postings with the United Nations in New York, the World Bank / IFC in Washington, D.C. and abroad, and the OECD in France.

Select Recent Publications

Since 2006, Adam has been a frequent presenter to industry and academic audiences on international economic and national security matters, and is the author of numerous articles, book chapters, and three books.

“Tariffs and sanctions: an uneasy balancing act at the Supreme Court,” Financier Worldwide, January 2026
Contributing Editor, Sanctions 2026, International Comparative Legal Guide.
“What to Expect on Tariffs and Related Risks,” Financier Worldwide, May, 2025, pg. 115-118
“Keeping Sanctions ‘Smart’: Calibrating U.S. Sanctions Policy to Overcome Overcompliance,” North Carolina Journal of International Law, Vol. 48(3), Summer, 2023
“United States Expands Sanctions Authorization of Internet-Based Activities in Wake of Protests in Iran,” NYU Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement, October 17, 2022
“The View from the United States,” Navigating the Global Sanctions Landscape in 2022, Control Risks
SWIFT and Certain Punishment for Russia? There Are Better Ways to Deter Moscow than Threatening its Banking Access, Foreign Affairs, January 4, 2022

Select Recent Speaking Engagements

Panelist, Navigating Cross-Border Regulatory Change, Riyadh International Disputes Week, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 1, 2026
Panelist, Complying with New OFAC Recordkeeping and Retention Requirements, 15th Annual New York Forum on Economic Sanctions, December 4, 2025
Speaker, U.S. Sanctions – A Policy and Legal Overview, National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law, November 25, 2025
Speaker, Countering Illicit Maritime Trade: Sanctions Risks, Red Flags, and Resilience, Jakarta, Indonesia, November 20, 2025
Speaker, A New Comprehensive Framework for Sanctions-Lifting, Geneva Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland, November 18, 2025
Speaker, ACAMS Sanctions Watch, October 9, 2025
Panelist, “Trump Administration Policy Implications on Sanctions,” Society for International Affairs conference on Trade Implications During Times of Increased Geopolitical Tension, Washington, D.C., May 21, 2025
Speaker, World50, CEO Kitchen Cabinet – Early Trump Administration Policies and Priorities, May 21, 2025
Speaker, National Association of Corporate Directors, The First 100 Days & Beyond: What Board Members Need to Know, Houston, Texas, May 14, 2025
Speaker, A View from the Private Sector, Workshop on Sanctions-Lifting Conditions for Conflict Resolution and Sustainable Peace, Geneva Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland, May 5-6, 2025
Presenter, “Audit and Sanctions Evasion: Looking Through a Risk-Based Lens,” ACAMS Assembly, Hollywood, Florida, April 29, 2025
Speaker, PE 141: Terrorism Finance and Economic Sanctions, Sanctions Primer, Foreign Service Institute of the United States, Washington, D.C., April 14, 2025
Lecture, “International Trade in the Second Trump Administration: Sanctions, Tariffs, and More, Oh My,” University of Pennsylvania School of Law, Philadelphia, PA, April 10, 2025
Speaker, “Pathways for Sanctions Relief, Reconstruction and Governance in Syria,” Clingendael Institute, The Hague, Netherlands, March 17, 2025
Speaker, “International Trade in the Second Trump Administration: Expectations, Possibilities and Opportunities,” Abu Dhabi/Dubai, UAE, February 26-27, 2025
Panelist, “International Trade and Anti-Corruption—The Evolving Landscape of Extraterritorial Regulation,” Saudi International Disputes Week, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 24, 2025
Speaker, “Masterclass: Predictions for the Global Sanctions Landscape in 2025,” ACAMS Webinar, February 20, 2025
Speaker, “Russia Sanctions: US and non-US Perspectives,” at the Coping with U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions 2024 Conference, Washington, DC, December 9, 2024
Speaker, “Global Magnitsky, Targeted Sanctions and UFLPA: Lessons Learned,” at the 14th Annual New York Forum on Economic Sanctions, New York, NY, December 5, 2024
Presenter, “International Trade Issues in the Second Trump Administration,” G100 Chief Executive Summit, New York, NY November 17, 2024
Invited Speaker, “Protecting the Maritime Industry from DPRK Illicit Activities – Understanding Sanctions,” Presentation to Taiwanese Industry, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, November 4, 2024
Invited Speaker, “NGL Skill Series – International Trade Issues Corporate Leaders Need to Know,” World 50 Organization, October 30, 2024
Lead Speaker, “Sanctions and Export Controls: Key Regulatory and Enforcement Trends,” Gibson Dunn Webcast, October 17, 2024
Speaker / Moderator, “Navigating Global Sanctions and AML Risk,” Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN, October 7, 2024
Moderator, “Introduction to US Sanctions,” Association of Corporate Counsel, September 5, 2024
Taskforce Member, “RUSI UK Sanctions Taskforce Meeting,” London, UK, June 25, 2024
Speaker, Sanctions and Reinsurance Industry, Singapore Association of Reinsurers, Singapore, June 4, 2024
Invited Presenter, ACAMS Sanctions May 2024 Monthly Update, May 31, 2024
Invited Lecturer, “Sanctions 101 and Sanctions Compliance,” U.S. State Department – Foreign Service Institute, Washington, D.C., April 29, 2024
Speaker, “A View from a Sanctions Lawyer,” Maritime Sanctions Roundtable, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Limassol, Cyprus, March 27, 2024
Lecturer, “Sanctions and Export Controls 101,” University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA, March 21, 2024
Panelist, PLI: Coping with U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions, “Russia Sanctions: U.S. and non-U.S. Perspectives,” Washington, D.C., December 14, 2023
Witness, United States House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services – Sub-Committee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, “Restricting Rogue-State Revenue: Strengthening Energy Sanctions on Russia, Iran, and Venezuela,” December 12, 2023
Invited Lecturer, National Security Law, “Sanctions – Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?” New York University School of Law, New York, NY, November 28, 2023
Panelist, “Reverse CFIUS” – The Emerging Restrictions on U.S. Outbound Investments, Harvard Law School Association, Washington, D.C., November 2, 2023
Co-Moderator, “National Security, Sanctions and Export Controls Conference,” New York, NY, October 11, 2023
“Economic Sanctions and National Security,” Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA, October 6, 2023
Speaker, ACAMS Monthly Sanctions Update – “Reverse” CFIUS, Inbound Real Estate Restrictions, Voluntary Self-Disclosure Considerations, September 13, 2023
Keynote Speaker, Countering a Taiwan Crisis with Economics, United States Studies Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, August 17, 2023
Invited Speaker, U.S. Sanctions and Export Controls: From Russia to China and Beyond, American-Australian Chamber of Commerce, Melbourne, Australia, August 16, 2023
Invited Speaker, “An Introduction to Sanctions – From Russia to China and Beyond,” Osgood Center at the Elliot School, American University, Washington, D.C., August 4, 2023
Speaker, “A View from the Private Sector,” Sanctions Roundtable for Greek Shipping, U.S. State Department / Middlebury Institute of International Studies / North Standard P&I Club, Athens, Greece, May 23, 2023
Speaker, “Sanctions and Export Controls for the Shipping Sector,” Presentations to Ship Owners, Piraeus, Greece, May 24, 2023
Panelist, “Implications of Sanctions Against Russia,” European Central Bank / Harvard Law School Symposium on Building the Financial System of the 21st Century, European Central Bank, Frankfurt, Germany, May 11, 2023
Invited Speaker, “America at a Crossroads: Sanctions, Boycotts, and Economic Warfare – Do They Work?” JUDJ / Community Advocates, Los Angeles, CA, May 3, 2023
Presenter, Association of Corporate Counsel – Hong Kong, “Russian Sanctions Update for Multinational Corporations – The Russian Oil Price Cap,” Hong Kong SAR, April 26, 2023
Lecturer, “Sanctions 101: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?,” University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA, April 20, 2023
Panelist, “Sanctions and Export Controls: Regulatory Defense Considerations,” Georgetown Law Center, Washington, D.C., April 18, 2023
Invited Speaker, “Understanding Sanctions and Export Controls on China,” Bank of America Emerging Markets Symposium – World Bank / IMF Spring Meetings 2023, Washington, D.C., April 13, 2023
Invited Speaker, “Sanctions Overcompliance – The Private Sector’s Rationales for, and the Consequences of, Overcompliance,” North Carolina Journal of International Law 2023 Symposium: Sanctions After the Invasion of Ukraine, Chapel Hill, NC, March 24, 2023
Panelist, ACAMS Sanctions Masterclass: Jurisdiction and Sanctions Regimes, February 28, 2023
Panelist, Gibson Dunn webcast, “Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance Update,” February 28, 2023
Panelist, AML and OFAC / Sanctions Enforcement Update, Tax Enforcement Without Borders, Bahamas Financial Services Board, Industry Development Series Seminar, Nassau, Bahamas, February 16, 2023
Keynote Speaker, Economic Sanctions and Trade Controls in 2023, Gibson Dunn Presentation to French Industry, Paris, France, January 30, 2023
Invited Speaker, Wirtschaftsbeirat Bayern Startseite (Bavarian Economic Advisory Board), Sanctions and Export Controls: Dealing with the Tsunami to Come, Munich, Germany, January 27, 2023

Tianren (Jason) Zhang is a tax associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn.

Jason earned his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law in 2024, where he served as a Staff Editor for the New York University Journal of Law & Business. Jason received his Bachelor of Arts in History and Mathematics, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Bowdoin College in 2021.

Jason is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.

Wladimir Soltmann is an associate in the Brussels office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Practice Group.

His practice spans all aspects of competition law at both national and European levels before competition authorities and the European courts. He has developed in-depth knowledge of proceedings before the French Competition Authority, the European Commission, and the EU courts.

Wladimir’s experience includes merger control, foreign direct investment and foreign subsidies matters, abuse of dominance and anti-competitive agreements, State aid, stand-alone and follow-on litigation, as well as research and development, distribution, and commercial agreements.

Wladimir brings extensive experience from both enforcement and judicial perspectives. He previously served as a case handler in the Merger Unit of the French Competition Authority (Autorité de la concurrence) and was subsequently appointed Référendaire at the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg. Before joining Gibson Dunn, he practiced competition law at a leading international law firm in Paris and Brussels.

In addition to his practice, Wladimir lectures on antitrust issues related to intellectual property rights at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

Admitted to the Paris Bar, he holds a PhD in competition law and is the author of “Technical Standards and Innovation: Cross Analysis of IP Rights and Competition Law” (PhD thesis, 2015). Wladimir also graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a LLM degree with a certificate of specialization in intellectual property law. He has been a speaker at numerous symposiums in France and internationally.

He is fluent in French and English.

Rana Sahar is an associate in the San Francisco office of Gibson Dunn. She practices in the firm’s Litigation Department and maintains an active pro bono practice.

Rana earned her J.D. from Berkeley Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as an Associate Editor for the California Law Review. During law school, Rana also participated in Berkeley Law’s Reentry Advocacy Project. Rana earned her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in 2013. Before law school, Rana worked at the Innocence Project and Physicians for Human Rights.

Rana is admitted to practice in California and New York.

Travis is an accomplished trial lawyer who represents clients in large, complex, and high-profile business disputes across the country. A battle-tested advocate with first-chair experience, Travis brings a rare combination of courtroom poise, strategic precision, and client trust to every matter he handles. His practice spans energy, financial services, and other sophisticated commercial disputes, where the stakes are significant and the factual and legal terrain is demanding.

Travis currently serves as Of Counsel in Gibson Dunn’s Dallas office and has played a leading role in some of the firm’s most consequential trials. Most notably, he served as trial counsel in Energy Transfer v. Greenpeace, a landmark case arising from interference with the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The case resulted in a historic $667 million jury verdict in favor of Energy Transfer—the largest verdict in North Dakota history—cementing his reputation as a formidable courtroom advocate capable of delivering extraordinary results in high-stakes litigation.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Travis practiced at a Chambers-ranked Band 1 litigation boutique in Dallas, Texas, where he was entrusted with leading significant commercial disputes. His successes included securing a $35 million summary judgment for a Dallas-based private equity firm in a breach-of-contract dispute and defeating a multi-million-dollar lawsuit involving alleged distribution breaches during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Travis’s courtroom foundation was forged during his distinguished service in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Commissioned as an officer after graduating from SMU Dedman School of Law, he served in both defense and prosecution roles. As defense counsel, he represented a high-ranking official in one of the most closely watched prosecutions arising from the Navy’s “Fat Leonard” scandal, a sweeping public corruption investigation that garnered national attention. In his subsequent tour as a prosecutor, Travis prosecuted cases on behalf of the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70), and Marine Corps Security Force Battalion. In recognition of exceptional courtroom advocacy, he was awarded the New York City Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Award, presented to the most outstanding trial attorney in his officer class.

Travis earned his J.D., cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law, where he served as Chair of the SMU Board of Advocates. Upon graduation, he was inducted into the National Order of Barristers in recognition of excellence in courtroom advocacy. He received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Pepperdine University.

Beyond his legal practice, Travis is deeply committed to service. He serves on the Board of Directors of the North Texas Chapter of Folds of Honor, an organization dedicated to raising scholarship funds for the spouses and children of fallen servicemembers and first responders.

Travis and his wife, Annie, are the proud parents of three children—Sawyer, Scout, and Oakley.

Honors/Awards

National Order of Barristers
New York City Bar Association Trial Advocacy Award
D Magazine’s list of Best Lawyers Under 40
Pepperdine University’s list of 40 Under 40

Publications

Death and Human Frailty: Why Juror Perceptions Should Shape Capital Punishment Policy, American Journal of Trial Advocacy

Daniel M. Ketani is Of Counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation, White Collar Defense and Investigations, Securities Litigation, and Securities Enforcement practice groups.

Dan is a versatile litigator with more than a decade of experience representing clients in high-stakes litigation and investigations in New York and across the United States. Dan is experienced in defending and prosecuting cases at every stage of litigation, from complaint to trial to appeal. Dan also regularly defends individuals and entities in connection with sensitive and complex government investigations and enforcement proceedings, including by the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, New York State Attorney General’s Office, and other government agencies. Dan has particular experience advising companies in the digital asset industry regarding litigation and regulatory matters.

Dan is a member of the Securities Litigation Committee of the New York City Bar Association. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in the areas of commercial litigation, securities litigation, and white collar criminal defense.

Representative matters include:

Representative Matters

Representing the former CFO of Silicon Valley Bank in securities class actions, FDIC fiduciary duty litigation, and multiple governmental investigations concerning the bank’s failure in March 2023.
Trial counsel for Amazon in lawsuit by a former supplier seeking more than $500 million in damages.
Representing Bitfinex in forfeiture proceedings regarding more than 100,000 Bitcoin stolen from the exchange in a 2016 hack.
Representing Tether, the preeminent stablecoin issuer, in civil litigation matters.
Successfully represented a cryptocurrency exchange in a DOJ investigation.
Successfully represented a cryptocurrency issuer in a SEC investigation.
Successfully represented private equity funds in fraud actions seeking to recover more than $200 million in investment losses, resulting in recoveries exceeding the original losses.*
Represented a digital asset investment vehicle in Delaware corporate control litigation.*
Represented a life sciences company in proxy contest litigation, resulting in precedent-setting decisions in New York regarding advance notice bylaws and the right of issuers to sue activist investors for proxy fraud.*
Successfully represented a former Big Four audit leader in a PCAOB investigation.*
Successfully represented a former Fortune 100 company senior executive in a SDNY criminal investigation and parallel SEC investigation regarding insider trading allegations.*
Successfully represented a Fortune 500 company executive in connection with an investigation by the DOJ and SEC of alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.*
Represented a former banker in a DOJ investigation and civil enforcement action seeking billions of dollars in penalties relating to the sale of mortgage-backed securities.*
Successfully represented a former automotive executive in a DOJ fraud investigation.*
Represented an industrial conglomerate seeking more than $1 billion in damages in two international arbitrations and U.S. litigation regarding a failed joint venture.*

Dan also dedicates significant time to pro bono matters. He successfully persuaded the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department, in a unanimous decision, to reverse a client’s felony conviction because of juror misconduct and improperly admitted propensity evidence. Dan has represented clients submitting amicus briefs in appeals courts across the United States, regarding issues including the constitutionality of age-based restrictions on the purchase of firearms and a constitutional right to a basic minimum education. Additionally, Dan has won asylum for refugees, including at contested asylum hearings.

Dan received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and an Articles Editor for the Journal of Law and Social Problems, and his B.A. in Economics from New York University. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, he was an associate at an international law firm.

Dan is admitted to practice in the State of New York, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits.

*Matters handled prior to joining Gibson Dunn

Jonathan K. Layne, a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Century City office, joined the firm in 1979 and has served as Co-Chair of the Global Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group and as a member of the firm’s Executive and Management Committees. Mr. Layne focuses on mergers and acquisitions, public offerings of equity (including IPOs) and debt, corporate finance and securities law, and has extensive experience in Board of Directors, Special Board Committee and corporate governance representations.

Mr. Layne is a graduate of The College of William and Mary where he earned a B.A. in economics and of Emory University School of Law and Emory University Goizueta Business School, where he received a joint JD/MBA degree. He graduated from law school with distinction and was a member of the Order of the Coif and Managing Editor of the Emory Law Journal, and he graduated from business school as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor society.

Mr. Layne is currently Chairman of the Board of Tower Cancer Research Foundation and served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the California Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Emory University, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of The John Thomas Dye School, an independent elementary school. Mr. Layne also is a frequent lecturer on mergers and acquisitions, corporate and securities law topics.

Mr. Layne was selected by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business as an international Leading Lawyer for Corporate/M&A (2012-2026). Since 2005, Mr. Layne has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a Leading Lawyer for Corporate/M&A for Southern California and ranked him in Band 1 each year during the period 2008-2024 and as a Senior Statesperson for 2025. Chambers USA has also recognized him in the area of Capital Markets: Debt & Equity for California (2007–2015). He was also selected by IFLR 1000 for 2025. Recognized for his creative approach to transactions, The National Law Journal named Mr. Layne as a 2016 “Mergers & Acquisitions and Antitrust Trailblazer” which honors innovators in mergers and acquisitions and antitrust law for excellence in deal making, restructuring and financing. BTI Consulting named Mr. Layne to its 2014 Client Service All-Stars list, featuring lawyers identified by in-house counsel as those who provide “the absolute best client service” and he has been named to the Daily Journal’s list of “Top 100 Lawyers in California” for 2014. He also has been named among “Most Influential M&A Advisors” and ‘The Best of the Bar’ for Corporate Transactions by the Los Angeles Business Journal and listed as a leading M&A lawyer in Who’s Who Legal’s M&A and Governance guide for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Mr. Layne has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® each year since 2006 and was named Los Angeles Securities/Capital Markets Law Lawyer of the Year in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024; in addition, he was selected by his peers as Los Angeles Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year in 2017, 2019 and 2024. The “Lawyer of the Year” award is allocated annually to the lawyer who has the highest overall peer-review feedback in a certain practice area for a particular geographic region. The exhaustive peer-review surveys examine the professional abilities, current practice, and experience of each lawyer. Mr. Layne was also selected for inclusion by Expert Guide in its 2020 Banking, Finance and Transactional Law Expert Guide, which recognizes the top legal practitioners in the industry. In 2019, Mr. Layne was named as a “Legal Leader” by The American Lawyer and Martindale Hubbell. The list highlights top rated lawyers on the West Coast.

Amelia Jansen is an associate in the London office of Gibson Dunn and is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group.

Amelia has broad experience across corporate real estate transactions, including joint ventures and the acquisition and disposal of real estate companies for private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, real estate companies, and pension funds.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Amelia worked in the London office of another major international law firm.

Max Knight is an associate in the London office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the Business Restructuring and Reorganisation practice group.

Max has experience advising ad hoc committees, secondary investors, and sovereign wealth funds in restructurings and distressed situations.

Max obtained his Master of Laws in 2022 from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He obtained his Master in Science in History in 2020 from the University of Edinburgh, and he graduated with honours from the University of Exeter in 2019 with a combined degree in History and Politics.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Max worked in the London office of other major international law firm.

Max’s experience includes: *

Advised an ad hoc committee of lenders to OQ Chemicals on certain credit amendments and its recapitalisation.
Advised an ad hoc committee of lenders to Alloheim in relation to an amend and extend transaction.
Advised an ad hoc group of noteholders and lenders on the recapitalisation of Consolis.
Advised a sovereign wealth fund on certain insolvency options relating to a portfolio company.
Advised a secondary investor to Altice France.

* All of these representations occurred prior to Max’s association with Gibson Dunn.