Sebastian L. Fain is a partner in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and co-head of the Firm’s Cross Border M&A practice. His practice focuses on M&A, activism defense, and corporate governance. His experience is centered on domestic and cross-border M&A, including public company mergers, private equity acquisitions, joint ventures, complex business carve-outs and divestitures, hostile takeovers and defense, carve-out IPOs, spin-offs, and split-offs. Sebastian also counsels boards of directors and C-suites on the most important issues facing companies, such as activism defense, governance and disclosure issues and special committee representations. He also has extensive experience representing clients in complex commercial agreements and in capital markets transactions, such as IPOs, secondary offerings, block trades, high-yield bond offerings, and exchange offers.

Sebastian has been named as a Dealmaker of the Year and finalist for Corporate Lawyer of the Year by The American Lawyer and one of the Top 250 Lawyers in America by Forbes. In addition, he has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer for Corporate/M&A by, among others, Bloomberg 40 Under 40, Lawdragon, The Legal 500, IFLR1000, and as a Rising Star by the MCAA.

Sebastian also had essays, op-eds and articles published in The Financial Times, Reuters, Law360, The Recorder, The Deal, ABA Business Law, Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, Deal Lawyers, The M&A Journal, and Insights.

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

Experience:*

Healthcare:

• AstraZeneca on its:
  • $2.4 billion acquisition of Fusion Pharmaceuticals.
  • acquisition of Amolyt Pharma
  • $1.2 billion acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies Inc.
  • $1.1 billion acquisition of Icosavax.
  • joint Research and Collaboration Agreement with Cellantics SA
  • acquisition of LogicBio® Therapeutics, Inc.
  • $39 billion acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals.
• Merck on its $9.2 billion acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics.
• Jefferies as lead financial advisor to Ventyx Biosciences in its $1.2 billion sale to Lilly. 
• CK Life Sciences on its sale of Polynoma to TransCode Therapeutics.
• SERB Pharmaceuticals on its take-private of Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc.
• The founder and CEO of Babylon on its $4.2 billion business combination with SPAC Alkuri Global.
• Abbott Laboratories on its:
  • $25 billion acquisition of St. Jude Medical.
  • spin-off of AbbVie Inc.

Media and Technology:

• Universal Music Group on its:
  • majority Investment in Mavin Global.
  • spin-off from Vivendi SE and listing of 60% of its share capital on Euronext Amsterdam at a $40 billion valuation and concurrent sale of 10% of Vivendi’s holding in UMG to Pershing Square.
  • $3.36 billion sale of 10% of its equity by parent Vivendi to Tencent and related option for Tencent Music to acquire a piece of UMG’s China business.
• Committee of independent directors of the board of Qualtrics on the $12.5 billion all-cash sale of the company to a private equity consortium (the largest private equity transaction of the year).
• London Stock Exchange on its:
  • acquisition of AcadiaSoft.
  • acquisition of MayStreet.
• CarLotz on its sale to Shift Technologies.
• Cazoo on its $7 billion business combination with US SPAC AJAX I, including a concurrent $800m PIPE.
• Pivotal Acquisition Corp and its sponsor MGG Capital on its combination with KLDiscovery.
• Expedia on its $671 million sale of its majority interest in eLong to Ctrip and other investors.
• CBS on the $225 million sale of its international outdoor advertising business to affiliates of Platinum Equity.
• Alibaba on its $7.8 billion stock repurchase from Yahoo! and restructuring of Alipay with Yahoo! and Softbank.
• Promotora de Informaciones SA (PRISA) on its combination with Liberty Acquisition Holdings Corp. (at the time, the largest-ever SPAC deal).
• Polaris Acquisition Corp on its acquisition of Hughes Telematics.

Logistics and Transportation:

• Euronav NV on its successful defense against a proxy contest launched by minority shareholder CMB in opposition of Euronav’s $4.2 billion merger with Frontline.
• GXO Logistics on its:
  • recommended £762 million cash offer for Wincanton plc.
  • recommended $1.2 billion cash and share offer for Clipper Logistics.
• XPO Logistics on its:
  • $3 billion acquisition of Con-way.
  • $1.26 billion PIPE equity raise from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, GIC – Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Public Sector Pension Investment Board, and 12 other institutional investors.
  • €3.24 billion acquisition of Norbert Dentressangle S.A.
  • $615 million acquisition of New Breed Holding Company.
  • $335 million acquisition of Pacer International.

Consumer:

• Japan Tobacco (JT) on its $2.4 billion acquisition of Vector Group Ltd., and its joint venture with Altria Group to market and commercialize heated tobacco stick (“HTS”) products in the United States.
• Verlinvest GroupS.A. in connection with a comprehensive financing by Oatly AB.
• Clever Leaves on its business combination with SPAC Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp.
• Global Brands Group on its $1.38 billion sale of a significant part its North American business to Differential Brands Group.
• Starbucks Corporation on its $7.15 billion global coffee alliance with Nestlé.
• Sears on its:
  • $900 million sale of the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker.
  • formation of Seritage Growth Properties and entry into a $2.5 billion sale-leaseback for 254 stores.
  • spin-off Lands’ End.
  • sale of the Kmart brand in Australia and New Zealand to Wesfarmers.

Chemicals and Industrials:

• The Yokohama Rubber Company on its $905 million acquisition of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s off-the-road tire business.
• New Mountain Capital and portfolio company Aceto on its acquisition of Syntor Fine Chemicals.
• Airgas on its $13.4 billion sale to Air Liquide.
• United Technologies on its $3.46 billion sale of its Hamilton Sundstrand industrial products businesses to BC Partners and Carlyle.
• Berry Plastics Corporation and Apollo Management on the $561 million acquisition of Pliant Corporation pursuant to a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

Energy and Energy Transition:

• Ara Partners on its acquisition of a majority stake in USD Clean Fuels.
• Solvay on its joint venture with Orbia Group for the production of suspension-grade polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), creating the largest capacity for suspension-grade PVDF in North America.
• A major shareholder in ReNew Power on its $8 billion de-SPAC.
• Spectra Energy on its $28 billion merger of equals with Enbridge.
• Atlas Energy on its:
  • spin-off of its non-midstream assets, including its 100% GP interest and incentive distribution rights in its E&P subsidiary, Atlas Resource Partners.
  • $1.8 billion merger with Atlas Energy Resources.
  • sale to Targa Resources Corp. for $1.9 billion in cash and stock.
• Sunoco on its $5.3 billion sale to Energy Transfer Partners.

Financial Institutions:

• London Stock Exchange on its:
  • acquisition of AcadiaSoft.
  • acquisition of MayStreet.
• BGC Partners and GFI Group on the $650 million sale of GFI’s Trayport business to Intercontinental Exchange.
• Nasdaq on its $1.1 billion acquisition of International Securities Exchange from Deutsche Börse AG.
• NYSE Euronext on its:
  • merger with the Intercontinental Exchange.
  • $23.4 billion agreed merger with Deutsche Börse and defense of unsolicited bid from Nasdaq Group and Intercontinental Exchange.

*Includes representations prior to Sebastian’s association with Gibson Dunn.

Branden C. Berns is a partner in the San Francisco office of Gibson Dunn where he practices in the firm’s Transactional Department. He represents leading life sciences companies and investors on a broad range of complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, spin-offs, joint ventures, PIPEs, as well as a variety of financing transactions, including initial public offerings, secondary equity offerings and venture and growth equity financings. Branden also serves as principal outside counsel for numerous publicly-traded life sciences companies and advises management and boards of directors on corporate law matters, SEC reporting and corporate governance.

Recent accolades include:

• The 2024 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation – Corporate, esp. Life Sciences
• LMG Life Sciences – Life Sciences Star (2025); Life Sciences Star (2023); US Rising Star (Shortlisted) – Financial & Corporate (2022)
• Euromoney’s Americas Rising Stars – Life Sciences (2022)

Branden’s selected experience includes:

Mergers and Acquisitions:

• Merck in its $9.2 billion acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics
• Quidel in its $6 billion acquisition of Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
• 89bio in its up to $3.5 billion sale to Roche
• CTI BioPharma in its $1.7 billion sale to Sobi
• Alcon in its $1.5 billion acquisition of STAAR Surgical
• US WorldMeds in the up to $530 million sale of its CNS Portfolio to Supernus
• Natera in its up to $450 million acquisition of Foresight Diagnostics
• Mirum Pharmaceuticals in its up to $445 million acquisition of Cholbam® and Chenodal® from Travere Therapeutics
• Immedica Pharma AB in its acquisition of Marinus Pharmaceuticals
• XOMA Royalty in its acquisitions of Generation Bio, Pulmokine, LAVA Therapeutics, Turnstone Biologics, Mural Oncology and HilleVax
• Alcon in its sale of rights to Alcon eye drops in China to OcuMension  
• Rain Oncology in its sale to Pathos AI
• US Worldmeds in its acquisition of Adaptimmune’s Cell-Therapy Portfolio
• Natera in its acquisition of prenatal screening assets from Invitae
• CohBar in its business combination transaction with Morphogenesis
• Argenta Global in its acquisition of Midwest Veterinary Services
• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals in its sale to Assertio Holdings
• Concentra Biosciences in its acquisition of Jounce Therapeutics
• GNI Group in its sale of F351 assets to Catalyst Biosciences
• La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company in its sale to Innoviva
• SomaLogic in its acquisition of Palamedrix
• KKR in its investment, with Ampersand Capital Partners, in Alliance Pharma
• KKR in its investment in Biosynth Carbosynth and Biosynth Carbosynth’s acquisition of vivitide
• Assertio Therapeutics in its merger with Zyla Life Sciences
• US WorldMeds in its sale of ZELNORM™ to Alfasigma USA
• Progenity in its sale of Avero Labs to Northwest Pharmaceuticals
• WillowTree in its sale to Insignia Capital Group
• eSalon.com in its joint venture with Henkel AG & Co.
• Represented strategic acquirors such as Roivant Sciences, Natera, S&P Global, IHS Markit, Zayo Group, Summit Materials, Diploma PLC, Vail Resorts in over 25 completed add-on acquisitions

Financings:

• Going Public Transactions (IPOs, Reverse Mergers, De-SPACs): Yarrow Bioscience, Damora Therapeutics, Crescent Biopharma, Jade Biosciences, Cullgen, Oruka Therapeutics, Neurogene, Gyre Therapeutics, Spyre Therapeutics, Dianthus Therapeutics, Moonlake Immunotherapeutics, Apogee Therapeutics, Rain Therapeutics, Shattuck Labs, 89bio, Progenity, Forterra, Endochoice, Spark Therapeutics, Intrawest Resorts, Springleaf Holdings, Hilton Worldwide, Mavenir Systems
• Follow-on Equity Offerings: X4 Pharmaceuticals, Dianthus Therapeutics, Gyre Therapeutics, Spyre Therapeutics, QuidelOrtho, Apogee Therapeutics, Shattuck Labs, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, Biora Therapeutics, Viridian Therapeutics, Protagonist Therapeutics, CTI BioPharma, Assertio Holdings, Progenity, Cogent Biosciences, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, 89bio, Odonate Therapeutics, Rockwell Medical, Heska Corporation, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Heron Therapeutics, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Zayo Group, Chimerix
• PIPE Offerings: Damora Therapeutics, Jade Biosciences, Crescent Biopharma, Oruka Therapeutics, Cidara Therapeutics, Inhibikase Therapeutics, Cogent Biosciences, Relay Therapeutics, Immunic, Shattuck Labs, Viridian Therapeutics, Neurogene, Mirum Therapeutics, Spyre Therapeutics, Dianthus Therapeutics, NLS Pharmaceutics, Heron Therapeutics, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, Convert Pharmaceuticals, Progenity
• ATM Facilities: Neurogene, Gyre Therapeutics, Dianthus Therapeutics, Spyre Therapeutics, Apogee Therapeutics, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, Protagonist Therapeutics, Shattuck Labs, Rain Therapeutics, Assertio Holdings, Progenity, Ultragenyx, Viridian Therapeutics, 89bio, Odonate, Cogent Biosciences, CTI BioPharma, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Urovant Sciences, Rockwell Medical
• Venture Financings / Minority Investments: Electra Therapeutics – Series C, Yarrow Bioscience – Series A, Sling Therapeutics – Series A, Oruka Therapeutics – Series A, Pheon Therapeutics – Series B, AltruBio – Series B, Spyre Therapeutics – Series A, Apogee Therapeutics – Series B, Cullgen – Series C, Perceive Biotherapeutics – Series B, Ellodi Pharmaceuticals – Series B, Structure Therapeutics – Series B, Shattuck Labs – Series B and B-1, Jaanuu – Series B, Progenity – Series B, Hazeltree – Series 3, Waterloo – Series D, Vasaragen Therapeutics – Series A, Bandier – Series E, Levo Therapeutics – Series Seed, Pangaea Holdings – Series B

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Branden was an associate in the Corporate Department of a global law firm in New York. Branden earned his Juris Doctor in 2012 from Columbia Law School, where he was recognized each year as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as Submissions Editor of the Columbia Business Law Review. Branden graduated from Brigham Young University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.

Sam Shapiro is an associate in the Orange County office of Gibson Dunn. He currently practices in the firm’s Transactional Department. He focuses his corporate practice on venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate counseling, with extensive experience advising on investments in the tech and life science industries.

Sam earned his law degree from the UCLA School of Law, where he served as an editor for the UCLA Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. While in law school, he served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Larry Alan Burns of the US District Court for the Southern District of California. Prior to law school, Sam graduated with Honors with Distinction from UC San Diego, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

Sam is a contributor to Gibson Dunn’s Biotech Briefings blog, and you can view his articles here.

Sam is admitted to practice in the State of California.

Kiel Sauerman is an associate in the Dallas office of Gibson Dunn where he currently practices in the firm’s Transactional Department. His practice focuses on corporate and securities transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and securities regulation and corporate governance.

Kiel graduated, cum laude, from Cornell University Law School in 2018, receiving the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Patent Law and Advanced Issues in Mediation. He received his B.A. in English Literature with an emphasis on Renaissance Prose and Poetry from Florida State University in 2007.

Prior to law school, Kiel served in the United States Navy for six years as a nuclear reactor operator onboard the USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear aircraft carrier in the Pacific Fleet.

Kiel is admitted to the State Bar of Texas.

Experience

• Counsel to CenterOak Partners LLC in its acquisitions and divestitures of numerous businesses, including Cascade Windows, Wetzels Pretzels, Aakash Chemicals, Full-Speed Automotive, SurfacePrep, Hometown Services, CollisionRight and Service Champions
• Counsel to Satori Capital in its minority investment in Torani, the flavor company
• Counsel to Arcosa, Inc. in its acquisition of Cherry Industries, a provider of infrastructure-related products and solutions
• Counsel to Quad-C Management in divestiture of Compassion First, a veterinary services organization, to JAB Holdings
• Counsel to Kimberly-Clark Corporation in its acquisition of Softex Indonesia, a leader in the fast-growing Indonesian personal care market, for approximately $1.2 billion from a group of shareholders including CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific IV
• Counsel to BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley in offerings of senior notes by Pioneer Natural Resources Company

Spencer W. Vaughan is an associate in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s New York office.

Spencer received his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 2023. At Harvard, Spencer was a J.D./Ph.D. student, with the Ph.D. program being in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Harvard University. In lieu of pursuing a thesis, he paused the Ph.D. after completing Year 1 in good academic standing to pursue a J.D. at Harvard Law School. Spencer has contributed as a co-author to several scientific research articles relating to biological pathways underlying neurological diseases and immunological disorders. These articles have been published in Nature Neuroscience, Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, etc.

Spencer received his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Molecular Biology, summa cum laude, from the University of Arizona in 2017. Prior to attending law school, Spencer was a biological research scientist working in the areas of neuroscience and immunology.

Spencer has litigated in federal District Courts and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO). Spencer has experience in pre-suit diligence, Rule 12 motions, fact discovery, deposition preparation, expert discovery, claim construction, dispositive motions and hearings, bench trials, and pre- and post-trial briefing.

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

Representative Matters:

• Represented Cassava Sciences in the Western District of Texas in a securities class action suit.
• Represented Cassava Sciences in SEC and DOJ investigations.
• Represented Novartis in the District of Delaware against generic manufacturers of a leading drug indicated for acute myeloid leukemia.
• Represented Novartis in the District of Delaware against generic manufacturers of a leading drug indicated for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
• Represented Novartis in trade secret litigation in the District of Delaware regarding leading drug indicated for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
• Represented Vifor (International) AG and American Regent in multiple suits in the District of New Jersey and District of Delaware against generic manufacturers of a leading drug indicated for iron deficiency anemia.
• Represented NeoGenomics in the PTO regarding methods for monitoring cancer using cell-free DNA.

Publications:

• Co-Author, “Mutations disrupting neuritogenesis genes confer risk for cerebral palsy,” Nature Genetics (September 28, 2020)
• Co-Author, “Opposing peripheral fates of tissue-restricted self antigen-specific conventional and regulatory CD4+ T cells,” European Journal of Immunology (October 3, 2019)
• Co-Author, “TSC2-deficient tumors have evidence of T cell exhaustion and respond to anti–PD-1/anti–CTLA-4 immunotherapy,” JCI Insight (April 19, 2018)
• Co-Author, “Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery, Principles and Evidence-Based Practice, Ch. 28, Indications for and benefits of lumbar spinal hardware removal,” JP Medical Publishers (February 1, 2018)
• Co-Author, “TDP-43 pathology disrupts nuclear pore complexes and nucleocytoplasmic transport in ALS/FTD,” Nature Neuroscience (January 8, 2018)
• Co-Author, “Endocytosis regulates TDP-43 toxicity and turnover,” Nature Communications (December 12, 2017)

John Martin Weed is an associate in the Washington D.C. office of Gibson Dunn.

John Martin earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where he served as a Notes Editor on the Harvard Law Review. He received a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama.

He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia.

Advait Ramanan is an associate in the San Francisco office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, Intellectual Property, and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Groups. His practice focuses on advising companies on technology-driven matters, including strategic product counseling, data governance and regulatory compliance, and complex commercial transactions.

Advait earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, where he served as an Associate Editor of the Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review and worked as a student attorney in the Entrepreneurship Clinic, advising emerging companies on business formation, technology commercialization, and regulatory issues. During law school, he was Co-President of the American Constitution Society and the South Asian Law Students Association.

Advait received his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Georgia, where he majored in Political Science. As an undergraduate, he served as Vice President of the Georgia Debate Union and was a champion of the American Debate Association National Championship and the Dartmouth Round Robin.

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

Alison Pereira Martins is an associate in the Paris office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups.

She specializes in corporate and commercial law, handling public and private mergers and acquisitions, along with private equity matters. Alison provides counsel to a diverse range of companies, both private and public, spanning various sectors and advises funds involved in French or international strategic investments, joint ventures and divestments. Her experience includes addressing diverse corporate matters, such as stocks and assets transactions and shareholders agreements.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn in 2024, Alison practiced corporate law and mergers and acquisitions in an international French law firm.

Admitted to the Paris bar in 2023, she graduated from University Paris II – Panthéon Assas in Business and Tax Law in 2020 and in Business law in 2019.

Alison speaks French, Portuguese and English fluently.

Omar Morsy is an English qualified associate in the Dubai office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets Practice Groups and is a native Arabic and Spanish speaker.

Omar advises on a broad range of corporate transactional and advisory matters. He has experience representing public and private companies, private equity funds, banks, and other financial institutions on a variety of corporate transactions including public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, IPOs, corporate restructurings, and other general corporate advisory matters.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Omar was an associate in the mergers and acquisitions and capital markets practice groups in the Dubai office of a U.S. law firm. 

Omar received his LL.M. degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. 

Mostafa Mabrouk is an England and Wales qualified associate in the Dubai office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group.

Mostafa completed a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Law (LLB) from King’s College London University and successfully completed the Legal Practice Course (Solicitors) with BPP University (London).

He is also admitted to the Egyptian Bar Association and is fluent in English, Arabic and French.

Gerald Kimani is an associate in the Houston office of Gibson Dunn. He currently practices in the firm’s Transactional Department, focusing on Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions.

Gerald received his J.D. from Penn Law and his MBA from the Wharton School, both in 2021. In 2010, he graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Minor in Philosophy.

Representative Experience:

• Representation of Kraft Heinz Company in its Joint Venture with TheNotCompany, Inc.
• Representation of Moody’s Corporation in $500 million Notes Offering.
• Representation of Daikin Applied in Majority Investments in ThermalNetics and TriState HVAC Equipment.
• Representation of Sound Point Acquisition Corp I, Ltd in its $225 million initial public offering.
• Representation of Mondelez International in $2.0 billion Notes Offering, Approximately $1.0 billion Tender Offer and $1.0 Billion Redemption of 0.625% Notes Due 2022.
• Representation of Piedmont Lithium in $130.8 million Public Offering of Common Stock.
• Representation of Aris Water Solutions, Inc. in its initial public offering of 20,297,500 shares of its Class A common stock, with net proceeds of approximately $213.8 million.
• Representation of Freeman Spogli & Co. on its partnership with WhiteWater Express Car Wash.

Leonid Lepold is an associate in the London office of Gibson Dunn and is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Energy and Infrastructure Practice Groups. Leonid is admitted to practice in England and Wales.

Leonid’s experience encompasses advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, and general corporate matters. His expertise includes representing private and public companies across a wide range of industries, including energy, renewables, infrastructure, metals and mining, IT, and telecommunications.

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

Joanne Hughes is an English law qualified solicitor in the London office of Gibson Dunn and is a member of the Corporate Transactions and Real Estate Practice Groups.

Joanne has a broad range of transactional and advisory experience, including corporate real estate, joint ventures, private mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and public mergers and acquisitions.

Joanne completed a nine-month secondment to Oaktree Capital Management (as assistant General Counsel to the real estate team) in 2024.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn in 2020, Joanne trained and practised in the London office of a magic circle law firm where she also completed a secondment to an international bank.

Iris Hill Crabtree is an associate in the Houston office of Gibson Dunn. Her corporate practice focuses on leveraged financings and investments across industries. She represents public and private borrowers, private equity investors and other clients in connection with credit facilities and note purchase facilities, including acquisition financings, reserve-based/asset-based lending facilities and other forms of senior and subordinated debt financing.

In 2022, Iris received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from University of Houston Law Center, where she participated in the part-time program, working full time during the day and attending school in the evening. While in law school, Iris served as General Administrative Editor of the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal. Prior to and during law school, she worked as a consultant in the technology sector assisting oil and gas majors with integrating digital solutions into their core business. She later went on to lead the US retail digital strategy for an oil and gas major while finishing law school. Iris received her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University in 2012.

Jai S. Pathak is a partner in the Singapore office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups. Jai established the Singapore office in 2008 and has served as its partner in charge through 2021. He has also served as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Jai has extensive experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, dispositions, privatizations, joint ventures, licensing, infrastructure development, as well as private equity and structured finance transactions. He has significant experience in the telecommunications, technology, banking, hospitality, oil/gas, pharmaceutical, FMCG and chemical industries. His clients have included governments, financial institutions, investment banks, multinational companies and U.S., European, and Asian companies. His practice has included projects in the United States, Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Canada, Australia and China.

Jai’s representative accolades include the following:

• Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026 and Chambers Global 2025 ranked Jai as a leading lawyer for Corporate/M&A in Singapore and India (top tier). Chambers noted that “Jai Pathak is an experienced lawyer in Singapore with a good track record in M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructuring. He is particularly recognised for his expertise in deals involving India and the USA.” Client feedback from the publications also noted that “Clients say that “Jai Pathak is very globally experienced. He is available, reliable and marshals resources within the firm’s network brilliantly.”
• Chambers Global 2025 also ranked Jai as Foreign Expert for India in the category Singapore: Corporate/M&A.
• The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026  recognized Jai as a Leading Individual for Corporate and M&A in Singapore.
• Asia Business Law Journal’s Singapore Top ‘A-list’ lawyers 2026
• Best Lawyers in Singapore 2026 recommended Jai as a leading lawyer for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Corporate Law.
• IFLR1000: Financial and Corporate guide 2024 recognized Jai as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for M&A in Singapore.
• Legal Era named Jai as the Cross Border Lawyer of the Year for Corporate & Mergers and Acquisitions at its annual Global Achievers Awards 2022 and 2023.
• India Business Law Journal named Jai to its 2024 International A-List, featuring “the top India-focused lawyers at international law firms.”
• Asia Business Law Journal recognized Jai as an A‐List lawyer in its 2019 Top 100 Lawyers list featuring “the best lawyers from the top law firms in Singapore.”
• Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2013 identified Jai as a leading lawyer in Singapore.
• Asian Legal Business’s Legal Who’s Who Singapore 2003 awarded Jai the “Best Corporate Lawyer” award.
• The Indian Council of Jurists presented Jai with the “National Law Day Award – 2001” for his unique contribution to the development of Indian corporate law.
• The American Lawyer named Jai in its February 2009 issue to its Top 20 Lateral Partner Hires list for 2008.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Jai practiced with a leading global firm since 1985, where he was a partner heading the transactional practice in Los Angeles and coordinating the M&A section for the California region. He previously served as head of that firm’s India practice and partner in charge of the Singapore office. He also spent more than a decade practicing in that firm’s London, New York and Cleveland offices.

Jai graduated from law school with a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence (Honors) in 1984 from the University of Oxford where he also earned his Master of Arts in 1989. He received his Master of Laws from the University of Virginia in 1985. He also received his Bachelor of Arts (Honors) and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Delhi (St. Stephen’s College) and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

Muriel Hague is an associate in the Houston office of Gibson Dunn, where she practices across the firm’s Transactional Department.

Muriel received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, graduating magna cum laude and as a member in the Orders of the Coif and Barons. While attending law school, she served as Chief Notes & Comments Editor for the Houston Law Review, worked as a research assistant for Professor Tracy Hester, and mentored students as a teaching assistant and a legal writing fellow. In 2014, Muriel received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Kansas.

Muriel is admitted to practice in the State of Texas.

Anthony Forde is an English qualified associate in the UAE offices of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group.

Anthony advises on a range of corporate transactional and advisory matters and has experience advising on private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, IPOs, and other general corporate advisory matters.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Anthony was a corporate associate in the Dubai office of an international law firm and a corporate associate in the London office of a Magic Circle law firm.

Irina Dykhne is an associate in the Century City office of Gibson Dunn, where she practices in the firm’s Transactional Department. Her practice focuses on mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, equity investments, restructuring transactions and general corporate governance. She works with companies in a broad array of industries, and has extensive experience working with media, entertainment, music, technology and gaming companies and private equity sponsors. Irina is a member of the firm’s Media, Entertainment and Technology, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity and Technology Transactions Practice Groups.

Irina received her law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law where she graduated Order of the Coif and earned a certificate in entertainment law. During law school, she served as Executive Senior Editor of the Southern California Law Review. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from Northwestern University. Prior to attending law school, Irina worked in film and television development and production.

Representative Experience*

• Serena Williams in connection with an investment in the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise.
• The SpringHill Company LLC, the film and television production company founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, on its merger of equals with Fulwell 73, a production company founded by James Corden, Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner.
• SC Holdings in its acquisition of the operator of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier.
• NFL films in its strategic joint venture with Skydance Media to form a global multi-sport production studio.
• A minority investor in connection with the ∼ $6 billion acquisition of the Washington Commanders.
• Hybe Co., Ltd. (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) in its ~ $1 billion acquisition of Ithaca Holdings, a diversified media company founded by Scooter Braun.
• Confidential acquisition of rights to a major recording artist’s solo musical compositions, sound recordings and other IP assets and revenue streams.
• A major athlete in connection with the confidential licensing and assignment of his entertainment business, name, image and likeness rights and other IP assets.
• North Road Co. in its formation and $150 million investment by Providence Equity.
• Guggenheim Partners in its investment in SpringHill Entertainment, a media company founded by LeBron James.
• Viacom in its acquisition of Pluto TV for $340 million.
• The Agency, a California-based global luxury real estate brokerage, in its acquisition of Triplemint, a New York-based online real estate brokerage.
• Wholly owned subsidiaries of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority on minority investments in:
  • Fisher Investments, an independent money management firm, in a $3 billion common stock investment alongside Advent International.
  • Baxter Pharmaceutical Solutions LLC and Baxter Oncology GmbH as part of a divestment from Baxter International Inc., a publicly traded company, of its BioPharma Solutions (BPS) business alongside Advent International and Warburg Pincus in a $4.25 billion cash transaction.
  • Arconic Corporation, a lightweight metals manufacturer, in a post-closing syndication of debt and equity interests alongside Apollo Global Management, Inc. and Irenic Capital Management LP.
  • Real Truck Group, Inc., an automotive parts and accessories retailer company, alongside L Catterton.
• Guggenheim Partners and Temasek Holdings, a Singaporean sovereign wealth fund, in their acquisition of Eastdil Secured, LLC for $450 million from Wells Fargo.
• Aristocrat Leisure, an Australian based global gaming content and technology company in numerous investments in the gaming industry including a financing in Simplebet, a digital sports-betting start-up.
• BSB Brown-Sugar Bourbon in its engagement of Jamie Foxx as a celebrity brand ambassador and investor.
• WES Brands, LLC in the formation of a joint venture and engagement of Mark Wahlberg as a celebrity brand ambassador of Flecha Azul Tequila.
• Marc Rowan, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, in the formation of a film financing and production joint venture with producer Michael Mendelsohn.
• Marginal MediaWorks, a film and television production company, in a convertible note financing round led by Tim Disney and subsequent asset purchase of Fresno, a digital start-up.
• Cresco Labs, a publicly traded cannabis company, in its acquisition of Laurel Harvest Labs LLC.
• Vance Street Capital LLC in various transactions including its sale of its portfolio company, A&E Medical Corp., to Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. for $230 million and its acquisition of Wytech Industries for $108 million.
• Colony Capital Inc. in its acquisition of secondary equity interests in DataBank Holdings Ltd. for $185 million.

* Includes representations prior to Irina’s association with Gibson Dunn.

Janet Diaz is an associate in the Dallas office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Groups.

Janet earned her BA with Honors from Stanford University with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Chicano/a-Latino/a Studies. After teaching sixth- and seventh- grade social studies for several years, she went on to earn her J.D. from the University of Houston Law School, where she worked as a research assistant for Dean Leonard M. Baynes. She was also a board member with the Latinx Law Students Association and a Senior Articles Editor for the Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy.

Janet is admitted to practice in Texas.