Will McDonald is a partner in the London office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Private Equity and Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Groups. He is the Co-Head of Gibson Dunn’s Cross-Border M&A Practice.

Will advises strategic and private equity clients on public and private M&A and corporate finance transactions, with a particular focus on complex, cross-border M&A. He advises across multiple industries, including mining and minerals, aerospace and defence, real estate, industrials, and consumer. He has worked for many years with US private equity firms on their US and cross-border investments into EMEA. Will has particular experience in UK public M&A, having been seconded for two years to the UK Takeover Panel as a case officer. During his time at the Panel, he regulated more than 250 transactions governed by the Takeover Code, including Anheuser-Busch InBev’s £71 billion offer for SABMiller, the UK’s largest takeover.

Will received a M.A. Hons. in History (first class) from the Universities of Edinburgh and Washington in 2004 (Kirkpatrick Scholar) and a Graduate Diploma in Law with commendation from BPP Law School in 2005. He completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in 2006. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Will was a partner in the mergers and acquisitions practice of another major international law firm.

Will’s experience includes advising: *

  • News Corporation, a global media company, on its $3.4 billion sale of Foxtel Group, an Australian digital sports and entertainment company, to DAZN Group, a provider of sports streaming
  • J.F. Lehman & Company in the sale of the Global Marine Group, subsea telecom maintenance and installation services, supporting mission-critical global communications infrastructure, to Keppel Infrastructure Fund.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company in the acquisition of a majority shareholding of W.S.S. Holding A/S and its subsidiaries, global leaders in marine supply, logistics and budget management services for the maritime industry.
  • SHI, Ltd. in connection with its follow-on investment into Highview Power, a global leader in long-duration liquid air energy storage plants. The £300 million debt and equity funding round was led by the UK Infrastructure Bank and Centrica alongside an equity syndicate of existing and new investors.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company in the acquisition and financing of all of the outstanding membership interests of Mission Microwave Technologies, LLC, a designer of radio frequency and microwave electronics supporting ground-based, airborne and space-based applications.
  • Verint in the acquisition of Qudini Limited, a provider of appointment scheduling solutions.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company and its portfolio company, Global Marine, on the sale of the Global Symphony offshore support vessel to Jan de Nul Group, and sale of other related assets to another strategic investor.
  • Macquarie, in the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Euston Solar Farm Limited, a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.
  • Web Financial Group, S.A. in the sale of all its technology business to Allfunds, one of the world’s leading B2B WealthTech platforms for the fund industry.
  • Macquarie Asset Management, via Macquarie Green Investment Group Renewable Energy Fund 2, in its acquisition of 50% of the shares in Island Green Power Limited, a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.
  • Sun Communities, Inc. on its acquisition of Park Holidays UK for approximately $1.3 billion.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company Integrated Global Services, Inc., a leading provider of thermal spray and other surface protection solutions, of international cleaning and inspections solutions provider, Tube Tech.
  • Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company on its debt and equity investment in Low Carbon Energy Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Low Carbon Limited, an established pan-European renewable energy developer and fund manager.
  • Bally’s Corporation in connection with the $2.7 billion acquisition and financing of Gamesys Ltd., an LSE-listed online gaming company.
  • DMI in its strategic investment from an affiliate of OceanSound Partners, LP.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company on the sale of BEI Precision Systems & Space Company, Inc., a company that designs, engineers, and manufactures highly accurate, resilient, and reliable position feedback sensors and frequency reference technologies for mission-critical space, land, air, and sea applications, to Quantic Corporate Holdings, Inc., a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management.
  • TransDigm Group Incorporated on the sale of Technical Airborne Components, a leading designer and manufacturer of rods and struts for the aerospace industry, to Searchlight Capital Partners.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, on its acquisition of a substantial investment in Trillium Engineering, LLC, a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered camera gimbals for unmanned aerial systems (“UAS”) performing mission-critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, from its founders.
  • The British Land Company PLC on the sale of a 75% interest in a portfolio of three buildings in London’s West End to Allianz Real Estate for £401 million. The portfolio included three buildings, 10 Portman Square, Marble Arch House, and York House, all of which are in Marylebone.
  • TransDigm Group Incorporated as regulatory counsel in the $965 million acquisition of Cobham Aero Connectivity, a leading provider of highly engineered antennas and radios for the aerospace end market.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, on the acquisition of CTS Engines, LLC and CTS Testing, LLC.
  • HNA, on the cross-border restructuring of the air freight and logistics business, Swissport.
  • Koch Equity Development LLC, the acquisition and investment subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., on its investment into AIM listed Victoria plc, a UK-based global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of flooring products.
  • L Brands, Inc. in its partnership with Next PLC for its Victoria’s Secret business in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
  • Freudenberg SE, the global technology group, in connection with the £107 million takeover offer by group member, FV Beteiligungs-GmbH, of Low & Bonar PLC.
  • OMNOVA Solutions Inc. in its $824 million acquisition by Synthomer plc, a United Kingdom-based specialty chemical company.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing of Global Marine Group.
  • Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., a technology leader in industrial machinery and environmental and power technologies, in its $46 million investment into Highview Power, a global leader in long-duration energy storage solutions.
  • Hansteen Holdings PLC in the £500 million recommended cash acquisition of Hansteen by Potter UK Bidco Limited, a newly-formed company indirectly owned by investment funds advised by affiliates of The Blackstone Group Inc..
  • Hansteen Holdings PLC in the sale of its Belgian real estate portfolio to a Belgian real estate investor.
  • Earls Court Investment Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of a joint venture between a fund advised by Delancey and APG on behalf of its pension fund clients, in connection with its £425 million acquisition of EC Group Holdings Limited from a subsidiary of Capital & Counties Properties Plc.
  • Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. in the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Invertek Drives Ltd. which makes variable frequency drives which are used to control motors in a variety of industrial, commercial, and energy saving applications.
  • GCA Altium as financial advisor to Project Sword Bidco Limited, a vehicle established by private equity firm NorthEdge Capital LLP, in connection with its £90 million acquisition of Catalis Plc, a provider of development, testing, and publishing services for the global video games market.
  • AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA on the €330 million auction sale of the Solidus Solutions group to funds advised by Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
  • The British Land Company PLC on the disposal of 12 superstores held by a joint venture between BL and J Sainsbury PLC to Realty Income Corporation, an entity listed on the NYSE, for aggregate consideration of £429 million (representing a net initial yield of 5.0%).
  • Roper Technologies, Inc. in its acquisition of Foundry, a leading provider of software technologies used to deliver award-winning visual effects and 3D content for the digital design, visualization, and entertainment industries, in an all-cash transaction valued at £410 million.
  • Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd. and its subsidiary, Huadong Medicine Aesthetics Investment (HongKong) Limited, on Huadong’s takeover offer for and acquisition of Sinclair Pharma Plc with a total value of approximately £169.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company BEI Precision Systems & Space Company, Inc. of Thistle Design (MMC) Limited, a supplier of encoders, resolvers, and other positioning and measurement sensors for the defense and industrial markets.
  • Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC in a recapitalization of its and PSP’s Chapter portfolio of student accommodation properties, one of the largest in Central London, by consolidating the portfolio under a new joint venture in which Allianz acquired an interest.
  • Houlihan Lokey EMEA, LLP in its capacity as financial adviser to GVC Holdings PLC in connection with its up to £3.9 billion cash and share combination with Ladbrokes Coral Group plc.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company National Response Corporation of Clean Line Waste Water Solutions Limited, a provider of environmental, industrial and emergency response services in the United Kingdom.
  • Verint Systems Inc. in its £26.3 million offer for eg solutions plc.
  • CB Richard Ellis Real Estate Group Services Inc. in its acquisition of an interest in the H2O Rivas Shopping Centre in Madrid, Spain.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing by investment affiliate AGI Holdings LLC of Aish Technologies Limited, a provider of ruggedized display systems, cathodic protection systems and other subsystems for the UK and U.S. navies, as well as other global defense and commercial customers.
  • Reynolds American Inc. regarding the acquisition by British American Tobacco, p.l.c. of 57.8 percent of the outstanding shares of RAI not owned by BAT and its affiliates in a transaction valued at $49 billion. The sale was effected through a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of BAT with and into RAI.
  • Hansteen Holdings PLC in connection with a voluntary recommended cash for Industrial Multi Property Trust PLC, an Isle of Man close-ended property investment company admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
  • Hansteen Holdings PLC in the disposal of its German and Dutch property portfolios and real estate management business for €1.28 billion to entities owned by funds advised by affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. and M7 Real Estate.
  • PW Real Estate Fund III, LP, which was advised by Aermont Capital LLP, in relation to the £323.3 million cash offer for the entire issued share capital of Pinewood Group plc, the AIM listed company which owned the Pinewood Studios business.
  • Nick Weber in the formation of Henderson Park Capital Management, a London based private equity real estate asset management platform.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by its portfolio company National Response Corporation of United Kingdom based Sureclean Limited, a provider of specialty solutions to the oil and gas, petrochemical, renewables, utilities, civil engineering, and construction sectors, and the related acquisition financing.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the sale of portfolio companies Drew Marine and ACR Electronics, Inc. to affiliates of The Jordan Company.
  • Beaumont Partners SA in connection with the $60 million acquisition financing of the 711-room, 33-story Delta Centre-Ville Hotel in downtown Montréal, Canada. Co-investors included Campus Crest and other investors.
  • The British Land Company Plc in the acquisition of its joint venture company’s entire issued share capital of wholly owned subsidiary Surrey Quays Limited, including the remaining shares of the 300,000-square-foot Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
  • LondonMetric Property Plc in connection with a £60.5 million acquisition and related financing of Primark Distribution Unit, a warehouse distribution center in Thrapston, Northamptonshire, through a corporate purchase.
  • IBRC Assurance Company and two other investors in the £21 million sale of all assets of the Met Quarter Property Unit Trust, including a high-end shopping center in Liverpool, by three co-investors to Columbus UK Real Estate Fund.
  • The British Land Company PLC in connection with their joint venture with Norges Bank Investment Management following Norges acquisition of London & Stamford’s 50% shareholding in Meadowhall Shopping Center for £1.5 billion
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing by portfolio company Drew Marine of the maritime interests of Chemring Group PLC, a designer, manufacturer, and seller of counter-improvised explosive device (IED) equipment, countermeasures, pyrotechnics, and munitions.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing of ACR Electronics, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of life-saving devices, from Chelton Avionics, Inc., a Cobham plc group company.
  • Trace One SA in the acquisition of the PLM business of Agentrics.
  • SAV Credit Limited in connection with the £472 million sale by Palamon Capital Partners, Electra Private Equity, and Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, of SAV to Värde Partners.
  • Praesepe plc, a UK-based gaming company listed on AIM, in its £45 million acquisition of Beacon Entertainments Limited, one of the largest adult gaming centers and bingo club operators in the UK, and related placing to existing and new shareholders.
  • UK REIT Hansteen Holdings plc in relation to the approximately €330 million acquisition and related financing of the German portfolio of the Halverton Babcock Industrial Fund.
  • London Town Group in its restructuring negotiations with Anglo-Irish Bank in relation to senior facilities of £80 million.
  • The British Land Company PLC in the purchase of 50% of the issued share capital of Shopping Centres Limited, a 50/50 joint venture with Tesco Plc, which indirectly owns the Surrey Quays and Clifton Moor Shopping Centres.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company in its $375 million sale of AIS Global Holdings LLC, a leading provider of mission-critical guidance, stabilization and navigation products and systems, d/b/a Atlantic Inertial Systems, to Goodrich Corporation, a leading provider of mission critical guidance, stabilization and navigation products and systems for the global defense market.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company in its $120 million acquisition of the Drew Marine Business, a global leader in providing technical solutions, high-value products and services to the marine industry, of Ashland Inc., a Fortune 500 diversified chemical company.
  • Connaught PLC in its £12 million acquisition of UK Fire (International) Limited.
  • Hansteen Holdings PLC, a property company investing in industrial property, in connection with its £200 million institutional placing and open offer, underwritten by KBC Peel Hunt Ltd, for the purpose of purchasing industrial properties, valuing the company at £335 million.
  • British Land on the formation of a 50:50 joint venture partnership for the freehold interest in its Meadowhall Shopping Centre near Sheffield. London and Stamford Property Limited and its joint venture partner will acquire a 50% stake in Meadowhall for £587.7 million.
  • Praesepe plc, f/k/a Aldgate Capital plc, in its $50 million acquisition of the Shipley Amusements group of companies and related debt financing provided by Barclays Bank plc. In connection with the acquisition, Praesepe plc placed up to $75.9 million New Ordinary Shares in an institutional placing, placement agent Numis Securities Limited.
  • Excalibur Group Holdings Limited, an international investment house specializing in medical sciences and an offshoot of Merlin Biosciences, in connection with its stock-for-stock acquisition of Merchant Ventures Investment Limited.
  • Inflexion Private Equity Limited in connection with the management buyout of Pims Group Limited, a company that specializes in submersible pumps and conventional and package systems in the United Kingdom.
  • Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation plc (ENRC) on its primary listing on the Main Market of the UK Listing Authority and admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange and related $3 billion global offer by Deutsche Bank, as sole global coordinator, sponsor, and joint bookrunner, and Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and ABN AMRO Rothschild, as joint bookrunners.
  • Inspicio Plc in its acquisition of Scientifics Limited.

 

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

Elisa Wong is an Australian-qualified associate in the London office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Technology Practice Group.

Elisa’s experience encompasses advising public and private sector clients on a wide array of major projects across the technology, media, entertainment, and telecommunications industries. Her expertise covers digital infrastructure and transformation, privacy and online safety regulations, as well as technology-adjacent M&A transactions.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Elisa worked in the Sydney office of another major law firm.

Daniel Abercromby is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and is a member of the firm’s Finance Practice Group. Daniel represents GPs across their various strategies – including private equity, infrastructure, real assets, credit and special situations – in a wide variety of financings in the Asia-Pacific region. Daniel has extensive experience in leveraged and acquisition financings, direct lending transactions and special situations investments, together with the refinancing and restructuring of such transactions. He has worked in Asia for over a decade and has jurisdictional expertise in the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, Greater China, Korea, and Japan.

Daniel is ranked as a leading lawyer for China Banking & Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance in the Chambers Greater China Region guide, where a client noted that “Dan is excellent and my first choice on Asia-related transactions.” He is also listed as a notable practitioner for Leveraged Finance in Hong Kong in IFLR1000 and has been named a recommended lawyer for Banking & Finance in Hong Kong in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide, which described him as “technically strong, collaborative and very commercial.”

Some of his recent and most significant experience includes advising:*

  • Advent International on a number of acquisition finance, structured finance and margin loan transactions, including the leveraged financings for their acquisitions of RA Chem Pharma, ZCL Chemicals, Eureka Forbes, Avra Labs, and TTK Healthcare’s pharma business, the refinancing and subsequent recapitalization at exit of facilities for Manjushree Technopak, the refinancing of facilities for The Learning Lab and margin loans in respect of their investments in Aditya Birla Capital and Eureka Forbes
  • Blackstone on a number of transactions, including their strategic partnership with HUMAIN to build data centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a margin loan in respect of their investment in the Embassy Office Parks REIT and leveraged financings for their acquisitions of Global Sources Inc. and Shya Hsin
  • DigitalBridge on a number of data center-related financings, including the MYR1.125 billion financing for their purchase of a major stake in the data center business of Malaysian telecoms firm TIME dotcom and the HK$1.8 billion financing for their carve-out acquisition of data center assets in Hong Kong and Malaysia from PCCW
  • KKR on various transactions, including the financings for their acquisitions of Samhwa Co., Ltd. from TPG Capital, two Korean waste management companies from SK Ecoplant and the EuroKids K-12 education group
  • TA Associates on a number of financings, including the leveraged financing and subsequent refinancing and recapitalization in connection with their acquisition of a controlling stake in Zifo RnD Solutions and the financing in connection with their investment in the AlephYa group of schools
  • TPG Capital on a number of financings, including the approximately US$200 million-equivalent bank financing and the subsequent unitranche refinancing for their Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia-based education platform
  • A number of global special situations investors on complex structured financings (both onshore and offshore) in Korea, Southeast Asia and India

*Includes matters handled prior to joining Gibson Dunn.

Daniel received his Bachelor of Laws (with Honors) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales and Hong Kong.

Hagen Rooke is a partner in the Singapore office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a member of the firm’s Financial Regulatory Practice Group and has extensive experience advising global financial institutions and corporates on regulatory matters across their full lifecycle, including financial services licensing, conduct of business, regulatory change projects, and contentious matters relating to regulatory investigations and enforcement. His clients include the world’s leading banks, payment services firms, digital asset exchanges, Web3 projects, capital markets intermediaries, fund managers, exchanges, proprietary trading houses, and commodity groups.

With an extensive track record of engaging with regulators such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC), and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and with an international client base, Hagen draws on a wealth of institutional and multijurisdictional experience. As such, he is uniquely placed to provide strategic advice to clients on their most critical business and risk-management decisions.

Hagen is a sought-after adviser, speaker, and writer on regulatory developments, both in traditional financial services and in emerging industry segments such as blockchain and Web3. He regularly presents at industry events and roundtables of organizations such as the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), the Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), the Investment Management Association of Singapore (IMAS), and the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). Hagen currently sits on the SFA’s Capital Markets Services Subcommittee and was a member of the SFA’s Digital Financing Subcommittee.

Chambers Fintech guide ranks Hagen as a Band 1 lawyer for Singapore FinTech Legal. Clients say that “Hagen is one of the top lawyers out there. He truly understands the technology he is advising on, making him an excellent partner from product creation to launch.” Other industry feedback states that he “has a very strong grasp of the legal issues relevant to digital assets, and he understands novel business models that are more relevant in the digital assets space” and that he “provides superb work and he is always on time and responsive.” Legal 500 ranks Hagen as a “Next Generation Partner” for Fintech and financial services regulatory. He is also among the “Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2025”  by Asian Legal Business.

Hagen received a Doctor of Law with distinction from the Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne Université in 2007 and gained his law qualifications (LPC) from BPP Law School in 2008. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sussex in 2002. Hagen is admitted to practice in England and Wales. He is also able to practice in permitted areas of Singapore Law under Section 36B of the Legal Profession Act. He speaks English, French, and German.

Representative Matters*:

Hagen’s experience includes advising:

Regulatory Licensing and Approvals

  • Banks, capital markets intermediaries, exchanges, payment services firms, and digital asset exchanges and brokerages on their MAS licensing applications
  • Investors on regulatory approval requirements for their acquisition of control of regulated institutions
  • Various financial institutions on their appointment of key officers, including directors, chief executive officers and other senior management personnel

Fintech and Digital Offerings

  • Various decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms on their regulatory structuring, including their token issuances
  • A global insurance group on the setup and licensing of a digital insurance distribution hub
  • A major bank on its integration of various third-party payment and e-commerce offerings into its customer-facing systems
  • A digital securities exchange on its MAS sandbox application and drafting of its exchange rulebook

Contracts and Documentation

  • A global systemically important bank on the drafting and negotiation of its agreement for the provision of middle-office services to a life insurance group
  • The Singapore branch of an international private bank on the drafting of its terms of business
  • An international private equity group on its global compliance manual
  • A major Asian securities brokerage on the drafting of its terms of service

Conduct of Business and Governance

  • An international payments group on its individual accountability and conduct framework
  • Various digital asset exchanges and brokerages on their asset safeguarding, technology risk management, customer disclosure, and other conduct requirements
  • A major commodities producer on its global AML/CFT audit and implementation of risk controls
  • Various banks on their bank secrecy, information security, technology risk management, customer disclosure, and other conduct requirements

Contentious Matters

  • A major private bank on the regulatory investigation of its execution and disclosure practices in connection with its sale of fixed-income instruments
  • A hedge fund on the regulatory investigation of its touchpoints with an illicit digital-asset platform
  • Various commercial banks on their collation and disclosure of information in response to court orders and injunctions
  • An investment bank on the handling of a regulatory investigation into its customer disclosures and suitability assessments for complex products

* Includes matters handled prior to joining Gibson Dunn.

Fang Xue is the Partner in Charge of the Singapore office. Fang previously served as the Partner in Charge of Gibson Dunn’s Beijing office for more than a decade. She is a member of the firm’s Corporate and its Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, International Trade, and National Security Practice Groups. Fang has broad-based corporate and commercial experience. She has represented corporations and private equity funds in cross-border acquisitions, private equity transactions, stock and asset transactions, joint ventures, going private transactions, tender offers and venture capital transactions, including many landmark deals among those. She also advises clients on corporate, compliance, export control and international trade related matters.

Fang is regularly recognized as a leading lawyer and notable practitioner by publications, such as Chambers Asia Pacific, Chambers Greater China Region, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, IFLR1000, Best Lawyers, Asian Legal Business and China Business Law Journal. Clients say, “she makes difficult transactions seemingly easy and makes the impossible possible!” and describe her as “very experienced in cross-border deals and a very good communicator who is very concise and therefore very good at working with in-house counsel.” Legal 500 ranks her as a “Leading Partner” for corporate and M&A in China. Clients note that “Xue Fang is a highly commercial and technically strong senior partner who brings a hands-on approach to every matter. She combines firm judgment with practical insight, offering clear, strategic advice that aligns with clients’ business goals. Her responsiveness and deep engagement throughout the process reflect her commitment to delivering exceptional client service.” Another client commented that “[her] leadership and expertise make her a standout advisor in complex and high-stakes transactions.”

Fang’s experience includes advising:

  • A leading U.S. public REIT company in divestitures
  • A major French agricultural company on establishing a joint venture in China
  • AGIC on its sale of Fotona, a European medical laser company, to Vitruvian Partners
  • CPE on the US$4.8 billion take private transaction of China Biologic Products Holdings
  • The Special Committee of Sina Corporation on the company’s US$2.6 billion going private transaction
  • CITIC Capital, Hua Capital and Goldstone Investment Co., Ltd. on the acquisition of OmniVision Technologies for US$1.9 billion
  • Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp. on the acquisition of Key Safety Systems, Inc. for US$920 million
  • Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment Co. (PDSTI) on transaction, litigation and regulatory matters related to its investment in ICON Aircraft, Inc.

Fang has worked in New York, Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore, and was educated in China and the U.S. Leveraging her worldly perspective and a deep understanding of commercial and cultural nuances, she is able to provide invaluable insights and recommendations to her clients.

Fang received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Duke University School of Law, where she served as Research Editor of the Law and Contemporary Problems and was also a member of the Order of the Coif. She was also the recipient of 2003 Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business Organization and Finance. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York and is qualified to practice in China. She is fluent in English and a native speaker of Mandarin.

Karthik Ashwin Thiagarajan is an of counsel in the Singapore office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate restructuring matters in India and Southeast Asia.

Karthik has assisted companies and investors across a variety of industries, including the information technology, fin-tech, telecommunication, logistics and consumer goods sectors. He has also advised clients on several cross-border restructuring matters in Southeast Asia.

In addition to his mergers and acquisitions experience, he also advises clients on internal investigations and anti-corruption reviews in the region. In the recent past, Karthik has assisted clients with investigations in the financial services, information technology, electronics and fast-moving consumer goods sectors in India and Southeast Asia.

Chambers Asia Pacific ranks Karthik for India Corporate/M&A and a client noted that “Karthik Thiagarajan is definitely an expert in his field; he gives us practical advice and understands our needs.” He was also lauded by a client for being “on top of his trade” in the India Business Law Journal’s 2019 “Leaders of the pack” report.  

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Karthik worked as an international lawyer with a leading law firm in Singapore, where he assisted with technology, media and telecommunications, cross-border restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions in Southeast Asia and India.

Karthik received his Master of Laws from Harvard University in 2009. He graduated from law school (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Honors)) from National Law School of India University, where he served as the Chief Editor of the Indian Journal of Law and Technology. He served as a law clerk to Justice Ruma Pal of the Supreme Court of India between 2005 and 2006.

Karthik is admitted to practice in India and New York. He speaks English, Hindi, Tamil and Kannada.

Representative Experience

  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation on its acquisition of Softex Indonesia, a leader in the fast-growing Indonesian personal care market, for approximately US$1.2 billion from a group of shareholders including CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific IV.
  • Uber Technologies, Inc. on the sale of its Southeast Asia ride and food-delivery businesses to Grab, a provider of ride-hailing, ride sharing and logistics services in Southeast Asia, in exchange for a 27.5% stake in Grab.
  • Voya Financial, a U.S. financial, retirement, investment and insurance company based in New York, on a joint venture in India with the SLK Group, a leading technology and consulting company to provide business process outsourcing and software development services.
  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation on the acquisition of Hindustan Unilever Limited’s 50% shareholding in Kimberly-Clark Lever Private Limited, a joint venture company between Hindustan Unilever Limited and Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
  • Colfax Corporation on the acquisition of EWAC Alloys Limited, an Indian wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Ltd, by its subsidiary, ESAB Holdings Ltd.
  • Celanese Corporation on the acquisition of Next Polymers Limited, an Indian engineering thermoplastics company.
  • Wolverine World Wide, Inc. on various matters relating to its operations and forays in Asia.
  • Acumen Fund, Inc. on various investments in India.
  • Founders of Happy Marketer Pte. Ltd., a leading Southeast Asian digital marketing agency headquartered in Singapore, on its sale to Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd., a global network and specialist/multi-market brands.
  • The Kraft Heinz Company on the sale of Heinz India Private Limited to Zydus Wellness, an Indian consumer health products company.

Katharine Scott is an associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and is a member of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group. She advises creditors, ad hoc committees, trustees, companies, boards of directors, financial sponsors, and other stakeholders evaluating strategic transactions. Her practice spans chapter 11 cases, out-of-court corporate restructurings, debt exchanges, distressed investments, liability management transactions, insolvency matters, and other special situations.

She has advised clients across a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, aviation, shipping, media, retail, and consumer products. She has counseled many clients in proceedings before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and has experience with both public company reorganizations and sponsor-backed transactions.

Katharine is admitted to practice in New York, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. She has been recognized for multiple consecutive years as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star.”

Representative Matters

  • Represented an ad hoc group of DIP lenders and term loan lenders in the $1.1 billion new money debtor-in-possession financing and chapter 11 cases of First Brands Group LLC, a global automotive aftermarket parts supplier.
  • Represented an ad hoc group of secured lenders to RugsUSA in the negotiation and consummation of a $120 million acquisition and equitization transaction.
  • Advised an ad hoc group of first lien lenders and noteholders to MultiPlan in the negotiation and consummation of an exchange transaction that extended appx. $4.5 billion of debt maturities by three years.
  • Counseled an ad hoc group of term lenders and noteholders to Xplore, Inc. in a $1.7 billion CAD comprehensive recapitalization transaction.
  • Represented Shoes For Crews in a sale to a group of its secured lenders through voluntary chapter 11 proceedings and in obtaining approximately $30 million in DIP financing from the secured lenders acquiring the business.*
  • Represented Vesta Holdings, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries in their chapter 11 cases and obtained 100% of secured lender and general unsecured creditor support on an all asset sale of the business.*
  • Represented Revlon, Inc.’s BrandCo Debtors—thirteen entities holding IP for brands including Elizabeth Arden, Almay, Curve, and American Crew—in their chapter 11 cases.*
  • Advised amici curiae law professors in their submission to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the Purdue Pharma chapter 11 cases.*
  • Represented Vewd Software USA, LLC and affiliates in prepackaged chapter 11 proceedings restructuring over $100 million in debt and securing $45 million in exit financing.*
  • Represented PlayMonster LLC in investment transactions with Adams Street Partners and H.I.G. Capital.*
  • Counseled LATAM Airlines Group and affiliates in multi-jurisdictional debt reorganization under chapter 11.*
  • Represented The McClatchy Company in its chapter 11 restructuring of $1.6 billion in debt.*
  • Advised Trident Holding Company, LLC in restructuring approximately $700 million in liabilities.*
  • Represented Aurora Commercial Corp. debtors in chapter 11, reducing claims from $343 million to $42,000 and confirming a fully consensual plan.*
  • Counseled Toisa Limited in its chapter 11 proceedings involving $1 billion in liabilities and vessel sales exceeding $550 million.*

(Matters noted with an asterisk were completed prior to joining Gibson Dunn.)

Education

  • J.D., Brooklyn Law School, 2018
    Dean’s Merit Scholarship; Judicial Extern, Hon. Sean H. Lane, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
  • B.A., Political Science, University of California, San Diego, 2013
    Provost Honors

Admissions

  • New York Bar
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York

Matthew J. Williams is a partner in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group. Matthew represents creditor groups, committees, debtors, lenders and new capital providers in Chapter 11 bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings.

Matthew recently represented secured lender groups in the Chapter 11 or out-of-court restructurings of First Brands Group; Weight Watchers, Inc.; Hearthside Foods;  Jo-Ann’s Stores; Audacy, Inc.; Phoenix Services; Dunn Paper; Akorn Pharmaceuticals; Skillsoft; The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority; Tailored Brands; and Aegerion Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, Matt represented the indenture trustee and chair of The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 restructuring of General Motors as well as ad hoc committees and/or official committees of unsecured creditors in the Chapter 11 restructurings of Aeromexico; Triangle Petroleum; iHeart; Dynegy; General Growth Properties; and Dana Automotive. He has also led company-side engagements in the Chapter 11 restructurings of Stimwave Technologies; Brookstone Holdings; Arcapita Bank; and The Sports Authority.

Matthew has been recognized as a leading bankruptcy attorney by numerous publications, including Chambers USA, “Bankruptcy/Restructuring: New York” (2008 – 2025); The Best Lawyers in America, “Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law” (2024 – 2026); Lawdragon, “500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers” (2024 – 2025) and “500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers” (2022 – 2024); Super Lawyers (2013 – 2024); Law360, “Bankruptcy MVP” (2015) and “Rising Star” (2010); and Turnaround & Workouts Magazine, “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers” (2010).

Matthew received his Juris Doctor, with high honors, from Rutgers University School of Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of New Jersey, cum laude. Matthew clerked for the Honorable Francis G. Conrad, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Vermont, following law school. Matthew is admitted in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

Eric Hwang is an associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a 
member of the Business Restructuring & Reorganization Practice Group and Liability Management & Special Situations Practice Group. He represents private equity funds, creditors and other financial institutions in a wide variety of liability management and distressed credit transactions.

Representations include*:

  • An ad hoc group of DIP lenders and term loan lenders in the $1.1 billion new money debtor-in-possession financing and chapter 11 cases of First Brands Group LLC, a global automotive aftermarket parts supplier.
  • Cision in connection with a $250 million new money financing and a $2.4 billion recapitalization of its credit facilities and senior notes.
  • Oregon Tool in connection with a $150 million new money financing and a $1.3 billion recapitalization of its credit facilities and senior notes.
  • United Site Services in a $300 million new money financing and the recapitalization of $2.6 billion of secured and unsecured liabilities.
  • Aventiv Technologies in a new money and uptier refinancing transaction involving more than $1.6 billion of first and second lien liabilities.
  • Elliott Investment Management as the anchor lender to Magenta Buyer in drop-down liability management transactions that raised $400 million of new money and refinanced over $4 billion of 1L and 2L liabilities.
  • An ad hoc group of term lenders to Maverick Gaming in a comprehensive amendment and uptier exchange.
  • An ad hoc group of term lenders to LifeScan Global in connection with an amendment and extension of 1L and 2L credit facilities.
  • An ad hoc group of 1L and 2L lenders to Mitel in connection with a new money and uptier financing transaction.
  • An ad hoc group of secured and unsecured creditors to Diebold Nixdorf in connection with a new money and refinancing transaction.

Mr. Hwang received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Harvard Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College.

*Includes transactions prior to Mr. Hwang’s association with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

AnnElyse Scarlett Gains is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Gibson Dunn where she practices in the firm’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group. Her practice focuses on corporate restructurings, distressed financing, liability management transactions, and other special situation transactions in acquisitions, out-of-court restructurings, and Chapter 11 cases. AnnElyse advises boards of directors, board committees, and senior management on a range of issues, including fiduciary duties and corporate governance. In addition, she represents ad hoc groups, lenders, investors, purchasers, and other stakeholders evaluating strategic transactions with target companies facing actual and potential economic distress.

 

Awards and Accolades:

  • Chambers USA, “Bankruptcy/Restructuring: District of Columbia” (2024 – 2025)
  • Lawdragon, “500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers” (2023 – 2025)
  • Law360, “Rising Star” (2024)
  • The Deal, “Top Women in Dealmaking” (2023)
  • Turnarounds & Workouts, “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer” (2023)

Representative Clients and Transactions:

Stakeholder Representations*

  • An ad hoc group of DIP lenders and term loan lenders in the chapter 11 cases of First Brands Group LLC, a global automotive aftermarket parts supplier. First Brands commenced bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and received approval for $1.1 billion in new money debtor-in-possession financing provided by the ad hoc group with a roll-up of $3.3 billion of prepetition term loan debt held by participating lenders.
  • An ad hoc group of lenders and term loan DIP lenders in the chapter 11 cases of Ascend Performance Materials Holdings Inc. Ascend commenced bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and received approval to incur approx. $900M in DIP Financing. During the proceedings, Ascend will address its over $2 billion funded debt obligations and pursue a comprehensive deleveraging transaction.
  • An ad hoc group of lenders of German-based Heubach Group in connection with the sale of the entire business operations to Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited (SCIL). The cross-border transaction is structured as a combination of an asset and share deal.
  • RXR Realty in the restructuring of approximately $360 million of indebtedness of View, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIEWQ) in View’s chapter 11 proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • A controlling ad hoc group of first lien lenders in Dynata, LLC in its chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Dynata filed for bankruptcy with a restructuring support agreement that contemplated approximately $80 million of new money financing and a comprehensive restructuring of over $1.3 billion of funded debt.
  • An ad hoc group of lenders and DIP lenders of Thrasio Holdings, Inc. in their prearranged chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Thrasio is the largest aggregator of Amazon brands in the world. Thrasio filed for bankruptcy with a restructuring support agreement that contemplated up to $90 million of new money financing and a comprehensive restructuring of over $3 billion of funded debt.
  • An ad hoc group of first lien lenders and DIP lenders in the prepackaged chapter 11 cases of Audacy, Inc. in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Audacy is the second largest radio company in the United States and a leader in providing local news, sports radio, and music broadcasting. The restructuring included complex FCC considerations and restructured approximately $1.9 billion of the Debtors’ funded debt.
  • An ad hoc group of cross-holders and DIP lenders in the prepackaged chapter 11 cases of Venator Materials PLC. Venator is a leading global producer of TiO2, manufactuer and seller of higher value-added functional additives, color pigments and timber treatment chemicals, and operates 20 facilities globally. The restructuring implemented a complex cross-border agreement to recapitalize Venator’soperations both domestically and internationally.
  • An ad hoc group of lenders to Loyalty Ventures, Inc. in its chapter 11 case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Pursuant to the comprehensive cross-border deal with the ad hoc group, Loyalty Ventures sold two business segments: (i) AIR MILES and (ii) the BrandLoyalty. This deal was implemented across various international proceedings in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. Loyalty Ventures is a leading Canadian rewards program, with over 11 million active collector accounts within approximately two-thirds of all Canadian households.
  • A controlling ad hoc group of term loan lenders to Akorn, Inc. Akorn was an American pharmaceuticals manufacturer that was an industry leader in branded and generic products in alternate dosage forms.
  • Knighthead Capital Management, LLC and Certares Opportunities LLC in their successful $5.916 billion purchase of Hertz Corporation, one of the largest car rental companies in the world, out of its chapter 11 cases, following a multi-month competitive auction.*  
  • The founder of Millennium Health, LLC and majority equity owner of Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC, one of the nation’s largest drug-testing laboratories, in Millennium’s prepackaged chapter 11 cases. After a heavily contested confirmation hearing and series of appeals, the bankruptcy court held, on remand, that it had the constitutional authority to grant third-party releases notwithstanding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Stern v. Marshall. This decision was subsequently upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.*

Company-Side Matters

  • KLDiscovery Inc., a leading global provider of electronic discovery, information governance, and data recovery technology solutions, in connection with a recapitalization and consensual deleveraging transaction with its convertible debenture holders, term loan lenders, revolving credit facility lender, and largest shareholder.
  • Cornerstone Chemical Company in its successful out-of-court restructuring and deleveraging transaction.
  • Voyager Digital Holdings, Inc.,in their chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Voyager Digital is one of the largest cryptocurrency platforms in the world, allowing customers to buy, sell, trade, and store more than 100 cryptocurrencies and supporting over $1.3 billion in aggregate cryptocurrency holdings on the platform.
  • Navient Solutions LLC in securing dismissal of an involuntary chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Navient is a leader in education loan management and business processing solutions for education, healthcare, and government entities. The Bankruptcy Court dismissed the involuntary case just two weeks after it commenced.
  • Oasis Petroleum Inc.,in prepackaged chapter 11 cases filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas to restructure approximately $2.3 billion in debt obligations. Oasis is a Houston, Texas based company that operates in the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors.
  • Groupe Dynamite, a Canadian fashion retailer specializing in women’s apparel and accessories in its Chapter 15 proceedings in Delaware to recognize proceedings commenced in Canada under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). Groupe Dynamite used the insolvency process to redefine its retail operations to a new COVID-19 friendly model.
  • Ultra Petroleum Corp.,  in their comprehensive deleveraging and balance-sheet restructuring, accomplished through prepackaged chapter 11 cases filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and a parallel Canadian recognition proceeding filed in the Supreme Court of Yukon in 2020. Ultra is one of the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in Wyoming.
  • Pier 1 Imports, Inc.,in their chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Pier 1 was a publicly-traded omnichannel retailer specializing in home furnishings and décor with 923 stores in the United States and Canada.   
  • iHeartMedia, Inc., one of the world’s leading global multi-platform media, entertainment, and data companies, in their chapter 11 restructuring. iHeart is the largest radio broadcaster in the United States and specializes in radio, digital, outdoor, mobile, social, live events, on-demand entertainment and information services for local and national communities. The Company had consolidated debts of over $20 billion and the chapter 11 cases, which were the largest filed in 2018 based on outstanding debt, restructured over $16 billion of that debt.
  • GenOn Energy, Inc.,in connection with their prearranged chapter 11 cases filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. GenOn is a wholesale power generation company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, with a focus on operations in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States—primarily operating in Pennsylvania and Maryland—and in California. Through the chapter 11 cases, GenOn restructured approximately $2.5 billion in funded indebtedness.
  • Sabine Oil & Gas, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with approximately $2.6 billion in outstanding funded debt obligations, in their chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of New York. In 2017, the Turnaround Management Association recognized the successful restructuring of Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation with its “Large Company Transaction of the Year Award.”

AnnElyse earned her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from the University of Illinois School of Law, where she was a Lincoln Scholar and a Harno Scholar, while also serving as an Assistant Editor for the Journal of Law, Technology & Policy.  She received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University, graduating from the Hutton Honors College with High Honors and High Distinction and was a member of Indiana’s NCAA Women’s Division I Rowing team. After law school, AnnElyse served as a clerk for the Honorable Peter J. Walsh (ret.) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

AnnElyse is a military-spouse and enjoys giving back to the military and veteran community. Her pro bono practice focuses on the representation of veterans and she has experience representing veterans with claims for trauma-related disabilities. She is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.

*Representations occurred prior to AnnElyse’s association with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Scott Toussaint is a senior associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s International Trade Practice Group. His practice focuses on compliance with U.S. laws governing international transactions, including economic sanctions, export controls, import restrictions, and foreign investment reviews. Scott’s legal advice is informed by his experience on Capitol Hill and at a leading foreign policy think tank.

Scott helps clients navigate matters before the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and other regulatory and enforcement agencies. He has deep experience counseling U.S. and foreign companies on compliance with OFAC sanctions; obtaining licenses and guidance; developing corporate compliance programs; conducting investigations into potential sanctions and export control violations; and assessing the national security implications of proposed mergers and acquisitions. He represents clients across a wide range of industries, including energy, financial services, private equity, shipping, manufacturing, and technology.

Scott frequently writes and speaks on U.S. trade restrictions targeting commercially challenging jurisdictions such as Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria, China, and Russia. He is a member of Law360’s International Trade Editorial Advisory Board.

Scott graduated from Stanford Law School, where he was an editor of the Stanford Law Review. He earned a Master of Science in international relations from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Cornell University. Prior to law school, Scott worked in Washington, D.C. for seven years as press secretary and foreign policy advisor for a member of Congress and as head of government affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

He is admitted to practice in the State of California and the District of Columbia.

Select Recent Speaking Engagements

  • Guest Lecturer, “Sanctions Enforcement,” Georgetown University Law Center (April 8, 2025)
  • Panelist, “Sanctions and Export Controls: Key Regulatory and Enforcement Trends,” Gibson Dunn Webcast (October 17, 2024)
  • Panelist, “Introduction to U.S. Economic Sanctions,” Association of Corporate Counsel (September 5, 2024)
  • Guest Lecturer, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About U.S. Sanctions,” U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Institute (August 14, 2023)
  • Speaker, “Sanctions Masterclass: Central America,” Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (May 10, 2022)

Select Recent Publications

  • Opportunities Amid the Challenges of Trump’s BIS Shake-Up, Law360 (January 22, 2026)
  • Tariffs and Sanctions: An Uneasy Balancing Act at the Supreme Court, Financier Worldwide (January 2026)
  • What to Expect on Tariffs and Related Risks, Financier Worldwide (May 2025)
  • International Trade 2024 Year-End Update, Gibson Dunn (February 6, 2025)
  • 2023 Year-End Sanctions and Export Controls Update, Gibson Dunn (February 7, 2024)
  • 2022 Year-End Sanctions and Export Controls Update, Gibson Dunn (February 7, 2023)
  • 2021 Year-End Sanctions and Export Controls Update, Gibson Dunn (February 4, 2022)
  • Biden Administration Imposes Additional Sanctions on Russia, Gibson Dunn (April 19, 2021)
  • U.S. Export Controls: The Future of Disruptive Technologies, NATO Legal Gazette (October 2020)
  • Understanding U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela, Financier Worldwide (April 2019)

Christina Barta De Mott is an associate in Gibson Dunn’s New York office. Her practice focuses on data privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

Christina received her J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2024, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a member of the Science and Technology Law Review and the Advanced Mediation Clinic. She graduated with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021 with degrees in Computer Science and Philosophy.

Christina is admitted to practice in New York.

Albert Tian is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he practices in the firm’s Litigation Department.

Albert earned his law degree from UCLA School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and participated in the Supreme Court Clinic. During law school, he served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Kim McLane Wardlaw of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. He also worked as a research assistant for Professor Blake Emerson, served as a graduate assistant tutor for first-year law students, and was Co-Editor-in-Chief of the UCLA Entertainment Law Review.

He was active in AAPI student and professional organizations, serving as Alumni Relations Co-Chair of UCLA Law’s Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association and as a student representative for the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association.

Albert holds a Master of Arts in the History of Political Thought and Intellectual History from Queen Mary University of London, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History from Middlebury College. Prior to law school, he taught history at an international high school in Shanghai, China.

Albert is admitted to practice in the State of California.

Sarah Leiper-Jennings is an English qualified of counsel in the London office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity and Capital Markets Practice Groups.

Sarah has extensive experience advising corporates, private equity funds and investment banks on a broad range of corporate transactional matters, including public and private M&A, joint ventures, IPOs and secondary offerings.

Sarah is recognised as a key lawyer in the 2025 and 2026 editions of The Legal 500 UK for M&A: Upper Mid-Market and Premium Deals, where she is described as having “the right mix of deep legal expertise and practical, solution-focused thinking”, and being “extremely approachable and responsive, and happy to deliver at pace”. She is also recognised as a key lawyer in the 2022, 2025 and 2026 editions of The Legal 500 for Equity Capital Markets and as “One to Watch” for Capital Markets Law in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom.

Sarah spent 12 months on secondment to Apollo Global Management and 18 months on secondment to Gibson Dunn’s New York Office.

Sarah is an executive committee member of Gibson Dunn’s London Office Diversity, Talent and Inclusion Committee, where she co-chairs the gender and family sub-groups.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Sarah was an associate in the Corporate team at the London office of another major international law firm, where she completed secondments to the firm’s Dubai office and to GE Capital.

Selected M&A experience includes advising:

  • Otro Capital and its partner RedBird Capital on their investment in Alpine Racing
  • AO World plc on its take private of musicMagpie plc
  • Elliott Investment Management L.P. and its affiliate, Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation on the acquisition of Nielsen Holdings plc
  • OceanSound Partners on the acquisition of SMX
  • Lupa Systems (James Murdoch’s family office) on the acquisition of majority control of the parent company of the Tribeca Film Festival
  • THG on various pre-IPO issuances to BlackRock, Merian and Sofina
  • Terra Firma on the disposal of Odeon and UCI Cinemas Group to AMC Entertainment Holdings
  • Platinum Equity on its acquisition of Euro Parking Collection
  • The Stars Group on its acquisition of Sky Betting and Gaming from CVC, Sky and management
  • William Hill plc on its investment in NeoGames

Selected capital markets experience includes advising:

  • the underwriters on THG’s £5.4 billion London listing and IPO
  • AO World plc on its capital raise by way of cash box placing
  • Forterra plc on its £400 million London listing and IPO
  • the underwriters on J2 Acquisition’s $1.12 billion London listing and IPO
  • the underwriters on Ocelot’s $425 million London listing and IPO

Natalie Lamb is an English qualified of counsel in the London office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups.

Her practice focuses on cross-border private equity M&A, joint ventures, equity investments, and commercial contracts. She has particularly extensive experience in digital infrastructure M&A transactions and the commercial contracts relating thereto, including master services, master lease, and build-to-suit agreements.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Natalie practised in the London, Moscow and Dubai offices of a large international law firm and completed secondments at Helios Towers plc in London and AIG’s sustainability practice in New York.

Selected experience:*

  • 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.
  • Helios Towers plc on its multi-jurisdictional acquisitions of telecom tower portfolios and on related master services, build-to-suit and equity investment agreements.
  • 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.
  • An institutional investment management firm on a line of equity investment into a UK telecom infrastructure provider and on related 5G commercial contracts.
  • Helios Towers Nigeria on its acquisition of Multi-Links, a Nigerian mobile network operator and the owner of a 5000 km fibre optic network, from Telkom SA, and on its subsequent sale of Multi-Links.
  • A global mobile network operator on the divestment of its telecom tower portfolios in Asia and on related joint venture arrangements.
  • A Middle Eastern mobile network operator on carving out its passive digital infrastructure assets in eight jurisdictions across Africa.
  • A digital infrastructure on its ongoing complex commercial contractual relationships with partners and sub-contractors, including with respect to managed services, marketing, construction, maintenance, security, service levels, IT, security, fibre IRUs and bandwidth.
  • A global private equity firm on its acquisition of a European portfolio of performing and non-performing loans.
  • Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation in connection with its CAD$10.3 billion acquisition of Addax Petroleum Corporation, a Canadian company publicly traded on the Toronto and London Stock Exchanges, with assets in West Africa and the Middle East

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

W. Soren Kreider IV is of counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups. Soren regularly represents clients in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic collaborations, spinoffs, restructurings, bankruptcy rights offerings and asset acquisitions, private placements, PIPE investments, venture capital investments, and other significant transactional matters across a number of industries, including infrastructure, life sciences, consumer goods, media and entertainment, sports and technology. Soren also has expertise in advising special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), private equity sponsors of SPACs, operating companies and investors in connection with SPAC business combinations and financing transactions.

Notable representations include:

Private Equity Transactions

  • Blackstone Infrastructure Partners on its acquisition of Safe Harbor Marinas, the largest marina and superyacht servicing business in the United States, from Sun Communities, Inc. for $5.65 billion.
  • KKR in a number of transactions, including on KKR and ReliaQuest’s new funding round of more than $500 million led by EQT, KKR, and FTV Capital, with participation from other existing investors Ten Eleven Ventures and Finback Investment Partners.
  • RedBird Capital Partners and the RedBird Capital joint venture with International Media Investments in a number of transactions, including on the acquisition of All3Media, a leading independent television production and distribution company, from its joint owners, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. and Liberty Global Ltd. for £1.15B.
  • BTG Pactual Strategic Capital in a number of transactions, including on the sale of Legent Health to a newly formed partnership between General Atlantic and Hospital for Special Surgery, the sale of Evergreen Environmental Partners Holdings to Meridian Waste, numerous acquisitions by its portfolio company Unified Disposal Partners Holdings, a preferred equity investment in Leaf Home to support the acquisition of Erie Home, and a strategic investment in UniTek Global Services.
  • RoundTable Healthcare Partners on its acquisition of EHOB, LLC.
  • Cornell Capital in connection with its acquisitions of Fastaff Travel Nursing, U.S. Nursing Corporation, trustaff Management, Inc., CardioSolution and Stella.ai.*
  • Kissner Group Holdings, and its equityholders, including Metalmark Capital and Silvertree-KMC II LP, a venture between Silverhawk Capital Partners and Demetree Salt, LLC, on its sale to Stone Canyon Industries Holdings LLC.*
  • Goldman Sachs’ private equity, Tailwind Capital, Crestview Partners and Lightyear Capital LLC on various transactions.*

Strategic Acquisitions, Restructurings and Spinoffs

  • C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC in its $1.77 billion acquisition of the SpartanNash Company.
  • Nielsen Holdings plc and its shareholders in the sale of the NCSolutions and Marketing Mix Modeling businesses to Circana.
  • Ocado Group plc on its acquisition of 6 River Systems from Shopify Inc.*
  • Clarivate Analytics plc in multiple acquisitions and corporate governance matters, including its $950 million acquisition of Decision Resources Group from Piramal Enterprises Limited.*
  • Roper Technologies in the $1.625 billion acquisition of iPipeline Holdings, Inc., a portfolio company previously owned by an affiliate of Thoma Bravo.*
  • Masco Corporation in the acquisition of The L.D. Kichler Co.*
  • Uniti Group Inc. in multiple acquisitions and internal REIT restructuring matters, including its $700 million acquisition of Southern Light, LLC and its $170 million acquisition of Hunt Telecommunications, LLC.*
  • The separation, global reorganization and initial public offering of the lithium division of FMC Corporation into Livent Corporation.*
  • The separation, global reorganization and spin-off of the jeanswear and outlets business of V.F. Corporation into Kontoor Brands.*
  • Ad hoc group of secured lenders of American Commercial Lines, Inc. in connection with a restructuring and rights offering of American Commercial Lines, Inc. in connection with its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.*
  • Ad hoc group of noteholders of Bristow Group Inc. in connection with a restructuring and rights offering of Bristow in connection with its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.*
  • Multinational corporation based in Asia in the acquisition of assets out of the bankruptcy of a multinational retail chain in partnership with noteholders of the debtor.*

SPAC Transactions

  • Constellation Acquisition Corp. and its sponsor on the transfer of the sponsor’s interests in Constellation to affiliates of Antarctica Capital Partners.*
  • Priveterra Acquisition Corp. on its initial business combination with AEON Biopharma.*
  • Lavoro Agro Limited on its $1.2 billion combination with TPB Acquisition Corp.*
  • ProKidney LP on its $1.8 billion combination with Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III and subsequent capital raising and acquisition transactions.*
  • Dynamics Special Purpose Corp. on its $230 million IPO and its $601 million business combination with Senti Biosciences.*
  • Alpha Capital Acquisition Company on its $1 billion merger with Semantix.*
  • SatixFy Communications Ltd. on its pre-IPO financing, its $813 million combination with Endurance Acquisition Corp and subsequent capital raising and acquisition transactions.*
  • Highland Transcend Partners I on its $1.9 billion merger with Pharmapacks.*
  • Silver Spike Acquisition Corp. II on its $446 million combination with Eleusis.*
  • Valens Semiconductor on its $1.1 billion combination with PTK Acquisition Corp. and subsequent capital raising and acquisition transactions.*
  • Elliott Opportunity II Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed by Elliott Investment Management, on its $609.5 million IPO.*

Other Mergers, Acquisitions, Dispositions and Joint Ventures

  • Founder of an emerging technology company in the cybersecurity industry in connection with multiple U.S. and non- U.S. acquisitions of privately held businesses, general corporate matters, multiple Series A and Series B private placement capital raises, and joint venture transactions in Singapore and Central America.*
  • Multinational corporation based in Central America on a joint venture and manufacturing relationship with a multinational corporation based in Asia.*
  • Baker Hughes Incorporated on an agreement to create a North American land pressure pumping company with CSL Capital Management and West Street Energy Partners (WSEP), a fund managed by the Merchant Banking Division of Goldman Sachs.*

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Soren was a counsel at an international law firm. Soren received his law degree from the Columbia University School of Law where he was recognized as a James Kent Scholar and a Ruth Bader Ginsburg Prize recipient. He also served as a Bluebook editor of the Columbia Law Review.

*Representations that occurred prior to Soren’s association with Gibson Dunn.

John Kim is of counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the Private Equity and Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Groups.

John represents private and public companies as well as private equity clients and their portfolio companies and management teams in connection with various corporate transactions, including mergers, equity and asset acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, recapitalizations, and other strategic business combinations.

John received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Chicago in 2005. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Rice University.

Greg Merz is of counsel in the Washington D.C. office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group with a focus on regulatory issues, product development and corporate transactions for investment advisers, private and registered investment funds and other financial services products and institutions. Greg has extensive experience with the application of federal and state securities laws to all aspects of the asset management industry, including the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Graham-Leach-Bliley, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act and state blue sky laws. He has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America® for his work in Private Funds and Hedge Funds.

Prior to returning to private practice in 2011, Greg was employed in a number of in-house positions in the asset management industry. He was a Managing Director & Deputy General Counsel for eight years at Legg Mason, where he focused on counseling the firm’s various registered investment advisor affiliates on regulatory matters, product development and government relations. Greg was also involved in supporting Legg Mason’s retail managed financial products (including mutual funds, closed end funds, collective investment trusts, 529 plans and retail separately managed accounts) and in the negotiation and implementation of a number of corporate acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings for the firm.

Before joining Legg Mason, Greg worked at Fidelity Investments for over nine years. While at Fidelity, he provided legal support to a number of different business functions, including portfolio management operations, investment compliance, various international and special product development initiatives, and mutual fund administration.

From 1985 to 1992, he was an Associate in the New York and London offices of a large international law firm, where he was engaged in a general corporate practice with an emphasis on financial services, mergers & acquisitions and international securities law.

Greg earned his law degree in 1985 from the University of Chicago, where he was on the University of Chicago Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

He is a member of the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and New York bars.

Ashley Cywicki is of counsel based in the UAE offices of Gibson Dunn, where he practices in the firm’s Transactional Department.

Ashley’s practice focuses on corporate M&A transactions (both public and private) and joint ventures, including in the conventional energy, renewable energy, specialty chemicals, banking and healthcare sectors. Ashley also has experience advising clients on the corporate aspects of fund establishments and fund investments.

Ashley received his law degree (LLB) from the University of Western Australia and is admitted to practice in Western Australia.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Ashley was a senior associate at a Magic Circle law firm, having spent time in their Perth, Dubai and London offices. Ashley has also completed a secondment to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) where he focused on downstream projects.

Thomas Barker is an English-qualified of counsel based in Gibson Dunn’s London office. He is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, Technology Transactions, and Capital Markets Practice Groups.

Thomas advises listed companies, financial institutions, and private equity funds on complex cross-border transactions. His broad corporate practice covers mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, equity issues, public offerings, restructurings and securities law advice.

Thomas has a particular focus on the TMT and Digital Infrastructure sectors advising clients on high-value corporate and commercial matters. He also has significant experience in private equity, advising sponsors such as Blue Owl, Lone Star and Brookfield in Europe and North America and Fajr Capital, Gulf Capital, Investcorp, and Jadwa in the MENA region.

Thomas is recognised by The Legal 500 UK 2024 for Equity Capital Markets – Mid-High Cap, and is ranked as a Notable Practitioner in M&A for the UAE by the IFLR1000 2022 edition.

Thomas read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Oxford before completing the Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP Law School and the Legal Practice Course at Kaplan Law School.

Selected M&A experience advising*:

  • Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure on its disposal of seven European colocation data centre assets to Apollo.
  • e& on its exit from the Khazna Data Center joint venture with G42 for approximately $2.2 billion.
  • e& on its collaboration with HTC to design and develop a white-labelled metaverse platform to be known as “e& universe”.
  • e& on the creation of a joint venture with G42 to which e& and G42 contributed their respective data centre offerings in the UAE.
  • ePLDT on the potential sale of certain data centre assets in the Philippines.
  • Stonepeak and MIESCOR on the combination of their joint venture (MIDC) with a joint venture between Macquarie Capital and Global Network Inc (PhilTower) to create one of the largest independent telecommunications towers companies in the Philippines.
  • Americana on a joint venture with REEF Technology to open and operate cloud kitchens across the Middle East offering Americana, REEF and third party brands.
  • Jadwa Investment Company and United Eastern Group on the sale of their respective stakes in United Eastern Medical Services, a UAE-based healthcare group, to Mubadala Healthcare.
  • Fajr Capital and Blackstone on the sale of a significant minority stake in GEMS Education to funds led by CVC Capital Partners.
  • Polymath Holdings on the sale of its stake in Amana Healthcare to Mubadala.
  • Gulf Capital on its investment in Emirates Auction.
  • GE Power on the sale of its Distributed Power business to Advent International for $3.25 billion.
  • Engie on the sale of its 40.5% stake in Paiton, an Indonesian power asset, to Nebras Power and Mitsui.
  • ZZ Capital International on its investment in Building Energy, a global, vertically integrated, multi-technology IPP operating in the renewable energy industry.
  • GMT Communications Partners with respect to the sale of MeetingZone to LoopUp Group plc which constituted a reverse takeover under the AIM Rules.

Selected Capital Markets experience advising*:

  • ADNOC Gas on its $50 billion Abu Dhabi listing and IPO.
  • Trustpilot Group on its £1 billion London listing and IPO.
  • Emirates NBD on the £2.2 billion London listing and IPO of Network International (a subsidiary of Emirates NBD).
  • Agility on the proposed London and Dubai listings and IPO of Tristar Transport (a subsidiary of Agility).
  • THG on certain capital fundraisings by way of placings, subscriptions and a retail offer (acting for the banks).
  • AO World on its capital raising by way of a cashbox placing.
  • Sophos Group on the placing of shares by Dr. Peter Lammer and Dr. Jan Hruska raising $582 million, in connection with the takeover offer by Thoma Bravo.
  • Fairfax Africa on its investment in Atlas Mara, an African-focused financial services institution listed on the London Stock Exchange, through a firm placing and open offer for ordinary shares and mandatory convertible bonds which converted into ordinary shares on closing of the open offer.

* Includes experience prior to joining Gibson Dunn.