Katherine Nobbs is a partner in the Brussels office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Practice Group.

Katherine’s practice covers all areas of competition law and trade defense law. She also advises on the scope and implementation of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. She has extensive experience across a wide range of commercial industries, including the technology, transport, entertainment, and agrochemical sectors.

Katherine holds a Master of Laws with Distinction from the University of Law in London, and a Master of Philosophy with Distinction in International Relations from the University of Cambridge. She is admitted to the Brussels Bar.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Katherine worked as a competition and trade associate at an international law firm in Brussels.

Katherine is a native English speaker. She is fluent in French and proficient in Spanish.

Gus Eyler is a leading defense attorney and Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Consumer Protection and FDA and Health Care Practice Groups. An experienced litigator and former Director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, he represents companies and executives in high-stakes criminal and civil investigations and litigation.

Gus brings broad and practical experience to clients facing government enforcement actions. Ranked by Chambers and Legal 500, he is praised for his “exceptional ability to manage crises, disarm regulators, and get results,” especially in matters alleging consumer harm. Gus regularly handles clients’ most crucial legal issues, engaging with federal and state enforcers to close investigations, resolve disputes, and prevail in litigation. Clients also rely on him to mitigate risks through internal investigations and compliance guidance. His clients include the world’s top consumer product, life sciences, and technology companies.

As Director of DOJ’s Consumer Protection Branch (now reorganized into the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section), Gus led more than 250 prosecutors and staff in criminal and civil enforcement actions involving food, drugs, medical devices, tobacco products, consumer goods, social media, and marketing practices. He personally oversaw a wide range of corporate enforcement matters, partnering closely with the FDA, FTC, CPSC, and NHTSA to achieve landmark results. Gus also helped to craft corporate compliance policy as a member of DOJ’s Corporate Crime Advisory Group. 

Before serving as Director of the Consumer Protection Branch, Gus worked as a Counselor to the Attorney General, providing advice on matters related to the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the Criminal Division, the FBI, and the DEA. He also served as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. He is a recipient of both the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and the Attorney General’s Fraud Prevention Award. Prior to joining the Justice Department, Gus worked at Gibson Dunn, as counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and as a law clerk to Judge Thomas L. Ambro of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Gus received his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law & Policy Review and an author for the Yale Law Journal. He received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Princeton University and studied history at Merton College, Oxford.

Representative matters:

• Successfully represented multiple leading food and beverage companies in DOJ criminal investigations under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act.
• Persuaded DOJ to decline a criminal investigation into a consumer product manufacturer under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
• Secured closure of an FTC deceptive practices investigation into an online gaming platform.
• Represented a major healthcare organization in a DOJ investigation under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and False Claims Act.
• Successfully resolved numerous State Attorney General deceptive practices investigations into an online ordering and delivery platform.
• Convinced DOJ to close a parallel criminal and civil fraud investigation into a leading healthcare company and its top executives.
• Favorably resolved multiple Consumer Product Safety Commission investigations into consumer product manufacturers and distributors.
• Persuaded DOJ to close a fraud and money laundering investigation into a financial management business.
• Secured closure of DEA and State Attorney General investigations into an online marketplace related to the sale of regulated products.
• Convinced DOJ to drop a criminal investigation into a cryptocurrency financial technology company and its top executives.
• Favorably resolved an FTC investigation and enforcement action against a healthcare company and its CEO.
• Represented a global e-commerce entity in parallel civil and criminal investigations brought by the FTC and DOJ.
• Defended a drug manufacturer in a DOJ criminal and civil investigation under the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act.
• Represented a global e-commerce platform in federal and state matters related to counterfeit goods and trade.
• Led multiple risk assessments and internal investigations into marketing practices and regulated products.
• Designed and assisted in implementing corporate programs to ensure compliance with federal and state consumer protection laws.

Shaun A. Mathur is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where his practice focuses on complex commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation, Appellate and Constitutional Law, Antitrust and Competition, Class Actions, Media, Entertainment and Technology, and Intellectual Property Practice Groups.

Shaun represents clients in a variety of industries, including technology, media and entertainment, consumer products, automobile, insurance, and pharmaceutical, among others. He has extensive experience advising clients in copyright and trademark infringement, class action, and antitrust disputes. Shaun also has drafted numerous merits and amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court, multiple federal circuit courts, and all levels of the California appellate courts, and has presented oral argument to the Seventh Circuit.  He has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for Technology Law (2021-2026), Entertainment and Sports Law, and Litigation – Intellectual Property (2023-2026).

Representative Matters:

• Obtained reversal in the U.S. Supreme Court of the Ninth Circuit’s judgment awarding $12.8 million in non-taxable litigation expenses under the Copyright Act
• Obtained reversal in the California Court of Appeal of fraudulent concealment verdict and punitive damages award levied against automobile manufacturer
• Obtained reversal in the Ninth Circuit of $100 million judgment against large retailer
• Prevailed before the First Circuit on the scope of the Section 1 exemption to the Federal Arbitration Act, on behalf of gig economy company
• Obtained partial affirmance in the Ninth Circuit of order granting summary judgment on copyright infringement and business tort claims asserted against software company
• Obtained complete defense verdict in federal trademark infringement and unfair competition action filed against large social media and entertainment platform
• Defeated motion for preliminary injunction on behalf of world-famous singer, songwriter, and actress accused of trademark infringement.
• Obtained dismissal of trademark infringement claims in two lawsuits brought against media companies relating to alleged use of images on online properties
• Obtained order compelling influencers’ censorship claims against large social media and entertainment platform to arbitration in Singapore
• Obtained numerous orders from state and federal courts compelling individual arbitration and dismissing and/or staying class and representative actions alleging worker misclassification
• Obtained dismissal of complaint alleging RICO, antitrust, and tort claims against digital media company in competitor dispute
• Obtained dismissal of Walker Process fraud claims alleged against large pharmaceutical company in antitrust action
• Obtained dismissal for lack of Article III standing in putative class action alleging RICO and state-law tort claims against global science and technology company
• Obtained stay of preliminary injunction entered against ride-share platform in action brought by the California Attorney General and represented ride-share platform in appeal of injunction
• Obtained favorable settlement for water purification start-up company in action alleging that one of the company’s founders fraudulently concealed material information from the other founders
• Obtained favorable settlement for cosmetics company in copyright infringement lawsuit alleging that cosmetics company’s advertisement infringed plaintiff’s copyrighted painting
• Obtained favorable settlement for pretrial detainee in civil rights lawsuit alleging his substantive and procedural due process rights were violated during 8.5 year term of solitary confinement
• Represented software company at trial against claims of copyright infringement and numerous business torts
• Represented media and broadcasting company in contract dispute relating to broadcast of awards show
• Representing large pharmaceutical company in antitrust action alleging unlawful agreement and conspiracy to delay generic competition
• Representing major technology company in antitrust action alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization

Before joining the firm, Shaun served as a law clerk to the Honorable Carolyn B. McHugh of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and to the Honorable Robert J. Shelby of the United States District Court for the District of Utah.

He graduated with Highest Honors and Order of the Coif from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, where he served as an articles editor on the Utah Law Review. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Stony Brook University.

Shaun serves on the board of KEEN Los Angeles, which is a nonprofit organization that empowers youth with disabilities through inclusive recreation and fitness programs.

Shaun is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits.

Rachel Kleinberg is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the Tax Practice Group.

Her practice covers the U.S. federal tax aspects of a wide array of transactional matters focusing on the representation of corporate and private equity clients on M&A and private equity transactions, including joint ventures, spinoffs, and reorganizations, as well as associated acquisition financing transactions. She has significant experience with royalty financing transactions, as well as financial products and derivatives. Rachel also advises clients on international restructurings and planning, debt workouts, and bankruptcy restructurings.

Rachel has been acknowledged in numerous industry publications. She has been ranked Band 1 of Chambers USA (2019–2025) as a leading lawyer in Tax for Northern California. She is also recommended in The Legal 500 United States for International Tax and Financial Products (2019, 2025). Rachel was featured as one of the “Women in Tax Leaders” by International Tax Review (2015–2024). She was named a Tax “MVP” by Law360 in 2019 for several notable transactions, including her representation of Brookfield Business Partners LP in its $13.2 billion acquisition of the power solutions business of Johnson Controls International and again in 2024 for her involvement in several transactions, including the $6.05 billion purchase of the Washington Commanders.

Rachel is on the Advisory Board of the GW Law/IRS 33rd Annual Institute on Current Issues in International Taxation and the Planning Committee of the prestigious University of Chicago Federal Tax Conference. She is also a frequent speaker on international and corporate tax topics at prestigious tax conferences, including leading panels at the University of Chicago Tax Conference, the USC Gould School of Law Tax Institute, and PLI. She is also a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. She previously served as a Council Director of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation and a chair of the Foreign Activities of U.S. Taxpayers Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Rachel was a partner at another leading international law firm.

Rachel received her Bachelor Arts, magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1994 and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1998. She also earned a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 2003. After law school, Rachel clerked for Judge Norman Stahl on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1998 to 1999.

Rachel is admitted to practice in California and New York.  

Representative Experience*

• Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. in its $7.7 billion take-private acquisition of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc., a global provider of business decisioning data and analytics.
• Warner Music Group in its acquisition of a controlling stake in Tempo Music Investments, an investment platform for premium music rights, from Providence Equity Partners.
• Apollo Funds in the acquisition, alongside BC Partners, of the Environmental Services business of GFL Environmental Inc. for CA$8 billion.
• Macquarie Infrastructure Partners VI, a fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management, in its acquisition of a 49% equity stake in select U.S. Gulf Coast infrastructure assets from Dow Inc. for approximately $3 billion. 
• Anthelion Capital Holdings (formerly known as Cowen Sustainable Investments) in the acquisition pursuant to a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization of the Energy business unit of integrated electric bus and commercial vehicle power train manufacturer Proterra Inc.
• Coupang, Inc. in the acquisition of the business and assets of Farfetch Holdings plc in a rescue deal through an English pre-pack administration process.
• Mitchell Rales, Magic Johnson, and other investors in the $6.05 billion Josh Harris-led consortium to acquire the Washington Commanders.
• Allkem Limited in its $10.6 billion merger of equals with Livent Corporation.
• Stone Point Capital LLC in their investment in IEQ Capital, LLC.
• Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. in the spinoff of its cabinets business, MasterBrand, Inc. 
• Regal Beloit Corporation in its $9.1 billion Reverse Morris Trust transaction with Rexnord Corporation.
• AmeriHome Mortgage Company, LLC in its sale by subsidiaries of Athene Holding Ltd. and funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management to Western Alliance Bancorporation.
• Variant Equity in the sale of Curb Taxi Media to Firefly, a mobile digital out-of-home company.
• Palo Alto Networks in its $265 million acquisition of The Crypsis Group, an incident response, risk management, and digital forensics consulting firm.
• Athene Holding Ltd. in connection with its acquisition of the business of Donlen Corporation from Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.
• Clearlake Capital Group L.P. in the acquisition of Zywave, Inc., a software-as-a-service provider of front office insurance solutions, from Aurora Capital Partners.
• Brookfield Business Partners on its acquisition of Johnson Controls’ Power Solutions Business.
• VF on its spinoff of Kontoor Brands.
• FMC on its spinoff of Livent Corporation.

*Includes representations prior to the association of Rachel with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Jonathan Griffin is a partner and UK solicitor-advocate whose practice spans transnational litigation, white-collar investigations and digital regulation. He has specialised experience in the fields of UK public company takeover regulations, and UK and EU technology regulations.

Commercial litigation

Jonathan has represented financial institutions, multinational corporations and a government in complex multi-billion dollar transnational litigation in jurisdictions comprising England & Wales, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Middle East, Caymans and the BVI among others. His sector experience includes energy, infrastructure and financial services. In the UK, he frequently represents clients before the English High Court (Commercial Court) and Court of Appeal. Beyond the UK, Jonathan has particular experience of the court systems and procedures in the EU, having spent much of his career acting as co-ordinating counsel on pan-European matters, and having studied law in both the civil and common law systems.

White collar

Jonathan has a substantial white collar investigations practice, and represents clients in the finance, consulting and pharmaceutical industries, among others, in respect of anti-bribery, financial crime and market manipulation matters.

He was the senior litigator appointed on long-term secondment to The Takeover Panel to advise it on some of its most important enforcement matters to date, including bringing the Panel’s largest enforcement matter in its history to a successful conclusion in 2024, resulting in the largest number of sanctions being handed down, including a novel compensation ruling to compensate affected shareholders.

Jonathan is recognised by The Legal 500 UK 2024 for Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime.

Digital regulation

Jonathan has substantial experience advising technology companies on UK and EU technology regulations. Recently, Jonathan spent a year on secondment at a major technology company running the implementation of the Online Safety Act, and co-ordinating the company’s Online Safety Act and Digital Services Act risk assessments.

Jonathan is a member of the firm’s Transnational Litigation, White Collar and FCPA Practice Groups. He speaks fluent French. He graduated with an MA in Law (First Class) from the University of Cambridge in 2006, and Distinction from BPP Law School.

Hugo Choy is an associate in Hong Kong. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.

Hugo has experience in representing and advising multinationals, listed companies, financial institutions, and private clients in civil litigations and arbitrations involving a wide range of contentious matters such as commercial and contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, insolvency, and commercial fraud.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Hugo was a senior associate at an international law firm in Hong Kong. He received his Bachelor of Laws from King’s College London and completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws programme at the University of Hong Kong.  

Hugo is admitted to practice in Hong Kong and is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Yolanda Lau is an associate in Hong Kong. She is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. 

Yolanda has over a decade of litigation experience in Hong Kong and a strong business acumen. She is trusted for her ability to identify and pursue practical and real-world solutions to complex commercial disputes. Yolanda has been involved in a number of major pieces of multi-jurisdictional litigation involving court proceedings, arbitration, and mediation. Her experience in dispute resolution spans across a range of specialist subjects including banking, intellectual property, cross-border insolvency and restructuring, receiverships, professional negligence and fraud, asset tracing, directors’ duties, and shareholder disputes. Yolanda is also well-versed in handling investigations and dealing with regulators in Hong Kong. She has extensive experience in working with law enforcement bodies in relation to matters involving white collar crime and misappropriation of company assets.

Yolanda has been recognized as a rising star by independent legal publications. She was awarded Rising Star of the Year award for APAC Litigation and Rising Star of the Year award for North Asia by Women in Business Law Awards in 2022 and Asian Legal Business’s Women in Law Awards in 2021 respectively.

Some of her recent and most significant experience includes advising:

• A global asset management company in relation to the enforcement of a secured senior loan facility for the refinancing of the construction of a luxury residential development in Hong Kong including the receivers in related Hong Kong court proceedings and the receivership
• The Hong Kong Court-appointed receivers of an offshore private equity fund appointed against highly unusual circumstances in connection with a complex and multi-jurisdictional dispute involving numerous court and arbitration proceedings and undertaking wide ranging investigations to identify, preserve and recover assets
• The Hong Kong branch of a major Chinese bank in bringing winding up proceedings against a foreign real estate development company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange including on overall strategy in light of the restructuring proposals presented by the company
• The majority shareholder in a high-profile family / shareholder dispute concerning a substantive restaurant business in Hong Kong
• A Hong Kong insurance company in arbitration proceedings before CIETAC Beijing in relation to a dispute arising from an M&A transaction

Currently, Yolanda sits on the board as Vice Chair to the Hong Kong Chapter of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Yolanda was a senior associate at another international law firm based in Hong Kong. Yolanda received her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from the Australian National University. She is admitted to practice in Hong Kong and the Australian Capital Territory. She is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. 

Lisette Chan is an associate in Hong Kong. She is a member of the firm’s global Strategic Sourcing and Commercial Transactions Practice Group.

Lisette advises on complex corporate transactions, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures across Asia Pacific, with a particular focus on the telecommunication and digital infrastructure sectors. She also has extensive experience working on trans-Pacific and trans-Indian Ocean submarine telecommunications cable projects and related digital infrastructure transactions covering landing arrangements, managed capacity, colocation, terrestrial backhaul, data centers and network, NOC, crossings, and IRUs.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Lisette was a senior associate at an international law firm in Hong Kong where she advised corporates, multinational technology companies, and financial institutions on a broad range of commercial transactions in the TMT space.

Lisette is admitted to practice in Hong Kong and is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Lauren Finnegan is an associate in the San Francisco office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. Prior to attending law school, Lauren worked as a Real Estate Case Assistant at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Lauren received her Juris Doctor from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2025. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California – Los Angeles in 2019.

Lauren is admitted to practice in the State of California.

Holly Rooke is of counsel in the Denver office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She practices in the firm’s litigation department, where she focuses on complex commercial litigation, securities litigation and enforcement, breach of fiduciary duty claims, breach of contract, mergers and acquisitions, and internal investigations. Holly has significant experience litigating in the Delaware Court of Chancery. She is recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Securities, and has been listed in the publication since 2021.

Representative Matters:

• Represented Energy Transfer in connection with two securities litigation class actions, including serving as the lead associate for fact development, discovery, deposition preparation, expert reports, summary judgment briefing, and trial preparation.
• Obtained dismissal of a securities fraud complaint filed against ArrowMark in connection with its investment in an office products company.  Served as the primary drafter for the motion to dismiss briefing, including developing the argument on an issue of first impression that was affirmed by the Second Circuit.
• Represented a special litigation committee created by the Board of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. to investigate claims related to alleged insider trading in connection with over $130 million in insider stock sales. Represented the committee in subsequent litigation challenging its report and conclusions, which were upheld by the Delaware Supreme Court.
• Conducted and managed an internal investigation of a cryptocurrency company to assess potential liability.
• Represented a stockholder in breach of fiduciary litigation related to insiders’ stock sales and bonuses, including serving as the primary drafter of the complaint and motion to dismiss briefing.
• Represented a multi-billion-dollar consulting company in an appraisal action, which resulted in a favorable settlement.
• Obtained dismissal of putative stockholder derivative action filed against current and former directors of a publicly traded finance company.
• Represented a special litigation committee in connection with an internal investigation of alleged accounting improprieties and fiduciary duty breaches by directors and employees.

Holly earned her law degree in 2013 from the University of Colorado School of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish from Colby College in 2008, graduating magna cum laude and with distinction in both majors.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Holly clerked for the Honorable Nathan B. Coats of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Holly is admitted to practice law in the States of Colorado and Washington (inactive) and is a member of the Colorado Bar Association.

Brian Richman is a partner in the Dallas office of Gibson Dunn who represents clients in high-stakes regulatory, constitutional, and emergency litigation nationwide. He is regularly engaged when companies face imminent regulatory action, compressed compliance deadlines, or enforcement initiatives that threaten core business models. His practice centers on challenges to federal and state agency action, including major rulemakings, enforcement campaigns, and complex appeals. He is a member of the firm’s Appellate and Constitutional Law and Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Groups.

Brian is frequently brought in at the outset of major rulemakings and enforcement actions, when swift litigation strategy is critical to preventing immediate compliance burdens, market disruption, or cascading enforcement risk. He has played a leading role in some of the most consequential regulatory cases in recent years.

Brian helped dismantle the Securities and Exchange Commission’s multi-year enforcement campaign advancing a novel “dealer” theory—under which the agency sought to treat a broad range of market participants as unregistered securities dealers—by coordinating and litigating parallel district-court, appellate, and rulemaking challenges nationwide. Following sustained litigation, the SEC voluntarily dismissed all remaining claims, resulting in the dismissal of disgorgement demands seeking approximately $500 million.

Brian has also been at the forefront of challenges to sweeping regulatory mandates. He helped deliver what the Financial Times described as a “major defeat” to the SEC in litigation challenging regulations affecting the private funds industry, and he currently represents clients in challenges to one of the SEC’s “biggest overhauls of U.S. corporate reporting in years” (Politico). In separate litigation, Brian played a central role in securing emergency appellate relief enjoining enforcement of California’s climate-disclosure laws pending appeal, averting immediate and irreversible compliance obligations for thousands of companies while the litigation proceeds. Collectively, Brian’s matters have resulted in the vacatur or suspension of regulations estimated to impose more than $5 billion in annual compliance costs. His work has earned three-time recognition as an AmLaw Litigation Daily “Litigator of the Week” Runner-Up.

In addition to public-enforcement and rulemaking challenges, Brian has achieved significant appellate victories curtailing private regulatory litigation. He argued before the Ninth Circuit in Social Life Network, Inc. v. LGH Investments LLC, 2023 WL 3641791 (9th Cir. May 25, 2023), and authored the briefing in Xeriant, Inc. v. Auctus Fund, LLC, 141 F.4th 405 (2d Cir. 2025), resulting in decisions that sharply limited the availability of private actions premised on alleged unregistered-dealer activity and narrowed a category of claims that had proliferated in the wake of the SEC’s enforcement efforts.

Brian regularly represents clients in complex appeals and high-stakes trial-court proceedings, including emergency motions for stays, injunctions, and extraordinary writs, in federal and state courts nationwide. He has presented oral argument before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits and has briefed matters across the country. His experience spans administrative law, securities regulation, constitutional challenges, employment and commercial litigation, and class-action defense.

Clients turn to Brian when regulators or state actors advance novel, aggressive legal theories that threaten to reshape markets, impose sweeping compliance mandates, or upend settled business models—and when stopping those actions quickly is critical.

Representative Matters

• National Association of Private Fund Managers v. SEC, 103 F.4th 1097 (5th Cir. 2024) – Secured a unanimous Fifth Circuit decision vacating the SEC’s private fund advisers rule. The court held that the agency “exceeded its statutory authority” and rejected its justifications as “pretextual.” The decision was described as a “significant setback” for the regulator (Bloomberg) and one that “could set the stage for other legal challenges” (The New York Times).
• National Association of Private Fund Managers v. SEC, 2024 WL 4858589 (N.D. Tex. 2024) – Obtained vacatur of the SEC’s “dealer” rule, delivering what Reuters called the “latest blow” to prominent SEC regulations. The court adopted Gibson Dunn’s argument that the agency unlawfully sought “to dramatically … expand the definition of dealer” to reach major market participants.
• People v. Amazon.com, Inc., 169 N.Y.S.3d 27 (N.Y. App. Div. 2022) – Achieved a unanimous reversal in New York’s Appellate Division dismissing all claims brought by the New York Attorney General concerning COVID-19 workplace-safety practices.
• In re Electronic Security Association, No. 24-60570 (5th Cir. 2024) – Secured the extraordinary remedy of mandamus, compelling the Federal Trade Commission to comply with the federal lottery statute in litigation challenging the agency’s “click-to-cancel” rule.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Brian clerked for Judge Stephen F. Williams of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He also served as a securities compliance officer at Goldman Sachs, advising on regulatory matters involving the SEC, CFTC, FERC, FINRA, and the Federal Reserve.

Brian serves on the Board of Advisors of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonpartisan civil-rights organization focused on constitutional and administrative law.

Brian earned his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was a lead editor of the Yale Journal on Regulation. He received his B.S., with honors, from Cornell University in Policy Analysis and Management, and was a visiting student in economics and politics at the University of Oxford (Lady Margaret Hall).

Brian is admitted to practice in Texas, New York, and the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Northern District of Texas, and the District of Columbia.

Charles Peugnet is a partner in the Paris office of Gibson Dunn, where he serves as a member of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Litigation Practice Groups.

Charles focuses his practice on restructuring, in particular in the context of LBOs and complex debts restructuring. He has also developed specific experience assisting listed companies, advising his clients in their relationships with the French financial markets regulatory body, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). Charles seamlessly represents companies of all sizes and sectors, insolvency practitioners, debtors and creditors (funds, banks or pools of financial institutions) in connection with pre-insolvency proceedings (either mandat ad hoc or conciliation proceedings) and insolvency proceedings (safeguard, reorganization or liquidation proceedings).

His practice covers the finance aspects of restructuring such as credit facilities, debt restructuring (including debt equity swap), sales of business plans and new money funding. He is part of a multidisciplinary team that often proposes innovative approaches, as they for instance introduced fiducie structures and golden shares.

Charles is also experienced in insolvency litigation, representing clients in insolvency proceedings litigation, debtors’ recourse, receivables disputes, appeals against safeguard or rehabilitation plans, and disputes related to the appointment of controllers. His litigation practice also encompasses general commercial litigation and arbitration, with a focus on expertise disputes, industrial and product liability.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn in 2017, Charles practiced for two years with a leading British law firm.

Admitted to the Paris Bar, he graduated with a degree in corporate and tax law from the University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne and received an undergraduate diploma in corporate law from the University of Paris II – Panthéon Assas.

Charles speaks French and English fluently.

Steve Wright is of counsel in the Dallas office of Gibson Dunn. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities, and general corporate governance matters.

Steve received his Juris Doctor and LLM in Law and Entrepreneurship from Duke University School of Law cum laude in 2016. While at Duke Law, he was a member of the Duke Journal of Constitutional Law and Public Policy. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, with an emphasis in Business Strategy, from Brigham Young University in 2013.

Steve is admitted to practice in 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 Murata Electronics North America, Inc. in its acquisition of Resonant, Inc. in an all-cash tender offer to create a leading global provider of RF system solutions and filter products
• Counsel to Satori Capital in its minority investment in Torani, the flavor company
• Counsel to LittleJohn & Co. in its acquisition of The Cook & Boardman Group
• Counsel to Liberty Hall Capital Partners in its acquisitions of Aircraft Performance Group and Numet Machining Techniques
• Counsel to InfraREIT, Inc. in its $1.275 billion sale to Oncor Electric Utility Company LLC
• Counsel to ATL Partners in its acquisition of Rock-it Cargo

Gisele Zouein is a corporate of counsel in the London office of Gibson Dunn. Gisele is a member of the Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Infrastructure Practice Groups.

Gisele has significant experience advising clients on a variety of cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, with a particular focus on infrastructure and growth investments. She also advises clients on joint ventures, financing, corporate reorganizations, and general corporate and commercial matters. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Gisele practiced at several law firms and served as General Counsel for a large group of companies in the Middle East.

Gisele earned her Ph.D. in corporate Law from Panthéon-Assas University (Paris II), where her doctoral thesis was awarded the prestigious Revue des Contrats Prize and has been published by LGDJ-Lextenso in France. She also earned her LL.M. from Harvard University, where she was the recipient of the Victor Brudney Prize for Corporate Governance. Additionally, she holds an Executive MBA from the American University of Beirut, and a Master of Laws and Bachelor of Laws from Saint-Joseph University.

Gisele is a member of the New York State Bar and the Beirut Bar. She is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.

Recent Experience Includes advising:

• KKR on their investment in Gulf Data Hub, one of the largest independent data center companies in the Middle East, creating a landmark strategic partnership to invest $5 billion in the region.
• KKR on the agreement to launch a new power-to-X platform with IGNIS, a leading integrated global renewable group based in Spain, to develop green hydrogen and ammonia projects.
• KKR on their investment in Dukes Education, a UK-based premium school operator.
• KKR on its investment in Northumbrian Water, a UK water and waste-water services company controlled by CK Group.
• KKR and Inovia Capital on their investment in Guesty, a leading property management platform.
• A client on their bid to acquire Spanish leading data centre platform, Nabiax from Asterion and Telefonica.
• A client on their bid to acquire a co-control stake from Iliad in OpCore, a leading operator of data centres in France and Poland.
• John Laing and KKR on John Laing’s agreement to acquire HICL Infrastructure PLC’s interest in four UK public-private partnership projects (the Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital PFI Project, the Queen’s Hospital PFI Project, the South Ayrshire Schools PFI Project and the Priority Schools Building Programme North East Batch) and a 37.5 per cent stake in the Hornsea II offshore transmission assets.
• H.I.G. Capital on its carve-out acquisition of Valeo’s thermal commercial vehicles division.
• Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and ADNOC Gas on the IPO of ADNOC Gas on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
• KKR Health Care Growth Fund II on its investment in German biopharmaceutical research and development company Coriolis Pharma.
• A client on their bid to acquire a stake in green hydrogen-to-steel pioneer, H2 Green Steel.
• KKR-backed Biosynth on its acquisition of VIO Chemicals.
• Dawn Biopharma, a KKR healthcare investment platform, on various investments.
• Kuwait Investment Authority on various investments.
• A.P. Moller on its investment in inventory tracking solution provider, Verity AG.

Arnaud Moulin is of counsel in the Paris office of Gibson Dunn, where he serves as a member of the firm’s Finance and Business Restructuring Practice Groups.

He specializes in structured finance transactions, in particular in the context of LBO transactions, and complex cross-border debt restructuring transactions. He seamlessly represents senior and junior lenders, financial sponsors, borrowers, and distressed investors in their significant strategic transactions.

Arnaud is experienced in acquisition finance (whether using all-senior, senior, second lien, unitranche, mezzanine or PIK financing), advising lenders, borrowers and sponsors on leveraged buy-outs, build-ups and corporate acquisitions. He also has experience in acting for lenders and borrowers in relation to investment-grade syndicated facilities, other corporate loans, and bridge financing. Arnaud also advises on bespoke financings for companies that require more complex corporate financings, including “special situation” financings for companies struggling to raise debt post-restructuring.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, he practiced as a law clerk at a leading British law firm.

Admitted to the Paris Bar since 2017, Arnaud graduated from University Paris 2 – Panthéon Assas in 2016 with a Master’s degree in Business and Tax law, and from EM Lyon Business School in 2014 with a M.Sc in Management (Programme Grande Ecole). He also obtained a Certificate of Proficiency in English in 2006 from Cambridge University.

Arnaud speaks French and English fluently, and is proficient in German.

Ciarán Deeny is a New York and English qualified of counsel based in the London office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups. He is currently on secondment.

Ciarán has a broad range of corporate transactional and general advisory experience, with a primary focus on cross-border transactions in private equity, private M&A and growth capital transactions across Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Ciarán took his Legal Practice Course in 2015 at BPP Law School, and earned his Bachelor of Laws LLB in 2010 at the London School of Economics. He is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, and the New York Bar.

Selected experience advising:

• Cision, a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, on its USD450 million acquisition of Brandwatch, a global leader in digital consumer intelligence and social media listening.
• TAWAL on its acquisitions of telecom tower portfolios in South Asia and on related master services.
• The majority shareholders of Avianca in the formation of Abra Group Limited, an airline transportation group anchored by a pan-Latin American network of airlines that includes GOL, Avianca and Viva Air.
• Investcorp on its joint investment with TPG in Outcomes First Group, an educational social group, providing educational services to those with learning and social difficulties.
• Hackman Capital Partners on a UK joint venture, involving the acquisition of interests in various film studios in the UK and Scotland.
• Crestview on the acquisition of AGR Automation, a UK-based provider of automation design and systems integration.
• AGIC Capital on the sale of global medical laser business Fotona to Vitruvian Partners and the related minority reinvestment arrangements.
• CITIC Capital on its sale of ISI Emerging Markets Group, the leading provider of macroeconomic, business and industry intelligence on global emerging markets, through a sale to Montagu Private Equity.
• Morgan Stanley on its investment in Huel, a sustainable nutrition company.
• Gulf Capital on the sale of MetaMed, the largest diagnostic imaging network in the Middle East, to a consortium of international and regional investors.
• Investcorp on the investment by a consortium of private equity investors into a rehabilitation healthcare facility in Abu Dhabi.
• A number of institutional investors with respect to their investments in technology companies focused on FinTech, consumer services and other technology enabled services in series seed, early and later stage investment rounds.

Frédéric Chevalier is of counsel in the Paris office of Gibson Dunn where he is a member of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Securities Regulation, and Corporate Governance Practice Groups.

Frédéric focuses his practice on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, as well as corporate governance matters. He has strong experience in securities law, especially regarding public tender offers, governance issues, as well as strategic or complex transactions involving listed companies.

He has advised clients from a variety of sectors, with a particular focus on the TMT sector. Over the years, he has worked on a wide range of transactions such as acquisitions, disposals, investments, group reorganizations, LBOs, joint-ventures or assets transactions, including in cross-border contexts.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn in 2022, Frédéric practiced in a leading French law firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions department.

Admitted to the Paris Bar since 2015, he graduated with honors in 2014 with a Master in Management & Business Law from HEC Paris, and an advanced master’s degree (Master 2) in Business Law and Taxation from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University.

He speaks French and English fluently.

Jennafer Tryck is a partner in the Orange County office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  She is a member of the Firm’s Litigation, Labor and Employment, Insurance and Reinsurance, and Class Actions practice groups, and represents clients across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, telecommunications, health care, and higher education.

Jennafer specializes in defending plan sponsors and insurers in high-stakes Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) litigation in the trial courts and on appeal.  She has represented clients in a wide range of single-plaintiff and class-action matters, including defending employers against excessive fee and prohibited transaction claims, tobacco surcharge claims, and 401(k) plan forfeiture claims.  She also defends plan sponsors and fiduciaries against challenges to the calculation of benefits for large defined-benefit pension plans.  In addition to litigation defense, Jennafer also dedicates a significant portion of her practice to advising clients on limiting litigation exposure for ERISA and non-ERISA benefit plans.    

The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized Jennafer as “One to Watch” in the areas of Commercial Litigation (2021-2026) and Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2026).

Select Representative Matters:

• Secured complete dismissal, with prejudice, of plaintiffs’ claims in ERISA “excessive fee” fiduciary-breach class action brought against outpatient surgical care company.
• Successfully struck plaintiffs’ damages experts and jury demand, in addition to multiple claims and thirteen named defendants, in ERISA fiduciary breach class action brought against leading private university.
• Represent multinational automobile manufacturer in wide range of single-plaintiff and class-action ERISA matters challenging the client’s administration of its retirement and health and welfare plans.
• Defend large health insurer in multiple putative nation-wide class actions challenging coverage and reimbursement decisions for ERISA-governed health plans.
• Represent major manufacturing and telecommunications companies in class actions alleging violations of ERISA actuarial equivalence requirements.

Professional Activities and Education:

Jennafer also maintains an active pro bono practice, including securing a new jury trial from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on a grandmother’s excessive force claim, and drafting an amicus brief on behalf of Kids In Need of Defense in a successful effort to enjoin regulations that limit asylum access for unaccompanied immigrant children.  She also serves on the Board of Directors of the OC Lavender Bar Association, the official association of LGBT and allied attorneys, judges, and law students in Orange County.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Jennafer served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Dana Fabe of the Alaska Supreme Court and as an extern to Judge John W. Sedwick of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.  She received her law degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Law where she was a member of the law school’s inaugural class.  Jennafer also holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Jennafer is a member of the California and Alaska bars and is admitted to practice before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth Circuits and the United States District Courts for the Central District of California, Northern District of California, and Eastern District of Michigan.

Rachel Robertson is a partner in the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  She practices in the firm’s Litigation and Labor and Employment Departments.  Rachel focuses her practice on complex, high-profile business disputes, including class actions, multidistrict litigation, and employment matters.  She has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation since 2022

Rachel focuses her practice on helping clients resolve their most challenging problems and guiding them through all stages of legal disputes—from advice and business strategy to trial and appeal.  Rachel has significant experience running all aspects of litigation matters, including through the dispute initiation, complex discovery, motion practice, and trial. 

Rachel has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including telecommunication companies, retailers, software companies, manufacturers, energy companies, investment firms, and social media companies.  She has experience in a wide range of business litigation and employment matters in state and federal court, arbitration, and mediation.  

Rachel has successfully litigated a wide range of issues in cases involving contract disputes; business torts, commercial fraud, and civil conspiracy disputes; trade secret, competition, and employee-raiding disputes; compliance with state and federal wage and hour laws; worker misclassification challenges; and breach of fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.  Rachel also maintains an active pro bono practice.

Recent Representative Experience

• Representing a major telecommunications company in multiple class actions alleging wage and hour violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Representing a major telecommunications company in a class seeking over $700 million in damages that alleges violations of fiduciary standards and other requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
• Representing an oil and gas company in the largest case in the history of North Dakota, seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for defamation, conspiracy, trespass, and tortious interference with business relations.
• Representing a national heavy machinery rental company in over 20 trade secrets cases in both federal and state multidistrict litigation.
• Member of the trial team who represented a global telecommunications company in a Fair Labor Standards Act case in a jury trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Obtained a full and nearly immediate defense verdict.
• Representing a major energy company in class action litigation and numerous related cases in state and federal court in Texas relating to contract disputes arising out of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.
• Representing a top retail company in numerous wage and hour arbitrations in California.
• Representing a large manufacturer in a Department of Labor investigation related COVID-19 health and safety procedures.
• Member of the trial team that represented Deutsche Telekom AG in a case brought by 14 state attorneys general seeking to block the $26 billion purchase of Sprint by DT’s subsidiary, T-Mobile.  Following a bench trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the court rejected the claims of the states and held that the merger should be allowed.
• Representing a top social networking company in two nonpublic state Attorneys General investigations related to content moderation that resulted in no action.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Rachel was a law clerk for the Honorable Sidney A. Fitzwater of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Rachel received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was the notes development editor and a member of the Executive Board of the Virginia Law Review.  Rachel graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Before law school, Rachel taught in Houston as a Teach For America corps member, and she was named a semi-finalist for the Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teaching Award. 

She is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

Prerak “Pre” Shah is a partner in the Houston office of Gibson Dunn, where he is a member of the firm’s State Attorney General Task Force. Drawing on his experience at the highest levels of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. Congress, he advises companies and executives facing state, federal, congressional, and internal investigations. He also represents clients in high-stakes civil litigation, with a particular expertise in state attorney general enforcement actions.

Pre previously served as the Senior Counsel to the Attorney General of Texas, advising the AG directly on the most consequential legal and policy issues facing the state. He supervised landmark litigation and enforcement actions, oversaw sensitive investigations, and helped craft the state’s legal strategy in cases with nationwide impact.

Pre was instrumental in coordinating Texas’s participation in high-profile multistate lawsuits and investigations, including matters involving consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, data privacy, and environmental regulation. In this role, Pre worked closely with attorneys general across the country to advance joint legal and policy objectives, while also serving as a public-facing representative on major litigation and enforcement matters.

Pre later served as the Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, where he led one of the largest and busiest districts in the nation. As the chief federal law enforcement officer for a population of more than 8 million, he oversaw a team of 120 prosecutors handling matters involving securities and healthcare fraud, the False Claims Act, public corruption, cybercrimes, and national security threats. Under his leadership, the office handled numerous high-profile matters, including convicting a cryptocurrency founder for securities fraud, investigating the death of MLB pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecuting a would-be bomber plotting to attack an Amazon facility, and capturing a capital murder suspect on the FBI’s “10 Most Wanted” list.

Before joining the Justice Department, Pre served as Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Cruz and as his Chief Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he provided strategic counsel on all policy, communications, political, and legal issues. He played a key role in numerous high-profile congressional investigations and hearings, including testimony from the CEOs or General Counsels of Facebook, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Twitter, SoftBank, and Equifax, as well as the confirmation hearings of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Pre also helped shape the federal judiciary, personally spearheading the selection, nomination, and confirmation of over 20 federal judges in Texas, as well as working on the confirmation of over 150 federal judges nationwide. He currently serves on the Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee, appointed by Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to advise them on all judicial and U.S. Attorney appointments in Texas. He has also twice been appointed by the judges of the Eastern District of Texas to their Magistrate Judge Selection Committee.

Pre also held multiple senior leadership positions at the Department of Justice, including Deputy Associate Attorney General in the office overseeing the divisions responsible for antitrust, civil rights, environmental litigation, and tax matters. He also served as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General leading the Department’s Natural Resources Section, handling litigation over the Keystone XL Pipeline, the Dakota Access Pipeline, federal fracking regulations, and even the salvage of the wreckage of the infamous RMS Titanic.

Pre earned his J.D. with honors from the University of Chicago Law School and clerked for the Honorable Jerry E. Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.