Sameera Kimatrai is an English law qualified partner in the Dubai office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Financial Regulatory Practice Group. She has experience advising governments, regulators and a broad range of financial institutions in the UAE including investment managers, commercial and investment banks, payment service providers and digital asset service providers on complex regulatory issues both in onshore UAE and in the financial free zones. Sameera has particular experience in digital asset regulation across the Middle East and Africa having spent time as a senior regulatory lawyer in the legal department of a large digital assets exchange.

Sameera has earned recognition across leading legal directories and industry awards. Chambers Fintech Legal ranks Sameera as “Up and Coming ”, while IFLR1000 has ranked Sameera as a “Rising Star” for Financial Services Regulatory in the UAE for 2025. Legal 500 EMEA also named Sameera a “Rising Star” for Financial Services Regulation in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In addition, Sameera received the “Rising Star” award at the Law Middle East Awards 2025, honoring her significant contributions to Gibson Dunn and the financial regulation and fintech market.

She completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Cambridge in 2011 before completing her law degree at the University of Law in 2013. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Sameera was a senior associate based in the Dubai office of a Magic Circle law firm. She completed her training contract at another Magic Circle law firm in London, where she qualified into the financial services regulatory group.

Justin Newman is based in Gibson Dunn’s New York office and serves as the firm’s global Head of Compliance and Assistant General Counsel.

Prior to joining the firm’s Office of General Counsel, Justin served as the global Chief Compliance Officer, Executive Director, and Senior Assistant General Counsel for a leading international management consulting firm. He was previously a member of Gibson Dunn’s Finance Practice Group and, prior thereto, Justin was an associate at Shearman & Sterling LLP.

Justin earned his Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Law School, where he served as a note editor for the Cornell Law Review. He earned a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Cornell University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key National Honor Society.

Justin is a member of the New York bar.

C. William Thomas, Jr. is a partner in the Transactional Department of Gibson Dunn. His practice emphasizes the formation and operation of U.S. and non-U.S. private investment funds, including real estate funds, private equity funds and credit funds. Bill also advises investment management firms on their operations, regulatory matters and internal governance arrangements.

Bill has been ranked nationally as a leading lawyer for Investment Funds: Hedge Funds in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is also recognized by the Best Lawyers in America® 2023 publication in the area of Administrative and Regulatory Law.

Bill’s recent clients include: Bridgewater, BTG Pactual, EOS, Investcorp, JPMorgan, Madison Realty Capital, NGP Management, RXR, Safanad, Trinity Investments and Welltower.

Bill is a member of the District of Columbia, New York and Massachusetts bars. He received his law degree from Harvard University in 1998, magna cum laude. While at Harvard, he served as Books Editor of the Harvard Human Rights Journal. Bill received his master of arts degree from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University in 1998 and a bachelor of arts degree from Dartmouth College in 1992, summa cum laude.

Kate Timmerman is a corporate partner in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group.

Kate specialises in the establishment, management and operation of private equity, real estate, natural resources and infrastructure funds, co-investment funds, credit opportunity and other debt funds, including advising managers on the structuring and marketing of these funds. She has experience with private funds, investors, and investments throughout the world, including Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Kate also regularly represents investors in relation to the terms of their investment in and transfers of interest from such funds and has experience advising fund managers on the regulatory aspects of private fund structures as well as carried interest, co-investment schemes, secondary transactions, as well as joint ventures and other strategic partnerships and transactions.

Her relevant experience includes advising:

  • Leonard Green & Partners with respect to its 2022 vintage funds for which it raised $18.3 billion, as well as a number of co-investment projects and GP led secondary transactions.
  • Faropoint on its flagship industrial real estate funds, as well as a number of co-investments, separate accounts and joint ventures.
  • Mercer Investment Management on its fund investments in secondary transactions, co-investments and primary investments, as well as representing Mercer as a lead buyer or syndicate investor in GP-led secondary transactions.
  • StepStone Group in relation to their European real estate co-investments.
  • Basis Investment Group on the formation of its institutional debt funds and equity investment joint ventures.
  • Greystone with respect to the conversion of its real estate debt fund to an open end vehicle, and its JV relationships.
  • Madison International on real estate secondary funds and separate accounts investing in the U.S. and Western Europe.
  • Regularly acting for Strategic Partners, Neuberger Berman and Landmark Partners with respect to LP stake trades.

Kate received her Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) in 2012 from Bond University. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia.

 

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James O’Donnell is a partner in the London office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the Investment Funds Practice Group. James advises both LP investors and sponsors on a range of high-profile capital-raising and transactional mandates in the funds space. His clients include market-leading funds of funds, sovereign wealth funds, banks, development finance institutions, pension plans, insurance companies and fund managers.

James has extensive experience of fund related transactions, including primary, GP and LP-led secondaries, co-investments, the establishment and operation of funds and carried interest vehicles, management spin-outs, managed accounts and joint ventures as well as fund restructurings.

He has a particular passion for impact and developmental investment and has regularly represented leading members of the international impact and DFI community (both individually and as syndicates) in respect of their investment activities, as well as developing their best practice procedures and model forms.

James’ experience is truly global, including established markets such as North America and Europe, through to the Middle East, emerging markets including Africa and India and frontier markets including Somalia, Myanmar and Afghanistan.

James is an acknowledged market leader and ranked Band 1 for investor representation by Chambers & Partners since 2022. James is regularly invited to speak on fund-related matters, including being a lead contributor to the training and documentary programme of the Institution Limited Partners’ Association (ILPA). He is also ranked by Chambers & Partners Africa for his work in the region.

James received a BA in History (Hons) from University of Durham.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, James was co-chair of Investment Funds practice group at another U.S. law firm.

James’ experience includes advising: *

  • In numerous fund-related transactions for some of the most active and sophisticated market participants in the world, with investment sizes ranging to over $1 billion
  • The LPACs of funds in various jurisdiction in relation to disputes with and/or replacing the managers of those funds, including in relation to the widely reported $13 billion Abraaj collapse
  • The replacement manager in relation to the contentious and highly publicised removal of a GP from a $1 billion international private equity fund
  • Investors in respect of their termination of an emerging markets fund
  • The portfolio acquisition of over $1 billion of commitments in over 40 different funds, managed by 17 leading asset managers) in one of the biggest non-syndicated secondary deals in European history at the time
  • Investors on various separate account arrangements, including a number of large ($250 million to $800 million) separate accounts
  • A number of sponsors of closed ended investment funds, ranging from leading, established sponsors with fund commitments in excess of $1 billion, to start-up funds with commitments of USD10 million

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

Kira Idoko is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s New York office and a member of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group.

Kira’s practice focuses on the formation and operation of private investment funds across a variety of fund strategies, including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, credit and other investment strategies. She has advised on capital raises ranging from $200 million to $14 billion. Kira has extensive experience with both closed and open-end fund products, fund of funds and separately managed accounts. Additionally, she advises on structuring and restructuring, regulatory and compliance matters and other fund-related transactions.

Kira’s clients include: AECOM, Blue Owl, BTG Pactual, Eldridge Acre Partners, Investcorp, Manulife, RXR, Safanad, Stockdale and Welltower.

Additional relevant information about Kira includes:

  • Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Kira served as a senior attorney in the private funds group at Brookfield Asset Management. Before joining Brookfield, Kira was in-house counsel at Goldman Sachs Asset Management and, prior to that, an associate in the private funds practice group at a large international law firm.
  • Kira received her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University.
  • Kira is actively involved in fund-related pro bono efforts.
  • Kira is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.

James Hays is a partner in the Houston office of Gibson Dunn, where he is a member of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group.

James advises private fund sponsors on the organization and operation of private investment funds, including with respect to fund formation, internal arrangements, secondary transactions, and other components of alternative investment management. He counsels leading sponsors across a diverse range of strategies in the energy, infrastructure, buyout, real estate, debt, and secondaries space, and frequently works with sponsors seeking to organize private funds for the first time.

James has extensive experience with the set-up of alternative investment funds in Luxembourg and the distribution of private funds in Europe. He frequently counsels some of the largest alternative asset managers on European regulatory matters, including with respect to the AIFMD, the CBDF, and the SFDR. James is a leading voice in the United States for Luxembourg fund formation and has been sought out by organizations such as the American Investment Council, the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, and the Luxembourg Private Equity and Venture Capital Association to speak on the same. His published works include a series of coauthored articles for The Investment Lawyer on the use of Luxembourg funds and he has lectured at the University of Luxembourg on parallel fund structures. The Texas Lawyer has recognized James as a lawyer “On the Rise”.

Before returning to private practice, James was a Vice President at Blackstone, where he oversaw legal and compliance matters related to Blackstone Real Estate Partners, one the world’s largest real estate private equity platforms. Apart from counseling Blackstone on matters related to multiple fundraises and co-investments, James also advised on regulatory and strategic initiatives for Blackstone’s global real estate portfolio, including investments in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, James was a partner at a large international law firm.

James received his Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he was valedictorian of his class, an Executive Articles and Research Editor of the Brooklyn Law Review and an International Business Law Fellow. He received his Bachelor of Arts, with honors in the liberal arts, from Southern Methodist University.

Representative Transactions*

Selected Energy & Infrastructure Experience

  • Blackstone in the formation of Blackstone Infrastructure Partners
  • DigitalBridge in the establishment of DigitalBridge Partners II, an $8.3 billion fund focused on investing in digital infrastructure companies
  • First Reserve in (i) its partnership with management in a majority recapitalization of IRISNDT Inspection & Engineering Services and (ii) its agreement to purchase Dominion Energy’s 50% interest in Blue Racer Midstream
  • Intrepid Financial Partners in the establishment of its flagship fund
  • Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets in the establishment of MIRA Infrastructure Global Solution II, a $1.13 billion fund focused on equity and equity-related investments in core-plus and core infrastructure and infrastructure-related assets in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific
  • Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in the establishment of (i) Stonepeak Global Renewables Fund, its $2.75 billion inaugural renewable energy fund and (ii) Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund IV, a $14.0 billion infrastructure fund

Selected Credit Experience

  • BC Partners in the establishment of BCP Special Opportunities Fund II, a $1.2 billion credit opportunities fund
  • GSO Capital Partners in the establishment of (i) GSO Capital Solutions Fund III, a $7.0 billion capital solutions fund and (ii) GSO Energy Select Opportunities Fund II, a $4.5 billion energy-focused credit fund

Selected Real Estate Experience

  • Blackstone in the establishment of (i) Blackstone Real Estate Partners IX, a $20.5 billion global opportunistic real estate fund, (ii) Blackstone Real Estate Partners Asia II, a $7.1 billion Asian opportunistic real estate fund, and (iii) Blackstone Real Estate Partners Europe VI, a €9.8 billion European opportunistic real estate fund
  • Madison International Realty in the establishment of Madison International Real Estate Liquidity Fund VIII, a $1.7 billion commingled investment vehicle
  • Pretium in the establishment of its flagship real estate fund

Selected Private Equity Experience

  • Blackstone in the establishment of (i) Blackstone Capital Partners VIII, a global private equity fund, (ii) Blackstone Capital Partners Asia, a $2.3 billion Asian private equity fund, (iii) Blackstone Growth Partners, its $4.5 billion inaugural growth equity fund, and (iv) Blackstone Strategic Capital Holdings II, a $5.6 billion general partner stakes fund
  • New Mountain Capital in the establishment of New Mountain Partners VI, a $10.2 billion private equity fund
  • Strategic Partners in the establishment of Strategic Partners VIII, an $11.1 billion global private equity secondary fund
  • Technology Crossover Ventures in the establishment of TCV X, a $3.0 billion fund focused on technology investments

Selected Publications, Lectures, and Speaking Engagements

  • Client Alert: AIFMD II: The Impact of EU Reforms on Non-EU Sponsors Accessing European Capital, May 2024
  • Speaker: Operational Aspects of Luxembourg Funds, Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, Roadshow to the USA, May 2024
  • Moderator: What does the future hold for fundraising in an anti-ESG environment, International Bar Association, International Conference on Private Investment Funds, March 2024
  • Lecturer: Parallel Investment Funds, University of Luxembourg, March 2024
  • Speaker: Distribution in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, Digi Pulse USA, September 2021
  • Speaker: The Luxembourg Perspective on Private Equity in Europe, Luxembourg Private Equity Association, May 2021
  • Co-Author: Raising European Capital Using Luxembourg Structures: A Guide for US Managers, November 2018 and September 2018

Recognitions

  • On the Rise 2019, The Texas Lawyer

* Includes representations prior to the association of James with Gibson Dunn.

Shukie Grossman is a partner in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. He is Global Chair of the Investment Funds Practice Group.

Shukie’s practice focuses on the formation of private investment funds, including domestic and offshore funds focused on buyout, growth equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit and other investment strategies. In addition to fund formation, he has significant experience advising on the acquisition and sale of minority and majority stakes in fund sponsors, as well as spin-outs of fund businesses and management teams. He also advises investment firms on their operation, regulation and internal governance arrangements.

Shukie’s representative clients include Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure, Eldridge ACRE Partners, HighPost Capital, ICONIQ Capital, Leonard Green & Partners, Meridiam Infrastructure, Motive Partners, RXR, Sole Source Capital and Stockdale Capital Partners.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Shukie was a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. He spent several years in the Division of Investment Management of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shukie is consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500, The International Financial Law Review, Best Lawyers in America® and Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides Guide to the World’s Leading Banking, Finance and Transactional Lawyers. He is described in Chambers as a “world-class funds lawyer” who is “smart and highly knowledgeable in respect to fundraising and is a goal-oriented, pragmatic problem-solver,” and “knows the market so well and has seen so many complicated things.” One client notes “his combination of commercial advice and creativity is what sets him apart. We view him as a partner.” Law360 has named Shukie an “MVP” in Fund Formation and Who’s Who Legal Private Funds: Formation has listed him as a “Thought Leader” and among the “Most Highly Regarded Individuals.” The publication notes that he “draws praise as ‘an excellent funds lawyer’ who impresses peers with his depth of knowledge on investment fund matters.”

Shukie is a member of the Private Investment Funds Forum and was previously a member of the adjunct faculty at Columbia Law School where he taught a course on private investment funds.

Shukie received his Juris Doctor from Fordham University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yeshiva University.

Lisa A. Alfaro is a partner in the White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group and the Power and Renewables Practice Group.

For more than 25 years, Lisa has advised U.S. and multi-national companies on their most significant and critical matters, including corporate transactions, corporate compliance and investigations. Lisa represents developers, investment banks, private funds, Fortune 100 companies, state owned entities and investors in the U.S. and Brazil. Throughout her career, Lisa has advised clients in milestone cross-border transactions, coordinating and supervising multi-jurisdictional cross disciplinary teams in complex transactions.

Lisa leverages her corporate experience in the planning and implementation of internal corporate investigations, advising on the structuring, implementation and assessment of compliance management systems and representing companies before U.S. authorities. She guides compliance officers, senior executives, legal officers and board members in analyzing and managing risk in their business operations and provides day to day counsel on strategic matters. Lisa advises boards of directors and executive officers on crisis management, counseling them on critical challenges to the company, balancing various stakeholders’ interests and expectations.

Lisa regularly speaks on corporate, compliance and anti-corruption topics. She has appeared in webcasts speaking on the topic of Anti-Corruption Enforcement and Compliance.

Lisa is recognized as a leading lawyer for Corporate and M&A by The Best Lawyers in Brazil. She is listed as one of the “Top 100 Female Lawyers” in the area of Latin America Energy and FCPA & Fraud for 2019 and 2018 by Latinvex, which also named her to the Latin America “Top 50 Female Lawyers” list for 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021. In addition, Lisa was selected among the “Inspiring Women in Law” by Latin Lawyer.

Lisa joined the firm in 1995 after earning her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, where she was a member of the Law and Policy Review. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in government with high honors from the University of Texas in 1991.

Lisa is a member of the California and New York bars and speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

Representative Corporate Matters

  • Chow Tai Fook (CTF) Enterprises: Represented Chow Tai Fook Enterprises in its investment of R$165 million for the acquisition of a 35% stake in “Cidade Matarazzo”, an ultra-luxury retail and hotel project developed in an integrated complex in São Paulo by Group Allard (a French high-end retail developer), which retained 65% of the project.
  • Publicis Group: Represented Publicis Group, a global advertising company, in multiple acquisitions of Brazilian advertising agencies.
  • Prumo Logistica S.A.: Represented Prumo Logistica S.A. (formerly LLX S.A.) in the development of its multi-billion dollar Acu Port in Rio de Janeiro, including negotiation of all joint venture documents with its partner Anglo American plc, and all port operation and development agreements.
  • Standard Bank: Represented Standard Bank in its financing to Central Resources for the acquisition of certain oil-producing assets in Brazil from Koch Industries.
  • Gordian Energy: Represented Gordian Energy in various project related matters as the company developed a large agro-industrial project in North Brazil.
  • Neustar: Represented Neustar in its acquisition of CO Internet S.A.S., a Colombian operator of a worldwide registry for internet addresses with the .co top-level domain.
  • Worldwide Wolverine: Represented Worldwide Wolverine in a joint venture with local company in Colombia to manufacture and distribute retail goods.
  • Goldman Sachs: Represented Goldman Sachs as lead arranger in the $1.15 billion construction and term financing of the Kleen Energy Systems gas-fired power plant in Connecticut.
  • Hawkeye Renewables, LLC: Represented Hawkeye Renewables, LLC in connection with its $185 million Term Loan B financing for the construction of Hawkeye’s 180 MMGPY ethanol facilities in Iowa.Project Finance International named this transaction “Deal of The Year for Renewable Energy.”
  • Companhia Nacional de Acucar e Alcool, S.A. : Represented Companhia Nacional de Acucar e Alcool, S.A., a Brazilian bioenergy company formed by a consortium of investors including Goldman Sachs, Riverstone Holdings and Santelisa Vale, S.A., in connection with the construction of an approximately US $1.3 billion sugar, ethanol and cogeneration plantation and industrial complex in Brazil.
  • MMX S.A.: Represented MMX S.A. in its US $8 billion sale of mining and related businesses to Anglo-American.
  • Gas TransBoliviano S.A.: Represented Gas TransBoliviano S.A, a gas transportation company formed by Enron, Shell and other oil and gas companies, in connection with a $140 million international financing from several mezzanine lenders for the construction of compression facilities to expand capacity on the Bolivia-to-Brazil pipeline.
  • Gas TransBoliviano S.A.: Represented Gas TransBoliviano S.A. in the negotiation of project documents relating to the development and operation of the Bolivia-to-Brazil gas pipeline.

Representative Investigations and Compliance Matters

  • Petrobras: Represented Petrobras in connection with U.S. government investigations of possible FCPA violations.
  • Fortune 100 company: Managed multiple internal investigations concerning possible anti-corruption issues in Brazil.
  • Alliance One: Member of the compliance monitorship team of Alliance One, an international tobacco leaf company, concerning FCPA issues relating to a deferred prosecution agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice.
  • Confidential corporate clients: Conducted internal investigations on behalf of confidential corporate clients into potential FCPA issues concerning the companies’ activities in Brazil.
  • Confidential corporate clients: Regularly involved with due diligence reviews of potential FCPA issues in connection with numerous corporate transactions.
  • Confidential corporate clients: Regularly involved with review of compliance programs and training for confidential corporate clients.

Gina Hancock is a partner in the Dallas office. She practices in the firm’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice Group. Gina has significant experience with executive compensation, complex domestic and international transactional matters, initial public offerings, health and welfare benefit plans, retirement plans, and related matters. Her practice focuses on all aspects of equity compensation; employee stock purchase plans; 401(k), pension and nonqualified deferred compensation plans; executive employment, severance, retention, change in control and restrictive covenant agreements; incentive compensation; and cafeteria and other welfare benefit plans. She also provides advice with respect to general corporate governance and disclosure matters.

Gina is recognized by Chambers USA 2025 as Up and Coming, named on Law360’s 2025 Rising Stars list, and on the 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law.

Representative Experience:

  • Represented Pioneer Natural Resources Company in its $60 billion merger with ExxonMobil.
  • Routinely advises Fortune 500 companies on SEC disclosure requirements, executive compensation arrangements and equity compensation programs.
  • Advised Lone Star Funds in $2.3 billion sale of AOC to Nippon Paint Holdings.
  • Represented Platinum Equity on on its majority investment in Kohler’s Energy Division (now Rehlko).
  • Advised numerous life sciences companies on go-public business combination transactions.
  • Provided compensation, benefits and employment advice to Citation Capital in connection with its acquisition of Cibo Vita.
  • Advised on compensation and benefits matters in Heska Corporation’s $1.3 billion strategic acquisition by Mars, Inc.
  • Represented Contago Oil & Gas Company on benefits, compensation and employment matters in its $5.7 billion merger with Independence Energy.
  • Represented Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. on compensation matters in its $993.6 million initial public offering.
  • Advised Platinum Equity on compensation, employment and employee benefits matters in its $4.5 billion acquisition of McGraw Hill.
  • Advised on benefits, compensation and employment matters in Stone Canyon’s $3.2 billion acquisition of K+S Americas salt business, including Morton Salt.

Gina graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015, where she served on The Tax Lawyer. In 2012, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting, summa cum laude, with honors, from Oklahoma State University.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Gina was an Executive Compensation and Benefits associate in the Dallas office of an international law firm.

Gina is admitted to practice law in the State of Texas.

Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements:

  • “Riding Out the Storm: A (Non-Exhaustive) Punch List for Compensation in Volatile Times” (April 2025)
  • Webcast: Restrictive Covenants: Key Considerations for 2025 (February 2025)
  • “ECEB Considerations in M&A Transactions,” Dallas Bar Association (July 2024)
  • “Delaware Court of Chancery Invalidates Elon Musk’s $55.8 Billion Equity Compensation Package” (February 2024)
  • “Executive Compensation Disclosure Handbook: A Practical Guide to the SEC’s Executive Compensation Disclosure Rules,” Donnelley, February 2023 (co-author with Elizabeth Ising, Krista Hanvey, Geoffrey Walter, Heather Marshall, Brian Myers and Steve Seelig)
  • “Pay vs Performance, Clawbacks & Other Recent Developments,” Dallas Bar Association (February 2023)
  • “SEC Releases Final Pay Versus Performance Rules” (August 2022)

Taylor Bernstein is an associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. She currently practices in the firm’s Litigation and Labor & Employment Departments and maintains an active pro bono practice.

Taylor received her J.D. in 2024 from Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Productions Editor for the Journal of Gender and Law. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Music from Bucknell University in 2019. Prior to attending law school, Taylor was a community organizer for a reproductive rights organization in Virginia. 

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

Roger Singer is a partner in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and is Co-Chair of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group. He specializes in the formation of private equity funds, with a focus on funds investing in real assets. He advises sponsors of real estate, natural resources, infrastructure and debt funds, as well as funds of funds. His clients range from first-time fund sponsors to the asset management divisions of major financial services firms.

Roger has been recognized as a leading lawyer by:

  • Chambers USA: Investment Funds – Private Equity: Fund Formation
  • The Legal 500
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides, Guide to the World’s Leading Banking, Finance and Transactional Lawyers

Relevant experience includes advising:

  • Berkshire Residential Investments on its $1.99 billion Bridge Loan Investors III, $1.4 billion Credit Fund IV and its $1.5 billion Value Fund V (including co-investment vehicles).
  • EQT Real Estate on its $4.9 billion U.S. Value Add Industrial Fund, its $3 billion U.S. Core Industrial Fund as well as other industrial, multifamily and office funds and separate accounts.
  • Appian Capital Advisory on its $2 billion Appian Natural Resources Fund III, a global metals and mining fund.
  • Blue Owl on its $5.16 billion Fund VI focused on net lease properties.
  • Corebridge Financial on its real estate investment funds and multiple GP-led secondaries and co-investments.
  • Basis Investment Group on the formation of BIG Real Estate Fund II, its $825 million debt fund and the formation of its proposed $1.25 billion BIG Real Estate Fund III.
  • Greystone on the conversion of its $1 billion Senior Debt Fund from a closed-end to an open-end fund.
  • Cambridge Associates in a large volume of limited partner investments.
  • Hawkins Way on its $500 million real estate joint venture with Varde Partners.
  • Mercer Investment Management on fund investments, secondaries and co-investments.
  • Multiple sponsors on real estate and real asset GP-led secondaries.

Roger earned an AB in 1993 from Princeton University and a JD in 1996 from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Head Articles Editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law.

Nimrita K. Singh is an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn. She practices in the firm’s Litigation Department.

Nimrita earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Virigina School of Law in 2025. During law school, she served on the Executive Board of the Virginia Journal of International Law as the Notes Development Editor, as well as on the editorial board of the Virigina Law Review. She also participated in the First Amendment Clinic and served as a Legal Writing Fellow.

Nimrita received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College in 2020, where she graduated with a major in English Literature and minors in Economics and the Classics. Prior to law school, Nimrita worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut as a legal assistant.

Nimrita is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

 

Publications

The Right Thing in the Wrong Place? Unstable Dicta and Aesthetics’ Gradual Incursion Into the Traditional Police Power Justifications, 111 Va. L. Rev. 905 (2025).

Kevin Bettsteller is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Investment Funds Practice Group. His practice focuses on the regulation of investment advisers, particularly the sponsors of private equity funds, real estate funds, funds of funds, infrastructure funds, venture capital funds, credit funds, hedge funds and other private funds. Throughout his 17-year career, he has represented a wide range of clients, from first-time fund sponsors to some of the largest global asset management firms and other financial services companies, including broker-dealers, REITs, registered investment companies, business development companies, SPACs and family offices.

Kevin regularly advises clients regarding complex issues arising under the Investment Advisers Act, Investment Company Act, Securities Act, Securities Exchange Act, state law and related rules and regulations, including in connection with:

  • U.S. and non-U.S. investment adviser registration and exempt reporting adviser matters, including the preparation of Form ADV and compliance policies and procedures
  • The structuring, formation, marketing and offering of private funds
  • Preparing for and responding to SEC examinations
  • Identifying and managing conflicts of interest, including in connection with affiliated service providers and portfolio company activities
  • GP-led fund restructurings and recapitalizations, continuation fund formations, secondaries and similar transactions
  • Purchases and sales of asset management businesses, including control acquisitions, “GP stakes” transactions and other minority investments
  • Fund manager seed investments, joint venture arrangements and spin-outs
  • Status issues under the Investment Company Act and related exemptions
  • The establishment and operation of separately managed accounts and single investor vehicles
  • Agreements with placement agents, administrators and other service providers

Kevin is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has authored and contributed to numerous publications on investment management topics. In addition, he has also been recognized by IFLR1000 as a Notable Practitioner – Investment Funds.

Kate Long is of counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and is a member of the firm’s Tax Practice Group.

Kate’s practice focuses on tax planning for investment funds and real estate, including fund formations, REITs, real estate joint ventures, and fund M&A and restructuring transactions. She also advises clients on the tax aspects of financings and refinancings, capital markets transactions, bankruptcy and restructuring transactions, public and private M&A, joint ventures, continuation fund transactions, GP-stakes deals, and fund secondary transactions. Kate’s clients include private equity and real estate fund sponsors and other public and private companies.

She earned her Juris Doctor in 2013 from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was a Senior Editor of the East Asia Law Review. In 2009, Kate received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated cum laude. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Kate was an associate in the Tax Group of another international law firm in New York.

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

Selected recent representations include:

  • Berkshire Residential on its closed- and open-end multifamily equity real estate funds, closed-end debt funds, bridge loan funds, separate accounts and joint ventures.
  • Rockpoint on its real estate joint ventures and financings.
  • Meridiam on its infrastructure transactions and fund formations.
  • Faropoint Ventures on its infrastructure fund formations and joint ventures.
  • Madison International on real estate secondary funds.
  • Mercer Investment Management on its fund investments in secondary transactions, co-investments and primary investments.

Crystal Becker is a corporate of counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of Gibson Dunn’s Investment Funds Practice Group.

Her practice focuses on the formation, structuring and management of private investment funds, including private equity, growth equity, venture capital, crypto and digital asset and real asset funds, as well as operational, legal and regulatory issues faced by their sponsors. Crystal has led fund formations ranging in size from under $25 million to over $5 billion. In addition to her work with established firms, Crystal frequently represents emerging managers in spin-out negotiations, management company start-ups and first-time fund formations. Crystal also advises clients on a variety of internal economic and governance matters, including employee departures, succession negotiations, long-range planning and strategic transactions, such as seed deals and minority stake sales.

She received her Juris Doctor from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from the University of Southern California, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of the Track and Field team.

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

John Craig is of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn where he is a member of the Tax Controversy and Litigation Practice Group.

His practice focuses on federal tax controversies. John has assisted clients during the pre-litigation stages of federal tax disputes from examinations to protests before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, represented clients in docketed cases covering transfer-pricing disputes and a variety of international and employment tax issues, and maintains an active pro bono practice before the U.S. Tax Court. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, he was an associate in the tax group of another law firm in Washington, D.C. and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Maurice B. Foley of the United States Tax Court.

Most recently, John was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© as “Ones to Watch” for 2023, 2024, and 2025 (Tax Law).

He received his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center. He received his Bachelor of Science from Tulane University.

Josiah Bethards is of counsel in the Dallas office of Gibson Dunn and is a member of the firm’s Tax Practice Group. Josiah represents clients in a broad range of tax matters, including public and private mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, financing transactions, joint ventures, cross-border transactions, and energy and infrastructure transactions. Josiah also has extensive experience advising sponsors and investors on clean energy tax credit qualification matters for a variety of technologies, including wind, solar, storage, clean fuels, nuclear, and carbon capture and sequestration, as well as other emerging technologies.

He graduated from Columbia Law School in 2016 and received his B.A. in Economics from Amherst College in 2009.

Josiah is admitted to practice law in the State of Texas.

Michael F. Werno is of counsel in the Litigation practice of Gibson Dunn and is based in the firm’s New York office. His practice focuses on complex litigation in the fields of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Michael has experience litigating cases arising under both the Hatch-Waxman Act and the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). His experience includes developing strategies on validity and infringement, taking and defending depositions, drafting appellate briefs, and leading work with expert witnesses at multiple trials. He has represented life sciences companies in litigations involving pharmaceutical formulations, therapeutic antibodies, biotechnology, and medical devices .

Michael’s experience includes*:

  • Represented BioNTech SE in a patent infringement action concerning its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Comirnaty®
  • Represented Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics in multiple Hatch-Waxman patent litigations concerning their nephropathic cystinosis medication Procysbi®
  • Represented Arbor Pharmaceuticals and Azurity Pharmaceuticals in multiple Hatch-Waxman patent litigations concerning challenges to patents protecting concerning their best-in-class antihypertensive medications Edarbi® and Edarbyclor®
  • Represented Boehringer Ingelheim in a BPCIA litigation concerning its biosimilar version of Humira®
  • Represented Mitsubishi Tanabe in the first virtual Hatch-Waxman patent trial in the District of New Jersey to challenges of patents covering the first-in-class diabetes medications, Invokana® and Invokamet®
  • Represented Zimmer Biomet in patent litigation concerning its Vanguard® knee systems and PSI Shoulder for Trabecular Metal™ Reverse Glenoid shoulder systems
  • Represented Orexigen Therapeutics in a Hatch-Waxman patent litigation concerning challenges to patents protecting its anti-obesity drug Contrave®
  • Represented Helsinn Healthcare in a Hatch-Waxman patent litigation concerning challenges to patents protecting its Aloxi® antiemetic drug
  • Represented Amgen regarding a contractual dispute concerning their blockbuster monoclonal antibody drugs Xgeva® and Prolia®

Michael received his law degree from Boston University School of Law in 2015, where he served as Executive Editor of the Journal of Science & Technology Law. He earned a Masters of Physiology degree from North Carolina State University in 2010, and a B.S. in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy from Duke University in 2008. Michael is admitted to the New York State Bar, the New Jersey State Bar, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Michael is also admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

*Includes recent experience prior to joining Gibson Dunn.

Ben Nunez is a New York qualified of counsel in the London office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Practice Group.

Ben has broad experience advising on a wide range of antitrust issues, including abuse of dominance, civil cartel enforcement, market investigations, and merger control. He has particular sectoral regulatory experience in the energy and pharmaceutical sectors.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Ben spent more than seven years at the U.K. competition authority, most recently as Assistant Director within the legal services department. During his time at the authority, he advised on a portfolio of Phase 1 merger cases involving the telecommunications, software, digital payments, insurance, and logistics sectors. Ben also worked on the JD Sports/Footasylum Phase 2 merger, as well as the subsequent litigation before the Competition Appeals Tribunal and remittal case. He was also heavily involved in the most recent revision to the authority’s public guidance on the use of interim measures in merger cases. Ben was part of the core case team investigating competition concerns under Article 101 and 102 TFEU and Chapters I and II CA98 in relation to the supply of fludrocortisone in the U.K. In that role, he gained comprehensive experience of civil cartel investigation from ‘dawn raids,’ through the investigative stages to final decision, including commitments and settlement. He also worked on the Phase 2 energy market investigation, including both the administrative and remedies phases.