Ian Ratner is of counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, where he is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. Ian’s practice spans a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including joint ventures, acquisitions, financings, and leasing. His clients include prominent private equity firms, real estate investment trusts, and developers.

Most recently, Ian has played a key role in numerous high-profile transactions for RXR, including the recapitalization of 1211 Avenue of the Americas, and a 500,000 square-foot office lease at 1285 Avenue of the Americas.

Ian has also assisted Investcorp with multiple acquisitions, including various student housing and industrial portfolios.

Additionally, Ian has advised on many complex joint ventures across various asset classes, including:

  • Related Fund Management:  $325 million mixed-use development in Miami, Florida
  • Welltower:  $500 million recapitalization for a portfolio of medical office buildings across the U.S.
  • RXR:  Phased mixed-use development in Denver, Colorado
  • Private Equity Client:  $230 million programmatic agreement for industrial properties across the U.S.

Ian’s notable equity-side CMBS loan transactions include:

  • Trinity and Elliott:  $800 million financing for Grande Lakes, a luxury resort in Orlando, Florida (1,592 keys)
  • Trinity:  $500 million financing for the Westin Maui (770 keys)
  • Investcorp:  $210 million financing for a 17-property industrial portfolio (2.4 million square feet)

Ian regularly negotiates ancillary real estate agreements, including ground leases and development, construction, and property management agreements.

Ian has been recognized as a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ (2023-2026) for Real Estate Law. Before beginning his decade-long career at Gibson Dunn, Ian earned his Juris Doctor in 2014 from New York University School of Law, where he served as Senior Editor of the Journal of Law and Business. Prior to law school, Ian earned a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management with a minor in Real Estate from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in 2011, where he graduated as First Degree Marshal, an honor awarded to the student with the highest GPA.

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

Nicole S. Kim is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where she practices in the firm’s Finance Practice Group.

Nicole was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 – 2026 Ones to Watch in Banking and Finance Law.

She earned her law degree in 2013 from Columbia Law School, where she was a Managing Editor of the Columbia Business Law Review and where she was a James Kent Scholar and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Nicole graduated in 2010 from Yale College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Literature. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, she was an associate in the Banking Department of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Los Angeles.

Oren Fishman is an associate in the Century City office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he currently practices in the firm’s Real Estate Department.

Oren’s practice focuses on the representation of foreign and domestic clients in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, leasing, debt and equity investments, financings, joint ventures, and sales.

Most recently, Oren was recognized as a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ in Real Estate Law in 2022-2026.

Oren earned his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2016, where he was a Submissions Editor for the Entertainment Law Review. While in law school, he served as vice president of the Real Estate Law Association.

Oren earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology, from San Diego State University.

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

Sara Brazao Ferreira is of counsel in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and a member of the firm’s Real Estate group.

Sara represents private equity firms, public companies, REITs, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and various other clients in complex real estate matters across all asset classes. She regularly advises on acquisitions and dispositions of real estate assets, including hospitality, retail centers, commercial office buildings and multi-asset portfolios; financing transactions, including senior mortgage, mezzanine and construction financing; commercial leasing transactions; and the formation and restructuring of joint ventures.

Sara has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Real Estate Law (2023-2026).

Representative Matters include representation of:*

  • QIC in various transactions, including its $3.175 billion acquisition of a portfolio of regional shopping malls
  • Apartment Investment and Management Company in its $10.4 billion reverse spin-off of Apartment Income REIT Corp.
  • Ares Management in connection with:
    • its $175 million construction financing of a luxury beachfront development in Maui, Hawaii;
    • its formation of a joint venture with a sovereign wealth fund investor; and
    • a $260 million sale of a majority ownership interest in a development asset to a sovereign wealth fund
  • A private equity fund in various dispositions of single-family residence portfolios, each valued at over $100 million
  • Genesis HealthCare, Inc. in its restructuring of approximately $256 million of debt and operations of 51 facilities leased with Welltower
  • A private equity firm in a $65 million mezzanine financing secured by a luxury hotel and resort in Los Cabos, Mexico
  • Major financial institution in its aggregate $129 million acquisition and pre-development senior and mezzanine loans to a real estate investment firm for a mixed-use development in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Sovereign wealth fund in its formation of numerous joint ventures, with aggregate investments valuing over $500 million
  • Pattern Energy in its $1.7 billion debt and tax equity financing for the Western Spirit wind project and transmission line in New Mexico
  • Brookfield Renewable in its $733 million sale of a portfolio of wind energy projects to NextEra Energy Partners
  • Ontario Power Generation in its $298 million acquisition of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy
  • Public company in its $260 million acquisition of a portfolio of convenience store locations
  • Property management and investment company in its $218 million sale of a major commercial office building in San Francisco
  • Numerous other clients, including AustralianSuper, The RMR Group, Silverstein Properties, Inc., Terraform Power, Talen Energy, Centro Properties Group, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., MSD Capital, L.P., WEC Energy Group and Yahoo/Altaba in various acquisitions, dispositions, financings, investments, joint ventures, developments and leasing transactions

Sara has also advised on various transactions across the energy sector, including the acquisition, disposition, development and financing of renewable energy projects and transmission facilities.

She has been involved in a variety of pro bono engagements, including advising charter schools and nonprofit organizations in leasing and financing transactions, Holocaust survivors in reparations cases, and asylum seekers in immigration matters, as well as participating in screening projects for the Innocence Project. She was previously a board member of the Women Lawyers’ Association of Los Angeles.

Prior to joining Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Sara practiced at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She received her Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law, where she was a member of the UCLA Law Review.

* Includes matters handled prior to joining Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Stephen Flug is Of Counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. His practice focuses on a broad range of transactions, including real estate acquisitions and dispositions, financings, joint ventures and ground-up developments.

Stephen was recognized in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ in Real Estate Law.

He earned his Juris Doctor in 2014 from the New York University School of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor of the New York University Journal of Law and Business. He received his Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from Cornell University in 2008.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Stephen was an associate in the Real Estate Department of Paul Hastings LLP in its New York office.

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

Monica Grover is an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher where she currently practices in the in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group.

She received her Juris Doctor from University of Virginia School of Law, where she served on the Editorial Board for the Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law and as President of the South Asian Law Student Association. Monica graduated magna cum laude from the Honors College at Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and minor in Biology. She served as a research assistant in the Department of Internal Medicine and as a private tutor for student athletes at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her student research paper, Prenatal Nicotine Exposure as a Teratogen in Neurological Pathways was published in Auctus and the Undergraduate Research Commons.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Monica practiced with the firm Milbank LLP in their Intellectual Property Litigation group.

She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, State of New York, Southern District Court of New York, and Eastern District Court of New York.

Amar K. Madhani is an English law qualified partner in the London office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, Investment Funds, and Strategic Sourcing and Commercial Transactions Practice Groups.

Amar’s practice focuses on domestic and international private equity M&A, corporate real estate transactions and investments and private M&A transactions including domestic and international cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital transactions. He regularly represents international sponsors, public and private buyers and targets in auctions, asset and share sales and mergers across a broad range of sectors, including industrials.

Amar has been recognised by The Legal 500 UK 2024 for Private Equity: Transactions and M&A: Upper Mid-Market and Premium Deals £750 million+.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Amar trained and practised at the London office of a major international law firm where he spent six months seconded to the Abu Dhabi office. Amar has also spent six months on secondment to AnaCap Financial Partners LLP, a European private equity fund focused on the financial services sector.

Katharina Heinrich is an associate in the Munich office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.

Katharina advises clients on German and international commercial arbitration and complex litigation matters.

She studied law at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich and the University of Oslo. Katharina passed her first state exam in 2019. During her legal clerkship, she worked for renowned law firms in Hamburg. She passed her second state exam at the Higher Regional Court of Schleswig in 2021 and has been admitted as a German lawyer (Rechtsanwältin) since 2022. Katharina obtained her Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from New York University, U.S.A., in 2025 where she specialized in environmental and energy law.

She is fluent in German and English.

Andrew Abell is an associate in the Denver office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups.

Andrew represents public and private companies and private equity sponsors in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, minority investments, recapitalizations, and other complex corporate transactions.

Andrew received his Juris Doctor cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2019, where he was an editor of the Georgetown Journal of International Law. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy with honors from Vanderbilt University in 2016. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, he was an associate in the New York office of another major international law firm.

Andrew is admitted to practice law in Colorado and New York.

Stella Cernak is an associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. Stella is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and White Collar Defense and Investigations and Trials Practice Groups.

Stella’s practice focuses primarily on complex commercial litigation, white collar defense, and internal investigations. Stella has represented a range of clients—including Fortune 500 technology companies and clients in the real estate and banking/finance industries—in numerous federal and New York State cases, administrative proceedings, and federal and state regulatory investigations.

Stella has experience managing teams and advising clients in connection with complex, high-stakes legal matters, including investigations and enforcement actions brought by the SEC and the Department of Justice and high-profile federal lawsuits. Stella has significant discovery experience and has worked extensively with expert and fact witnesses. Stella has also played a key role on a number of trial teams.

Representative Engagements Include:

  • Representing S&P Global in purported federal class action alleging unfair competition and violation of federal antitrust laws pertaining to the use of CUSIP identifiers.
  • Represented Amazon.com in multi-site ergonomic safety investigation brought by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Department of Justice.
  • Represented major Fortune 500 technology company in a putative federal class action lawsuit and related regulatory investigations alleging violations of federal and state laws in connection with the use of data analytics technologies.
  • Represented multinational bank in Department of Justice and state regulatory investigations relating to alleged violations of the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions laws, which were resolved without enforcement action.
  • Secured jury verdict for Fortune 250 company in connection with federal trial related to an alleged “Ponzi” scheme.
  • Successfully represented Lynn Tilton and her company Patriarch Partners at trial in the largest individual administrative enforcement action ever brought by the SEC.
  • Represented one of the world’s largest oil companies in its successful defense against an attempted confirmation of an $18 billion sham foreign arbitration award in federal court.

Stella maintains an active pro bono practice. Stella was a member of the Gibson Dunn team that drafted an amicus brief for constitutional law scholars in the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, addressing the constitutionality of the State of Mississippi’s enactment of the Gestational Age Act. She successfully drafted a habeas petition that resulted in the release of a client from detention on bond and has helped clients obtain asylum. Stella has served as a firm liaison to Crisis Text Line.

Stella serves on the Board of Trustees of Of Home, Family and Future. Stella served on the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music from July 2018 through July 2021. She holds a leadership role for the 2025-2026 bar year with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division’s First Generation Initiative.

Stella has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as “One to Watch.”

From 2022 to 2023, Stella served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jennifer H. Rearden in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Stella earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, in December 2014 from the University of Michigan Law School. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2009. While in law school, Stella served on the selections committee for the Michigan Journal of Gender & Law, where she published a Note that applied international law as a method of handling intra-military gender-based crimes.

Stella is admitted to practice in the State of New York and before the Southern District of New York.

Brad Smith is a partner in the New York office of Gibson Dunn. He plays a leading role in high-stakes antitrust matters, offering strategic counsel on both merger-related and standalone antitrust issues. Brad is especially noted for his deep expertise in Hart-Scott-Rodino Act pre-merger notification requirements. He has advised clients across sectors including technology, life sciences, finance, transportation, and industrial clients, with completed transactions totaling over $500 billion in value.

Throughout his career, Brad’s antitrust work has included some of the largest and most high-profile matters on record: United States v. Microsoft (1998-2004), InBev’s $52 billion acquisition of Anheuser-Busch (2008), Bayer’s $66 billion acquisition of Monsanto (2016-2018), and Pfizer’s $43 billion acquisition of Seagen (2023).

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Brad spent 28 years at another major international law firm. A sample of Brad’s antitrust litigation and merger clearance representation from that time includes advising:

  • Bayer AG in antitrust matters before the U.S. Department of Justice and as global coordinating counsel relating to the $66 billion acquisition of Monsanto and the accompanying $9 billion divestiture to BASF
  • Microsoft Corporation in the landmark antitrust action by the U.S. Department of Justice and 19 states and the District of Columbia between 1998 and 2004
  • Diageo plc in connection with its $335 million acquisition of Aviation gin
  • Unisys Corp. in connection with the $1.2 billion sale of its U.S. Federal contracts business to Science Applications International Corp.
  • Tenaris S.A. in connection with its $1.2 billion acquisition of IPSCO Tubulars Inc.
  • Diageo plc in connection with its $550 million sale of a portfolio of spirits brands to Sazerac
  • Seattle Genetics concerning its $614 million acquisition of Cascadian Therapeutics
  • INC Research Holdings, Inc. in connection with its $7.4 billion merger with inVentiv Health, Inc.
  • Navistar International Corp. concerning its $256 million alliance with TRATON (formerly Volkswagen Truck & Bus)
  • Terumo Corporation in antitrust matters before the Federal Trade Commission relating to its $1.12 billion acquisition of vascular access and closure devices from Abbott and St. Jude Medical
  • Alcatel-Lucent in relation to its $16.9 billion combination with Nokia Corp.
  • Global pharmaceutical companies in antitrust matters relating to multiple transactions collectively valued at $13.5 billion
  • ZF Friedrichshafen AG in antitrust matters before the Federal Trade Commission relating to its $12.4 billion acquisition of TRW Automotive

Brad received his law degree in 1997 from Yale Law School. He earned a C.E.P. from Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University in 1993.

Brad is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York.

James Lavery is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Gibson Dunn. He currently practices with the firm’s Corporate Department.  James has represented clients in connection with matters related to data privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, regulatory inquiries, mergers & acquisitions, and securities regulations.

James received his Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law and was inducted to the Duke Law chapter of the Order of the Coif; he also received a Masters of Laws (LL.M) in International and Comparative Law. While at Duke, he served as an Articles Editor for the Duke Law Journal and was a member of both the Moot Court and Mock Trial Boards.

Prior to law school, he graduated cum laude with Honors and Distinction from Whitman College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, and a minor in Chinese.  After graduating from Whitman, he worked as a college English instructor at Yunnan University in Kunming, China, and for a startup in Portland, Oregon.

James is admitted to practice law in the state of California.

Meir Lax is an associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Business Restructuring & Reorganization Practice Group and Liability Management & Special Situations Practice Group. He represents credit investors, equity sponsors and borrowers in a wide range of liability management transactions, distressed credit situations and private credit financings.

Representations include:

  • Oregon Tool in connection with a $150 million new money financing and a $1.3 billion recapitalization of its credit facilities and senior notes.
  • Petmate in a new money drop-down financing and out-of-court restructuring of over $800 million of liabilities.
  • Ares Capital Management in a $250 million financing to FORTNA Group.
  • Abacus Life in a $150 million private credit financing.
  • An ad hoc group of lenders to Rodan + Fields in a $75 million new money financing and uptier transaction of $550 million of secured debt.
  • HPS in a $385 million private credit facility to Ribbon Communications.
  • TCW Asset Management in a private credit refinancing for Florida Marine Transporters.
  • Angelo Gordon in a private credit leveraged recapitalization facility to Priority Waste.
  • Diameter Capital Partners in a private credit financing to Servpro.
  • Apollo Global Management in a $1 billion secured notes financing to Norwegian Cruise Lines.
  • An ad hoc group of lenders to Selina Hospitality in a discounted notes exchange.

Meir earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and his Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College.

Jonathan Cockfield is an English-qualified associate and solicitor-advocate in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation and International Arbitration Groups. He is currently on secondment.

Jonathan’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and international arbitration. He also has experience of counselling businesses in relation to litigation risk associated with governance, sustainability and human rights issues.

Jonathan has broad experience of complex commercial litigation, often with a transnational element. Most recently this has included:

  • Defending a number of clients in respect of claims brought in the Commercial Court alleging misrepresentation, deceit and intimidation.
  • Acting in High Court injunction proceedings in connection with claims for breach of contract, unlawful restraint of trade and violations of competition law.
  • Bringing a $1.5 billion unlawful means conspiracy claim in the Commercial Court as well as advising on related proceedings in the Cayman Islands (including up to the Privy Council), New York and Mauritius.
  • Obtaining a freezing injunction, and related relief, from the High Court in connection with a $550 million arbitration award arising out of a mining dispute.
  • Representing a major investment bank in High Court proceedings regarding antitrust violations relating to LIBOR manipulation.
  • Defending a UK company in High Court and Employment Tribunal proceedings arising out of the dismissal of a board member.

Jonathan’s recent international arbitration experience includes acting for a major international contractor in a $4 billion ICC arbitration concerning a Middle Eastern infrastructure project.

Jonathan trained at Gibson Dunn, during which time he spent 6 months seconded to the litigation and regulatory investigations team of a leading investment bank. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Jonathan worked as an adviser to a government minister and as a visiting lecturer in law at King’s College London. He received his Master of Arts from the University of Oxford and his Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge.

Jennifer Bellah Maguire is a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Investment Funds Group. Jennifer’s practice focuses on private equity fund formation and mergers and acquisitions, including public company transactions and divestitures. Jennifer specializes in representing parties to asset manager transactions (investors and sponsors) ranging from seeding new sponsors and General Partner stakes investments to full acquisitions as well as sponsor recapitalizations and restructurings of sponsor firms, including in connection with initial public offerings and other exits.

Jennifer has been recognized as a leading lawyer by:

  • Chambers Global has recognized her as a leading lawyer from 2012-2019 in the area of Private Equity: Buyouts and from 2012-2013 in the areas of Investment Funds: Private Equity: Fund Formation.
  • Chambers USA has recognized Jennifer as a leading lawyer in the areas of Private Equity: Fund Formation and Buyouts, in California Corporate M&A: Private Equity and in Southern California Corporate M&A.
  • Expert Guides named Jennifer to its 2017 Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law.
  • Chambers USA shortlisted Jennifer in the ‘Women in Law’ Awards in the Corporate M&A Lawyer of the Year category, 2012.
  • The Los Angeles Business Journal named her as one of the ‘Most Influential M&A Advisors’ (2013) and ranked her among ‘The Best of the Bar’ for Corporate Transactions (2007).
  • Jennifer has been selected by her peers for inclusion in 2006-2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Securities/Capital Markets Law, and for Mergers and Acquisitions Law in 2024-2025.
  • Who’s Who Legal list of Private Fund Lawyers for 2011, 2018, and 2019.
  • The National Diversity Council recognized Jennifer on the 2016 Top 50 Women Lawyers list.

Highlights of Jennifer’s experience includes:

  • Formation and corporate representation of Candle Media, LLC, a media and entertainment company founded by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by Blackstone.
  • RidgeLake Partners in numerous General Partner Stakes investments.
  • Leslie’s PoolMart in the sale of the company to LCatterton and corporate counsel subsequent to its 2020 initial public offering.

Additional relevant information about Jennifer includes:

  • Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr College, magna cum laude, and studied for one year at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. She was awarded a Watson Foundation Fellowship following college. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and served as an Associate Editor for the California Law Review.
  • She speaks and writes French fluently and maintains a cross-border practice with the firm’s Paris office.
  • Prior to joining the firm, she served as law clerk for the Honorable Mary M. Schroeder in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  • Jennifer speaks frequently on corporate and securities topics.
  • She is a founding director and the current Chair of the Board of the Los Angeles Ballet.
  • Jennifer is the co-author of “Fashion Law and Business: Brands & Retailers”.

Christina Fernandez is of counsel in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s New York office and a member of the firm’s Real Estate Department. She concentrates her practice on real estate finance transactions representing investment banks, debt funds and institutional lenders in the origination and restructuring of mortgage and mezzanine loans for the acquisition and refinancing of properties throughout the United States. In addition to traditional loan structures, Christina also represents clients on transactions that involve CRE CLOs, loan-on-loan financings and repurchase facilities.

Christina was recognized by CRE Finance Council as a 20 Under 40 professional who has positively impacted the commercial real estate finance industry in 2023. She was is also listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ 2024-2026 for Real Estate Law.

Christina graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Business, and received her JD from Northwestern University. She is admitted in the states of New York and Florida.

Anna Korbakis is an associate in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Orange County office and a member of the firm’s Real Estate Department. She represents borrowers, lenders, institutional and non-institutional investors, private equity funds, developers and operators in a broad array of commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, financings and joint ventures. Anna has experience working with a diverse set of asset classes, including multifamily complexes, office and retail buildings, industrial projects, data centers, hotels, and vacant land.

She was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in Real Estate Law in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Anna graduated cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2015, where she served as Articles Editor on The Georgetown Law Journal. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California, graduating summa cum laude and majoring in Political Science with double-minors in Spanish and Business Law.

Anna is a member of the California Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Thad A. Davis is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s New York and San Francisco offices, and is nationally recognized as a highly accomplished trial lawyer who has tried business and regulatory cases throughout the United States. He is undefeated in jury trials, and has both secured and defeated nine- and ten-figure awards as trial counsel, including in 2024. Thad is a trial lawyer with a national practice of trying bench and jury trials, as well as arbitrations, in complex business and regulatory litigation matters, including against the SEC, DOJ, and in private litigation of all types. His experience includes trade secret, class actions, securities, corporate governance and control disputes, merger and acquisition matters, anti-corruption, antitrust, unfair competition, data privacy, cybersecurity, employment, False Claims Act, and related regulatory litigations. A former co-chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation Practice Group, Thad regularly represents public companies, leading venture capital and private equity firms, portfolio companies, hedge funds, directors and officers, and high net worth individuals in a variety of complex commercial disputes and government and internal investigations. His business and matters have been recognized and covered by leading national and international publications, and he speaks and publishes widely on issues of key importance to clients and colleagues.

Thad has been recognized among the top half-dozen securities lawyers in the United States as a Law360 Securities MVP in 2014, and by The Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White Collar since 2016. His work has garnered him recognition by the Daily Journal for a “Top Defense Verdict of 2011” and “Top Defense Verdict of 2017,” and earned him recognition in The American Lawyer’s “Big Suits” for trial results in 2014. During Thad’s tenure as Co-Chair of the Securities Litigation Practice, the group and its members regularly received accolades from industry-leading publications and peer rating organizations.

Before joining Gibson Dunn as Co-Chair of Securities Litigation, Thad built out from scratch the litigation department of the San Francisco office of a leading international law firm, prior to which he was an equity partner at a global business trial firm in Los Angeles, having been invited to join the firm in 2001.

In addition to his service for clients and in firm practice group leadership, Thad has served as a highly reviewed trial advocacy instructor at Stanford Law School for 15 years, and has also taught at the Stanford Directors College. In addition, he has served as an ABA Presidential nominee to the Task Force on AML Gatekeeper Regulations; a co-editor and co-author of the firm’s PLI Securities Litigation Treatise; co-chair of the ABA Subcommittee on Corporate Criminal Prosecutions, and a commenter on the ABA Criminal Justice Monitors Standards. His pro bono interests and clients have included San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, San Francisco Legal Aid Society, Cal Lawyers for the Arts, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, and the Marin Humane Society.

Thad served as a law clerk for the Honorable Laurence H. Silberman of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Selected Matters

  • Against “titans of the plaintiff bar,” as first chair in nationally covered technology-related proceeding, obtained confirmed judgment in 2024 after over 25 days of testimony, overcame a presumption to defeat alleged ten-figure trade secret claims of damages and attempt to take client’s IP on all counts, including defeating all claims for trade secret protection or status, zeroing out trade secret damages, defeating all claims of IP ownership, royalties, licenses, or injunction, and otherwise resolving finally all claims of contract breach and use of opponent’s supposed confidential information, and preserving client’s total rights to its IP; destroyed opposing industry expert at deposition such that he did not testify further, obtained key admissions from opposing party CEO and other fact witnesses, and put on damages expert. Described by fact finder as “extremely competent and well-prepared counsel.”
  • Also in 2023 proceeding against leading national antitrust trial boutique, as first chair in multiple week trial proceeding involving client’s disruptive technology worth ten figures, secured finding of monopolist status and conduct on antitrust claims; won permanent injunction against leading technology company contracts and practices, allowing client unfettered right to commercialize its product; examined opposing party CEO, obtaining key testimony confirming pretextual IP concerns and retaliatory, monopolistic conduct.
  • Earned “Top Verdict” for 2018 for client in one of most notorious health care related False Claims Act matters in recent California history.
  • Settled at close of evidence SEC administrative proceeding after four week hearing in 2017 related to major venture fund meltdown.
  • After a six-week jury trial, in a matter the government had described as “slam dunk” and “open and shut,” secured acquittal on two securities fraud counts mid-trial, and argued and won motion for mistrial as to remaining securities, conspiracy, wire fraud and false statement counts, in arguably first-ever criminal securities fraud case tried to verdict in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia; personally cross-examined all but one of the government’s witnesses, including most crucially the purported “whistleblower” former Audit Committee Chair, and according to jury after trial made those witnesses the “[defense’s] best witnesses” (United States v. Jiang (Case No. 13-cr-152)(D.D.C. 2014)).
  • Won directed verdict at trial of matter involving leading Bay Area restaurant entity and entertainment management group, in the middle of presenting defense case against claims of various attempted business torts and contract breaches.
  • After a three week jury trial in California state court, secured complete (and unanimous) defense jury verdict for leading Bay Area client, on contract, fiduciary duty, discrimination and punitive damages claims brought by former CEO of the client (Chase v. Seton et al.).
  • Won complete victory at trial before the Delaware Chancellor as company counsel resisting production of books and records to a dissident director attempting to take control of client (Gunther v. 5i Sciences).
  • First chaired multi-week trial regarding election of directors of and management authority over group of insurance companies; post-trial, won writ protecting the companies and preserving clients’ board and management positions, and also won merits appeal.
  • In a matter involving dismissal of co-founder of Fortune 500 company, won verdict on all counts, and fees, costs, and interest, when hired shortly before trial and after reopening discovery.
  • Won judgment on all counts, including interest and fees, as plaintiff counsel in contract action after three-month trial for Bay Area client.
  • First-chaired three-week arbitration for claimant asserting fraud and related claims arising out of a stock compensation agreement in a public specialty retail company; secured eight-figure award in case where respondent claimed client owed zero (Sullivan v. Lumber Liquidators et al.).
  • Won complete defense verdict after 10-day arbitration, representing several leading venture capital firms in securities fraud dispute related to venture investment and alleged loss of $282 million.
  • Representing respondent investment firm, helped secure award of only $1.5 million, representing roughly one percent recovery by claimant in arbitration over alleged $125 million in investment losses.
  • On eve of injunction hearing and after expedited discovery, including depositions of senior management, secured settlement valued at $95.5 million of notes at full par value plus accrued interest and legal fees for Tang Capital and class, in a lawsuit brought against Affymetrix. Cash to satisfy the notes had been wrongly pledged as collateral by Affymetrix in order to borrow $190 million to finance its proposed $330 million purchase of eBioscience Holding Co. Inc., a fact withheld from the note holders; transaction also represented a fundamental change to Affymetrix under the relevant indenture.
  • Secured declination letter from SEC after four-year investigation of leading health system related to accounting, pension funding, disclosure, and auditor issues.
  • Successfully concluded year-long investigation exonerating company, management, and board in mortgage finance space regarding various shareholder actions.
  • Secured denial of injunctive relief in most prominent merger-related litigations throughout California over the past several years.
  • In the Countrywide Securities Litigation (New York Funds case), counsel for one of only two defendants dismissed at summary judgment phase before settlement of matter for high nine figures.
  • Took over before trial, five years into case, and secured summary judgment – after prior denial of summary adjudication – in alleged monopolization case against major national health care system (Fox v. Good Samaritan et al.).
  • Secured summary judgment for clients Bain Capital and Catterton in dispute over alleged oral rollup agreement in restaurant franchise industry (T-Bird v. OSI et al.).
  • Secured eight-figure settlement for private equity client Apax Partners after being hired before trial related to investment in Home Organizers and related litigation.
  • Secured injunction for leading service industry software maker against chief rival, alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition, and cybersquatting claims (Finance Express v. Nowcom).
  • Successfully dismissed price fixing class action against leading foreign electronics manufacturer (In re LCD Litigation).
  • For leading video technology company client, helped secure standstill agreement and time-out order in trade secret, unfair competition, and related dispute over departure of a key employee.
  • Secured terminating sanctions against a plaintiff for pursuing a frivolous claim of employment discrimination against Nanosyn, Inc. in the California Superior Court for Sonoma County; won dismissal on anti-SLAPP grounds in follow-on action by disgruntled plaintiff.
  • Secured dismissal of over 80 percent of claimed damages in wage and hour class action, based on extraterritoriality arguments under California and Federal law (Wright. v. ARCC).
  • Secured no-action letter from FTC in alleged monopolization case in the health care industry after year-long investigation.
  • Secured dismissal of consumer class action involving alleged spam texting of over one billion messages (In re Jingle Networks).
  • Part of defense team for largest data privacy class actions in recent history, and regular counsel for clients in matters related to data privacy practices and suspected breaches.
  • In investigation by DOJ and Manhattan District Attorney, related to payment processing and related OFAC issues, settled for $297 million by other parties, secured no penalty and no mention of client (senior company officer) in settlement.
  • Secured settlement to keep Doyle Park Elementary School open following a lawsuit brought against the Santa Rosa School Board in response to the announcement that the school, which has a high Latino enrollment, was to be closed at the end of the 2012 school year in part to make way for a newly created French American Charter School.

Manahil Zafar is an associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn.

Manahil received her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, where she served as a student attorney with the Human Trafficking Clinic, research assistant to Professor Patrick Barry, and President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. She graduated, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Psychology from New York University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

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

James Springer is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn where he is a member of the firm’s Transactional Department.

He advises public and private companies, private equity firms, boards of directors, and special committees in connection with a variety of complex transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, asset sales and other carve-out transactions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, reorganizations, joint ventures, strategic investments, and equity and debt financing transactions. James also regularly advises clients on public company readiness matters and works closely with new public companies on their initial SEC reporting and compliance processes and corporate governance matters.

Selected representations include the following:

  • Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG), an American utility company, in its pending sale of Peoples Gas WV to Hope Gas.
  • Vahanna Tech Edge Acquisition Corp. I (Nasdaq: VHNA), a special acquisition purpose company, in its pending $683 million business combination with Roadzen Inc., an insurance technology and infrastructure company.
  • Fifth Wall Acquisition Corp. III (Nasdaq: FWAC), a special acquisition purpose company, in its pending $550 million Up-C business combination with Mobile Infrastructure Corporation, a parking facilities REIT.
  • Rubicon Technologies (NYSE: RBT), a software platform providing full-service waste management, recycling, and smart city technology solutions, in its $1.7 billion Up-C business combination with Founder SPAC (Nasdaq: FOUN).
  • Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL), a healthcare infrastructure REIT, in its UPREIT reorganization.
  • DocGo Inc. (fka Ambulnz, Inc.) (Nasdaq: DCGO), a mobile and telehealth provider, in its $1.1 billion business combination with Motion Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: MOTN).
  • Rotor Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: ROT), a special acquisition purpose company, in its $1.3 billion business combination with Sarcos Corp., an industrial robotics and microelectromechanical systems developer (Nasdaq: STRC).
  • Empower Ltd. (NYSE: EMPW), a special purpose acquisition company, in its $1.55 billion business combination with Holley Inc., an aftermarket automotive parts manufacturer and distributer (NYSE: HLLY).
  • Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL) in its joint venture with Atria Senior Living to acquire the real estate portfolio of Holiday Retirement, a portfolio company of Fortress Investment Group, for $1.6 billion.
  • Cortina Partners in its sale of its medical air transport portfolio company, Classic Aviation, to Intermountain Health.
  • Landsea Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: LSEA), the U.S. homebuilder, in its $510 million business combination with LF Capital Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: LFAC).
  • The Rhône Capital in its joint venture with the Chatterjee Group to acquire Lummus Technology, an industrial petrochemicals business, for $2.73 billion.
  • Guest Services Inc. in its sale of its produce distribution business to The Costal Companies, a portfolio company of the Arlon Group.
  • Eaton Corporation Inc. (NYSE: ETN) in its acquisition of Power Distribution Inc., a power distribution business, from Dunes Point Capital.
  • Trinity Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: TMCX), a special purpose acquisition company, in its $1.5 billion business combination with Broadmark Realty Capital Inc., a real estate lending company (NYSE: BRMK).
  • Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL) in its joint venture with ProMedica Health Systems, Inc. to acquire HCR ManorCare, Inc. for $2.73 billion.
  • CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP) in its acquisitions of Apartments.com for $585 million and Apartment Finder for $170 million.

James graduated with high honors from the George Washington University Law School in 2014 and was elected the Order of the Coif. In 2011, he graduated summa cum laude from the George Washington University, where he completed a double major in Geography and Environmental Studies and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

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