Jaclyn Wang is a corporate associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where she is a member of the firm’s Finance Practice Group. Her practice includes representing private equity sponsors, public corporations and lenders in a variety of banking and other debt finance transactions, including acquisition financings, cash flow revolvers, asset-based revolvers, first and second lien facilities and senior and mezzanine facilities, as well as high yield bond and other note offerings.

Jaclyn received her Juris Doctor in 2020 from Osgoode Hall Law School and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from the University of Alberta.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, she practiced with a Toronto law firm as a member of the finance group.

Jaclyn is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the Province of Ontario.

Matthew D. Ross is an associate in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He currently practices in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance, Oil & Gas, and Finance Practice Groups.

Matthew received his Juris Doctor magna cum laude, from Tulane University in 2020, where he served as articles editor on Tulane Law Review. While serving on Tulane Law Review, he had two articles selected for publication in the journal.

Prior to law school, Matthew received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in Finance from Louisiana State University.

Publications

  • “Nobody Should Have to Die like This”: Host Liability in the Louisiana Short-Term Rental Market, 94 Tul. L. Rev. 587 (2020).
  • Fresh Down the Pipeline: An Analysis of the Fifth Circuit’s Decision in Atchafalaya Basinkeeper v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, 93 Tul. L. Rev. 1057 (2019).

Patrick Perrier is a corporate associate in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where he currently practices in the firm’s Finance Practice Group and Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group. Patrick represents public and private companies, portfolio companies, investment funds and other financial institutions in connection with complex and bespoke special situations and other debt financing transactions. He frequently advises clients on debtor-in-possession, rescue, exit and other distressed financings, workouts and restructurings. Additionally, he regularly represents borrowers (including sponsors and their portfolio companies) and lenders in connection with transactions involving acquisition financing, asset-based lending (including reserve-based lending for oil and gas transactions), cash-flow based lending, investment-grade lending, preferred equity investments, bridge financing, mezzanine financing and subordinated debt financing.

Patrick earned his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2021, where he served as the Managing Authorities Editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review and was selected as a member of the Order of the Coif. He also was a recipient of Vanderbilt’s Law and Business Certificate and a member of the Commodore cross country program. Patrick earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University in 2018, where he was a member of the Cardinal cross country and track and field programs.

Patrick’s representative matters include:

Borrower-Side Representations

  • Represented a leading rail transport service operator in connection with its $50 million revolving credit facility.*
  • Represented Pan American Energy in its $300 million A/B loan from the Andean Development Corporation (Corporacion Andina de Fomento), the Latin American multilateral bank.*
  • Represented a renewable energy private equity fund in connection with an approximately $10 million solar project financing facility.*
  • Represented Genesis Energy, L.P. in its $500 million public offering of 8.875% senior unsecured notes due 2030 and concurrent tender offer for its outstanding 5.625% senior unsecured notes due 2024.*
  • Represented a private equity sponsor in connection with obtaining a $200 million revolving credit facility for an oil and gas exploration and development portfolio company.*
  • Represented a private equity sponsor in connection with obtaining a $150 million revolving credit facility in connection with the acquisition of oil producing assets in the Permian basin.
  • Represented a private equity sponsor in connection with obtaining $35 million of term financing to acquire a collection of landfill service companies.*
  • Represented an oil and gas exploration and development portfolio company in connection with its $950 million revolving credit facility.*

Lender-Side Representations

  • Represented Francisco Partners in connection with a $60 million term loan financing to RiskOptics Inc. (f/k/a Reciprocity Inc.).*
  • Represented Vista Credit Partners in connection with a $125 million term loan financing to Fivetran, Inc.*
  • Represented a private credit fund in connection with a $200 million term loan financing to a leading motion picture equipment provider.*
  • Represented a private credit fund in connection with a $75 million term loan financing to a Southeastern chain of restaurants.

Workouts, Restructurings and Bankruptcy Refinancings

  • Represented an ad hoc group of first lien lenders in connection with an $848 million first-lien revolving credit facility for Talen Energy Supply LLC.*
  • Represented an ad hoc group of first lien term lenders in connection with the Chapter 11 cases for Audacy Inc. and its subsidiaries, including negotiating a new DIP credit facility.
  • Represented an ad hoc group of first lien term loan lenders and noteholders to Radiology Partners in connection with a refinancing of the company’s outstanding debt.
  • Represented a cross-holder group of term loan lenders to AccentCare in connection with an uptier debt exchange.
  • Represented an ad hoc group of first lien term loan lenders and noteholders to Rackspace Technology Inc. in connection with a both private and public exchange debt exchange.
  • Represented a cross-holder group of term loan lenders and noteholders to Venator Materials PLC in connection with an exit ABL facility and exit term loan facility in connection with Venator’s emergence from Chapter 11.
  • Represented an ad hoc group of first lien lenders in connection with the Chapter 11 cases for Mallinckrodt plc and its subsidiaries, including negotiating a new DIP credit facility and new exit credit facility upon emergence from bankruptcy.

Preferred Equity Representations

  • Represented a private equity fund in connection with a $30 million preferred equity investment in a leading wood treatment company.*

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

*Representations occurred prior to Patrick’s association with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Claire Griffet is an associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she currently serves as a member of the firm’s Finance Practice Group.

Claire received her Master of Laws from Columbia Law School in 2022. In 2020, she received her Master of Law from Université Catholique de Lille, graduating at the top of her class, and her Master of Laws in Law and Tax Management from EDHEC Business School.

She is fluent in English and French.

Hajar Qotb is an associate in the Paris office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she serves as a member of the firm’s Finance and Business Restructuring Practice Groups.

Hajar focuses her practice on all types of corporate and acquisition financings, advising public or private companies, senior lenders, mezzanine lenders or borrowers. She acts on investment-grade syndicated facilities, debt restructuring, and acquisition or sales of debt portfolios and 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 in 2019, she practiced for a year within M/HQ’s Dubai corporate department.

Admitted to the Paris Bar, Hajar graduated from University Paris Dauphine in 2016 with a master degree in finance and bank law.

She speaks French and English fluently.

Galadia Constantinou is an English law qualified finance associate in the Dubai office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the firm’s Finance and Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Groups.

Galadia has experience across a range of finance transactions including asset-backed lending, acquisition and leveraged finance, private placements, asset finance, Islamic finance and restructuring. She advises borrowers, sponsors and lenders across a number of industry sectors, including energy, infrastructure, shipping and retail in the Middle East, the US and Europe.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Galadia practiced as a finance associate at another leading international law firm in London and Dubai where she also trained.

John Cheah is an associate in the Singapore office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a member of the firm’s Finance Practice Group.

John has experience advising borrowers, sponsors and lenders on complex international financing transactions, including direct lending transactions by private credit funds, special situation financings, debt restructurings, sponsor-led leveraged buy-outs, leveraged finance, project financings, green and sustainability linked financings, fund financings (including subscription line, NAV and hybrid financings) and digital assets-linked financings. His experience also includes a secondment at UBS AG as legal counsel to their investment banking division.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, John was a senior associate with a leading Singapore law firm.

John received his Bachelor of Laws with Honors from the National University of Singapore in 2016, where he was placed on the Dean’s List for his final year of studies. He is an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Tom Capper is an associate in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, practising in the firm’s Finance Practice Group.

Tom has a broad practice advising major financial institutions, investment funds, private equity sponsors and corporates on a range of finance transactions, including leveraged finance, acquisition finance and private credit.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Tom trained and practised in the London office of a major international law firm. He received his undergraduate Economics degree from the University of Warwick and his graduate diploma in law and his master of science in law, business and management with distinction from the University of Law.

Tom is admitted to practice in England and Wales.
 

Robert Bollinger is an associate in the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where he practices in the firm’s Finance, Business Restructuring and Reorganization, Liability Management and Special Situations, and Private Equity Practice Groups. Robert advises financial institutions, debt funds, private equity firms and corporate borrowers in a variety of transactions including debt-financings, corporate restructuring, sponsor-led acquisition financings, asset-based loans, cash flow-based facilities and other leveraged financings.

Robert received his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He also received his Master of Business Administration from Yale School of Management and his Bachelor of Science and Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

Martin Coombes is an English qualified senior solicitor in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a member of the firm’s Financial Regulatory, Financial Institutions, Investment Funds and ESG Practice Groups.

Martin specializes in advising on UK and EU financial services regulation. He advises on a wide range of financial services and compliance issues including advice on UK and EU regulatory developments, the regulatory aspects of corporate transactions and the on-going compliance obligations of financial services firms. Martin also has experience of conducting internal investigations for financial services firms and acting on a section 166 skilled person review under the Financial Services and Markets Act. His clients include institutional asset managers, private equity firms, hedge fund managers, credit fund managers, investment banks, cryptoasset firms, payment services firms and corporate finance houses.

Martin has completed client secondments to the London Legal and Compliance departments of two US asset managers.

He graduated from Newcastle University with a First Class honors degree in Law and has been awarded the Bachelor of Civil Law from Pembroke College, University of Oxford. He completed the Legal Practice Course (Distinction) at BPP Law School, London. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Martin practiced in the Financial Services Regulation Department of a leading international law firm in London.

Nicole M. Butze is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where she currently practices in the firm’s Tax Controversy and Litigation Practice Group.

Nicole earned her Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. She served as the Symposium Editor for the Pepperdine Law Review and a research assistant to Professor Kristine S. Knaplund. Nicole earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Nicole was a general attorney at the Internal Revenue Service where she handled numerous complex tax controversy cases ranging from micro captive insurance to fraud. Nicole has litigated numerous cases in front of the United States Tax Court.

Nicole is admitted to practice in the State of California and in the United States Tax Court.

Ella Alves Capone is of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the White Collar Defense and Investigations, Financial Regulatory, FinTech and Digital Assets, and Anti-Money Laundering Practice Groups.

Ella has been featured as a fintech “Rising Star” by Law360 in its 2023 publication of “attorneys under 40 whose legal accomplishments belie their age.” She has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2022 and 2023 White Collar Defense “Rising Star.” In addition, she was recognized for her White Collar Litigation and Investigations work in the 2023 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation edition, an inaugural guide highlighting attorneys “who will define where the legal profession of our country goes” and whose “leadership will be called upon by businesses and individuals when they face their crossroads.”

Ella’s practice focuses on advising multinational corporations and financial institutions on Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering (BSA/AML), anti-corruption, sanctions, payments, and consumer financial regulatory and enforcement matters, with a particular focus on regulatory matters impacting banks, casinos, social media and gaming platforms, marketplaces, fintech, payment service providers, and digital assets businesses. She regularly advises clients on the implementation, enhancement, and assessment of their compliance programs and internal controls and on platform terms and conditions, including Terms of Service, Merchant Agreements, Sales Agreements, Payment and Refund Policies, and Payment Service Provider Agreements. Ella frequently provides clients with training on financial services regulations and corporate compliance programs, including enforcement trends, industry best practices, and regulator expectations.

Ella has significant experience representing clients in white collar and regulatory matters involving the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Federal Reserve, and state financial services regulators, including the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). She has successfully defended global clients in multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency enforcement matters involving Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), AML, consumer financial, securities, fraud, and sanctions allegations.

A significant portion of Ella’s practice entails advising cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other blockchain businesses on regulatory compliance and enforcement matters. She regularly advises these types of entities on structuring products and payment models for regulatory compliance. She also has extensive experience advising clients on regulatory coverage and licensing under state money transmitter regulations, including BitLicense requirements.

Ella has significant experience working on international matters, with particular expertise in Latin America. She is fluent in Portuguese, and her representative matters include several anti-corruption and corporate compliance matters in Brazil, including the representation of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras in connection with investigations by the SEC and DOJ. She is also a member of the Board of the Brazil-US 40 and Under White Collar Lawyers Initiative.

Ella’s representative matters include:

  • Representing a cryptocurrency exchange in connection with investigations by the SEC, FinCEN, and OFAC and in developing and implementing a BSA/AML and sanctions compliance program.
  • Advising a leading technology company on BSA/AML, sanctions, and securities matters associated with launching NFT products.
  • Advising a global financial services company on BSA/AML, state money transmitter, sanctions, and securities compliance and licensing matters associated with launching a cryptocurrency custody and liquidity solution.
  • Conducting an extensive anti-corruption, AML, and securities internal investigation for a major bank in a matter involving engagement with DOJ, the SEC, FINRA, and federal banking regulators.
  • Advising leading social media and tech clients on payments, BSA/AML, sanctions, and consumer financial matters associated with creator monetization programs, marketplace offerings, reward programs, and platform tokens.
  • Representing a large bank in a sanctions and AML matter involving engagement with DOJ, OFAC, and banking regulators.
  • Conducting token securities assessments and developing corporate token assessment procedures for multiple TradFi and blockchain entities.
  • Representing a casino in conducting an internal investigation and engaging with DOJ and local gaming regulators on BSA/AML matters.
  • Conducting anti-corruption and AML compliance program assessments for a social networking client.
  • Advising a cryptocurrency exchange and other Web 3.0 clients on regulatory considerations and risk mitigation strategies associated with launching tokens and decentralizing operations.
  • Conducting pre-deal AML, anti-corruption, and sanctions due diligence and post-acquisition compliance integration in connection with corporate transactions for multiple global investment firms.
  • Representing a client in the gaming industry before FinCEN in an AML enforcement matter.

Ella regularly speaks and writes on anti-corruption, BSA/AML, and compliance issues.

Representative speaking engagements and writings include the following:

  • “FCPA Year-End Update,” Presenter, Gibson Dunn Webcast (March 2023);
  • “Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance Update,” Presenter, Gibson Dunn Webcast (February 2023);
  • “Anti-Money Laundering Enforcement and Compliance Training,” Presenter (August 2022);
  • “Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Training in the Digital Assets Sector,” Presenter (July 2022);
  • “AML requirements for covered institutions and individuals in USA,” Author, Lexology (May 2022);
  • “Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Programs for Financial Institutions and Other Businesses” in The Complete Compliance and Ethics Manual, Author, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (2022);
  • “FCPA Year-End Update,” Presenter, Gibson Dunn Webcast (February 2022);
  • “BSA/AML and Sanctions Compliance and Enforcement Update,” Presenter, Gibson Dunn Webcast (January 2022);
  • “The Role of Internal Audit and Associated Best Practices,” Presenter, Corporate Training Program (November 2021);
  • “Managing Internal Audit and Investigations,” Presenter, Gibson Dunn Webcast (November 2021);
  • “Cryptocurrency Regulatory Overview Training,” Presenter (September 2021);
  • “The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020’s Corporate Transparency Act,” Author, International Comparative Legal Guides (May 2021);
  • “Anti-Money Laundering 2018: USA Law Chapter,” Author, International Comparative Legal Guides (2018-2021);
  • “Key Anti-Corruption Priorities for the Biden Administration: The Corruption-Money Laundering Connection,” Presenter, American University Washington College of Law Webcast (April 2021);
  • “Chapter 4: Criminal History” in Practice Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Author, ABA Treatise (2018-2020);
  • “FCPA Year-End Update,” Presenter, Gibson Dunn Webcast (January 2021);
  • “The Top 10 Takeaways for Financial Institutions from the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020,” Author, Gibson Dunn Client Alert (January 2021);
  • “International Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Enforcement,” Presenter, Gibson Dunn Webcast (December 2020);
  • “Striving and Thriving During the Pandemic,” Panelist, Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) Virtual Panel (December 2020);
  • “Compliance and Economic Analysis,” Presenter, Symposium on Economic Analysis of Law (February 2020);
  • “Compliance and Beyond: Trends in Cross-Border Enforcement Investigations and Law Enforcement,” Presenter, Brazil Compliance Symposium (April 2019);
  • “Compliance Programs of Private Enterprise,” Presenter, Symposium on Compliance (Pro-Competition & Anti-Corruption Laws) in Brazil and The United States (February 2018); and
  • “The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Enforcement and Compliance” in Securities Practice Series Portfolio No. 285, Author, Bloomberg BNA (2018).

Ella graduated from New York University School of Law in 2011, where she was a member of the Honorary Moot Court Board. She graduated summa cum laude and with departmental honors for all years from Fordham University, where she earned a dual degree in Psychology and Sociology and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, she practiced at a major international law firm in Washington, D.C. and New York, where she specialized in white collar criminal defense, securities litigation, and internal investigations.

Ella is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and New York, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Lisa L. Jacobs is a Senior Counsel working with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Capital Markets Practice Group.

Lisa has unparalleled experience in the capital markets having advised on more than $1 trillion in securities offerings globally over a nearly four-decade career. She has advised major corporations and investment banking houses on disclosure matters, liability management and capital markets transactions, including the creation of new types of securities. She has advised C-Suites and corporate boards on corporate governance, transformational transactions and capital raises throughout economic cycles and unprecedented times. Throughout her career, Lisa has been consistently recognized as one of the top women transactional lawyers. 

Lisa Stevens is a partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Lisa is a member of the Business Restructuring and Reorganization, and Finance Practice Groups. 

Lisa advises global clients on bespoke and complex cross border restructurings, special situations debt transactions and stressed liability management transactions. Lisa has a broad client base which includes capital solutions funds, direct lending funds, CLOs, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, other large asset managers and corporates.

Lisa’s experience includes the following matters:*

  • Investment in The Very Group
  • Recapitalisation transaction undertaken by the McLaren Group (including the heritage car collection sale)
  • Restructuring of the Selecta Group (UK scheme of arrangement)
  • Restructuring of the Technicolor Group (French process)
  • Restructuring of HK China Fisheries (UK restructuring plan)
  • Restructuring of the NMC Group, including assisting with the novel administration funding facility and exit financing (UAE process)
  • Restructuring of the ACPS group (out of court)
  • Holdco PIK loan with warrants to fund an “equity cheque” required to be made in connection with a recent UK restructuring plan
  • Large structured minority investment in a substantial UAE-based retail franchise
  • Liability management transactions involving stressed real estate companies

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

Ben Myers is a partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Ben is a member of the firm’s Finance and Business Restructuring Practice Groups. He is also one of the leaders of the firm’s UK ESG practice and a member of the firm’s global ESG Practice Group.

Ben regularly advises private equity sponsors and their investment funds/portfolio companies, major financial institutions, corporates, hedge funds and other investors and agency/trustee services providers across a wide range of complex and multi-jurisdictional financing transactions including leveraged finance, real estate finance, asset finance, fund finance and restructuring transactions.

In addition to advising clients on mainstream finance and restructuring transactions, Ben’s practice has a particular focus on special situations transactions. He has extensive experience advising private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, special situations teams at major financial institutions and credit/special situations funds on deal specific credit solutions including holdco/PIK financings, rescue financings, GP co-invest financings, minority investment financings and post-restructuring recapitalisations.

Ben previously worked for extended periods in the leveraged loan and high yield finance teams of the investment banking divisions of Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank.

Ben was recommended for Property Finance by The Legal 500 UK 2024 and was previously named as a “Rising Star” by Legal Business.

Representative Matters

Ben has been involved in the following representative matters:

  • RedBird Capital Partners in connection with its acquisition of AC Milan
  • A Hong Kong investment firm in connection with its GP co-invest financing arrangements
  • A U.S. Credit Fund in connection with a holdco financing of a Swiss data centre business
  • EQT Exeter in connection with the subscription facility for its China property fund
  • Investcorp in connection with its acquisition of Investis Digital, a leading global digital corporate communications and marketing company
  • Amazon in connection with the establishment of its European commercial paper programme
  • Lucid Agency and Trustee Services Limited as the replacement agent/security trustee in connection with the financial restructuring and recapitalisation of a portfolio business of a UK PE Sponsor
  • Porthaven Care Homes and its shareholders in connection with the refinancing of the acquisition financing arrangements established in connection with the acquisition of Porthaven Care Homes
  • Banijay Group in connection with the financing arrangements for the acquisition of Endemol Shine*
  • Searchlight Capital Partners on the holdco financing arrangements for one of its portfolio companies in connection with a minority investment by that portfolio company*
  • A consortium of lenders including Blantyre Capital and Bulgarian Development Bank in relation to the financial restructuring and recapitalisation of Bulsatcom EAD, a Bulgarian satellite television, internet and mobile operator*
  • An ad hoc group of noteholders in relation to the financial restructuring and recapitalisation of the Lebara Group*
  • Vector Capital on the financing arrangements for its investment in Cloudsense, a leading commercial software service provider with operations across the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific and the subsequent refinancing of such financing arrangements*
  • Centerbridge and KKR as principal investors in connection with the financial restructuring, and subsequent disposal, of BMI Healthcare and the GHG Group*
  • Selecta Group B.V., a portfolio company of KKR, in connection with its acquisition of Gruppo Argenta S.p.A. and Pelican Rouge and the refinancing of Selecta’s existing debt*
  • An ad hoc group of creditors to Danaos Corporation in connection with the restructuring of $2.2bn of the company’s debt*
  • FNZ Group on the financing arrangements for the acquisition of European Bank for Financial Services GmbH (ebase), the public to private acquisition of GBST Holdings Ltd and the refinancing of FNZ’s existing debt*
  • SK Capital in connection with the financing arrangements for the acquisition by its portfolio company, Wavelength Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., of Perrigo Company PLC’s active pharmaceuticals ingredients (“API”) business in Israel, the United States and India*
  • Global Logistics Properties (GLP) on its acquisition of European logistics business IDI Gazeley from Brookfield Asset Management for approximately US$2.8 billion*
  • A group of lenders in connection with the refinancing of Manchester United’s bank facilities and notes*
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch in connection with the bridge facilities established for the purposes Royal Dutch Shell’s public offer to acquire BG Group*

*Experience prior to joining Gibson Dunn.

Dennis B. Arnold is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. A member of the firm’s Real Estate Department, Finance Practice Group, and Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group, he has had extensive experience in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate and finance, as well as workouts, bankruptcies and debt restructurings. Mr. Arnold is a nationally recognized expert in real estate, finance, insolvency and commercial law, including significant expertise in Uniform Commercial Code remedies and mezzanine loan foreclosures and unparalleled expertise in mortgage remedies and foreclosures. Mr. Arnold’s primary areas of concentration include real estate, banking, workouts, bankruptcy, debt restructure and finance (especially Articles 3, 5 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code). He is also a noted authority on California’s “one action” and “anti-deficiency” laws and successfully briefed and argued the seminal Wozab, Western Security Bank and Union Bank v. Dreyfuss cases before the California Supreme Court. Mr. Arnold is also a recognized authority on secured transactions, the law of guaranties and letters of credit.

Mr. Arnold has been ranked in the first tier of real estate lawyers by Chambers USA for many years. He was recognized in 2020 by Connect CRE in its first annual list of the top 50 “Lawyers in Real Estate” in the U.S. In 2016 and 2017, he was featured in the Who’s Who Legal listing for Real Estate Law, which recognizes outstanding practitioners in various practice areas. In 2013, he was named by The Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of California as the first ever “Real Property Person of the Year”. For decades, Mr. Arnold has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights, Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Real Estate Law. Best Lawyers also named Mr. Arnold as “Lawyer of the Year” in Los Angeles for Real Estate in 2010 and for Banking and Finance in 2018. The Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Real Property Section honored him with its Outstanding Real Estate Lawyer Award in 2009.

Mr. Arnold received his J.D. degree from Yale Law School in 1975. He has lectured extensively for many organizations. Mr. Arnold is a member of The American Law Institute, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Board of Governors of The Financial Lawyers Conference and a former member of the Executive Committees of both the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section and the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Mr. Arnold is the author of “Guaranties of Indebtedness under California Law: Issues in Drafting and Enforcement” (California Real Property Journal, Spring, 1983), “Anti-Deficiency in the Eighties: The Sanction Aspect, Fair Value and Where The Action Is (And Isn’t)” (California Real Property Journal, Spring, 1987), co-author of “The U.C.C. Mixed Collateral Statute – Has Paradise Really Been Lost” (36 U.C.L.A. Rev. 1, 1988), co-author of “Western Security Bank Case Clouds Use of Letters of Credit As Security Enhancement” (California Real Property Journal, Summer, 1993) and author of “Western Security Bank, Part Deux: The Empire Strikes Out” (California Real Property Journal, Winter, 1994).

Mr. Arnold also acted as an Advisor to The American Law Institute on the Restatement of the Law Third, Suretyship and Guaranty (ALI 1996) published by The American Law Institute, and drafted California Civil Code Section 2856, which authorizes waivers of defenses by guarantors.

Olivia St. Amand is an associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group.

Olivia earned her Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.

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

Janiel Myers is an associate in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP where she currently practices in the firm’s Litigation and Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation practice groups. Janiel also has an extensive pro bono practice and has represented individuals in guardianship matters and asylum proceedings, small businesses in commercial disputes and organizational restructurings, and non-profit organizations regarding privacy and reproductive justice issues.

Janiel earned her Juris Doctor in 2018 from Emory University School of Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts in General Theatre from the University of Florida in 2014. While at Emory, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Emory Law Journal (Vol. 67). Janiel is also an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US). 

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Janiel also worked in the New York and Houston offices of another major law firm in their restructuring practice group. Janiel also served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Deborah J. Saltzman of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.

Janiel is a member of the bar of the State of New York and the State of Texas.
 

Samantha Abrams-Widdicombe is an associate in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Los Angeles office, and previously practiced in the firm’s Palo Alto office. Samantha’s practice is mainly focused on defending companies in regulatory matters and advising on product, business and compliance strategies, particularly on issues related to data privacy, cybersecurity, AI and biometrics issues. Samantha advises clients in various industries, from leading tech companies to luxury fashion, retail, software, utility, and medical device companies. Samantha also maintains a significant pro bono practice.

Samantha earned her J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where she served as an editor on the Duke Law Journal, as Executive Vice President of the Women Law Students Association, and as a Legal Analysis, Research and Writing teaching assistant. Samantha was awarded The Outstanding Client Service Award for her work as a student attorney in the Duke Law Community Enterprise Clinic. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Scripps College, and studied abroad for an academic year at the London School of Economics.

Samantha’s representative engagements include:

  • Advising clients in various industries on product, business and compliance strategies, with particular experience related to data privacy, cybersecurity, AI and biometrics issues.
  • Representing publicly traded tech company in selecting and interfacing with an independent assessor appointed under an FTC consent order.
  • Advising publicly traded tech company in implementing a privacy and cybersecurity program under an FTC consent order.
  • Advising publicly traded software company in implementing an advertising compliance program under an FTC consent order.
  • Advising publicly traded pharmaceutical and medical device company in implementing an anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance program and drafting required compliance reports under a DOJ Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
  • Representing publicly traded pharmacy retail company in a False Claims Act investigation by the DOJ.
  • Representing publicly traded pharmaceutical and medical device company in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation by the DOJ.

Rachelle Tong is an associate in Hong Kong. She is a member of the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group.

Rachelle advises Asia-based private fund sponsors on the formation of private investment funds, co-investment transactions and related regulatory and compliance issues.

She received a Bachelor of Laws from University College London and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Hong Kong in 2020. Rachelle is admitted to practice in Hong Kong and England & Wales. She is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.