Will Summers is a partner in the London office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the Private Equity Practice Group.
Will’s practice focuses on advising private equity houses and financial sponsors on a range of complex cross-border acquisitions, divestitures, co-investments, joint ventures, minority and growth capital investments, carve-outs, and corporate restructurings.
Will is ranked by the Chambers UK 2026 guide for Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above. Clients note “he is an absolutely outstanding lawyer who cuts through complexity with ease”; "he has incredible technical competence combined with strong commercial acumen"; "he is always available and a real pleasure to work with"; and "he is a very talented lawyer in addition to being calm and analytical".
Will is also recognised by The Legal 500 UK 2026 for Private Equity: Transactions – High-Value Deals (£500m+) , with clients noting “Will Summers blends nuanced and pragmatic advice on the most complex issues with true charisma and an irrepressible drive to get the deal over the line. A generational talent."
Will received a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Law with Another Legal System (Hong Kong) from UCL in 2011 and completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in 2012. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Will was a partner in the private equity practice group of another major international law firm, where he completed secondments to the firm’s Hong Kong office and to Oaktree Capital Management.
Will’s experience includes advising: *
- The Carlyle Group on its acquisitions of intelliflo, Meopta, Incubeta, Tescan, LiveU, 1E, disguise and Phrase; and its investment in Unifrutti Group
- Eurazeo on its acquisition of Mapal; and its £1.75bn acquisition of BMS
- Oaktree Capital Management on its acquisitions of LED Group, OEG Group and atomos; its $1.1bn disposal of OEG Group; and its disposals of OSMT, Avenga, MWH Treatment, Kadans Science Partner, Groupe Kley and Zodiac Milpro
- Oaktree Capital Management on its establishment of a dedicated life sciences fund; and its subsequent acquisitions of 17 Colombus Courtyard and HTCE
- A global financial sponsor on its £1.2bn disposal of a UK healthcare business
- Anchorage Capital Group on its €600m disposal of Ideal Standard; its £500m disposal of phs Group; and its disposal of LS Retail
- Goldman Sachs on its disposal of Trackunit; and its investment in Twiga Foods
- MidEuropa on its €575m acquisition of Moji Brendovi Group; and its €1.3bn disposal of Profi
- Hg on its acquisition of Raet
- Graanul Invest on its sale to funds managed by the affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc.
- Avast (following an investment by CVC), on its £2.4bn IPO and admission to the Premium Listing Segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange
- Noble Group on its US$3.5bn debt-for-equity restructuring
*Some of these representations occurred prior to Will’s association with Gibson Dunn.
Capabilities
Credentials
Education:
- University College London - 2011 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Admissions:
- England & Wales - Solicitor