Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Katie Townsend has rejoined the firm’s Litigation and Media, Entertainment, and Technology Practice Groups as a partner in the Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. offices. Katie’s practice will focus on representing clients on a wide range of First Amendment, media, and technology-focused litigation and advisory matters.
“We are delighted to welcome Katie back to Gibson Dunn,” said partner Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. “Katie is an exceptional litigator who, for the last decade, has made a real impact by winning high-stakes cases on behalf of news organizations and journalists. As media companies and technology platforms face increasingly complex First Amendment issues, Katie’s unique experience and insights will prove invaluable to clients navigating this changing landscape.”
“I am thrilled to be coming home to Gibson Dunn,” said Katie. “I’m returning to private practice at a time when the litigation environment is shifting significantly, and media and technology companies alike are facing new and emerging challenges. I know firsthand that Gibson Dunn’s First Amendment media litigation platform is unmatched, and there is no place I’d rather begin the next chapter of my career than alongside this elite team.”
Gibson Dunn’s Media, Entertainment, and Technology Practice Group’s litigators have a winning track record litigating virtually every kind of dispute that arises in the media, entertainment and technology industries. The firm’s experience encompasses First Amendment issues concerning freedom of speech and of the press, litigation for tech companies over the contours of section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, contractual issues such as profit participation and film finance, as well as intellectual property issues such as copyright, trademark and trade secret, and the right of publicity.
Protecting First Amendment rights has long been a hallmark of Gibson Dunn’s practice. The firm has represented major news organizations and journalists for decades in defamation cases, access to courts matters, subpoena battles, and other matters. The firm played a leading role in overturning the largest defamation verdict in history against a news organization and represented White House correspondents in two separate successful First Amendment/Due Process Clause lawsuits to reinstate their suspended press credentials.
About Katie Townsend
Katie is formerly the Deputy Executive Director and Legal Director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. At the Reporters Committee, Katie oversaw the organization’s legal services portfolio, including its litigation, vetting/pre-publication review, and amicus practices. She also led the Reporters Committee’s impact litigation efforts, regularly representing news organizations, journalists, and documentary filmmakers in public records, court access, and legal defense matters.
Katie began her legal career in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office as a summer associate in 2006 and served as an associate from 2007-2014. She earned her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2007, where she was a member of the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review.
Gibson Dunn finished in the top spot in Debtwire’s 2024 lead counsel league table.
According to Debtwire’s North America 2024 Restructuring Advisory Mandates Report, the market “shift toward out-of-court restructurings benefited Gibson Dunn, whose creditor-focused advisory work helped secure the top spot on Debtwire’s 2024 lead counsel league table.”
In addition to setting the bar on the year-end tables, Gibson Dunn also closed out the month of December strong – claiming the first-place position in the lead counsel monthly table.
In response to the anticipated complexities and rapid changes in the immigration landscape under the new administration, Gibson Dunn has launched a specialized Immigration Task Force. Bringing together the firm’s experience in humanitarian immigration law, labor and employment law, appellate and constitutional law, and administrative law and policy, the Task Force will provide clients with timely and comprehensive updates on developments that impact both the business and humanitarian immigration sectors.
“As we have already seen, the new administration will change the immigration system in major ways, which may present significant challenges for businesses and individuals alike,” said Stuart Delery, a litigation partner in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Immigration Task Force. “We formed our Task Force to equip clients with reliable information and real-time guidance on immigration-related developments as they unfold to ensure our corporate clients, immigration clients, and broader communities have access to the knowledge they need to understand and effectively manage their interests in a swiftly changing environment.”
The firm’s Immigration Task Force comprises eight members from its leading Administrative Law and Regulatory, Appellate and Constitutional Law, Labor and Employment, and Litigation Practice Groups. In addition to Stuart, the members are Naima Farrell, Nancy Hart, Katie Marquart, Laura Raposo, Matthew Rozen, Ariana Sañudo, and Betty Yang. The Task Force will offer a comprehensive suite of resources designed to keep clients informed and prepared for changes in immigration law and policy. These resources will include client alerts on new executive orders, laws, regulations, agency guidance, and court cases; in-depth newsletters and articles offering detailed analysis and practical advice for navigating the evolving immigration landscape; and interactive webinars and live sessions providing opportunities for direct engagement.
In addition, through the Task Force, the firm will support pro bono initiatives and foster collaborations that address the humanitarian aspects of immigration changes. The firm has previously represented Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients at the Supreme Court, mobilized firmwide efforts to assist Afghans seeking safety from the Taliban, and assisted vulnerable child migrants to obtain legal status.
“Gibson Dunn’s pro bono practice has consistently been and will continue to be a leader in high-impact litigation across a number of social justice issues, including protecting the rights of individuals and families affected by evolving or unconstitutional immigration policies,” said Katie, a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office and the firm’s Pro Bono Chair. “Lawyers have a profound responsibility to promote safety, freedom, and justice for those seeking refuge from persecution and protection from violence, as well as the opportunity to build a better life. We remain committed to this cause.”
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Jake M. Shields has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner and member of the firm’s False Claims Act/Qui Tam Defense, Litigation, and White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Groups.
“We are excited to welcome Jake to Gibson Dunn,” said Jonathan Phillips, Co-Chair of the firm’s global False Claims Act/Qui Tam Defense Practice Group. “The number of False Claims Act cases continue to increase with no abatement in sight. We have built a destination practice for clients facing these high-stakes challenges, and Jake’s DOJ Civil Fraud litigation experience will bring further depth to Gibson Dunn’s defense team. Jake also has strong experience in cybersecurity fraud cases, having handled some of the first such cases to be opened under DOJ’s Civil Cyber Fraud Initiative, and his perspectives will significantly benefit clients facing challenges in this emerging area.”
“I’m thrilled to begin the next chapter of my career at Gibson Dunn,” said Jake. “Gibson Dunn’s premier litigation platform, coupled with its unmatched talent, will serve as a strong foundation on which to build. I look forward to collaborating with this high caliber team to help clients navigate their investigatory and litigation challenges.”
Gibson Dunn continues to attract top legal talent from government amidst one of the fastest growth periods in the firm’s history. The firm’s team includes senior officials from the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and other agencies at the forefront of consumer protection, competition, white collar investigations, transactional, and policy areas. Recent additions to the firm include Osman Nawaz, former SEC Enforcement Senior Officer and National Unit Chief; Katlin McKelvie, who joined after serving senior roles at the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services; Stuart Delery, who formerly held positions of White House Counsel, Deputy Counsel to the President, Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ Civil Division, and Acting Associate U.S. Attorney General; Gus Eyler, who served as Director of DOJ’s Consumer Protection Branch; Svetlana Gans, who served as Chief of Staff at the Federal Trade Commission; and former federal judges Gregg Costa and George Hazel.
About Jake M. Shields
Jake is a former Senior Trial Counsel in the Fraud Section of the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. While at DOJ, Jake also served on detail to the Technology and Digital Platforms Section of DOJ’s Antitrust Division. Prior to joining DOJ, Jake was in private practice for more than a decade.
With expertise in the False Claims Act, Jake is experienced in matters involving allegations of healthcare fraud, financial fraud, procurement fraud, and customs fraud, as well as violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, Tariff Act, Payroll Protection Program, and restrictions on off-label marketing of prescription drugs. Jake also has had significant involvement in DOJ’s efforts to enforce federal cybersecurity requirements through the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative. An experienced litigator, Jake has served as lead counsel in multiple False Claims Act and other complex civil and fraud litigations.
Jake earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2003, where he served on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review. From 2003 to 2004, Jake clerked for Judge Emilio M. Garza on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Gibson Dunn has elected 35 lawyers to its partnership, effective January 1, 2025.
Commenting on the partnership class, Gibson Dunn Chair and Managing Partner Barbara L. Becker said: “These outstanding attorneys play an important role in the life of our firm and do extraordinary work on behalf of our clients—we are excited to see everything they will continue to accomplish as members of our partnership.”
The newly elected partners are:
John Adams (Litigation / Dallas) is a Texas-focused trial lawyer whose practice involves complex commercial disputes, with an emphasis on disputes in Texas and in the oil and gas industry. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2015.
Cassie Therese Aprile (International Arbitration and Litigation / London) focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation and international arbitration, representing clients across a broad range of industry sectors. She received her LL.B. from the University of Queensland in 2008.
Maxwell Ball (Mergers and Acquisitions / New York) has experience in a broad range of mergers and acquisitions transactions, with a particular focus on representing private equity sponsors in leveraged buyout acquisitions, joint venture transactions, divestitures, minority investments, leveraged recapitalizations, restructuring transactions, and other complex corporate transactions. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 2015.
Abbey A. Barrera (Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation / San Francisco) focuses on privacy and technology litigation, counseling, and regulatory matters, and represents several technology and social media companies in complex privacy class actions. She graduated from New York University School of Law in 2014.
Alex Bluett (Projects / Paris) is an energy and infrastructure specialist, advising all types of clients (infra funds, industrials, developers, funders) across all asset classes (infrastructure, renewable energy, energy transition) in relation to their industrial contracts, their financings, and their M&A transactions. He received his law degree from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law in 2008.
Tyler Cohen (Private Equity / Hong Kong) has experience across a broad range of private equity, M&A and corporate matters across the Asia-Pacific region, including leveraged buy-outs, growth equity investments, convertible instruments, infrastructure investments, and general corporate governance. He received his law degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2015.
Dana Lynn Craig (Litigation / San Francisco) leads the most consequential discovery challenges our clients encounter, establishing herself as an authority in effectively and efficiently guiding all stages of the process, including motion practice, oral argument, and framing trial themes. She graduated from Stanford Law School in 2007.
Jakob Egle (Private Equity / London) is an experienced private equity lawyer who assists sponsor clients with purchase agreements, shareholder arrangements, management equity plans, and other transactional requirements in a cross-border context. He received his LL.M. from Columbia Law School in 2015.
Sara Ghalandari (Land Use and Development / San Francisco) focuses her practice on land use law, advising clients on all aspects of land use and development, including entitlement processes, zoning regulations, environmental documentation, and transactional agreements between private and public entities. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2010.
Gina Hancock (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits / Dallas) focuses her practice on compensation and employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions and initial public offerings, including advising on incentive plans, employment and severance agreements, ERISA benefit plans, and corporate governance matters. She earned her JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015.
Nick Harper (Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice / Washington, D.C.) specializes in appeals and administrative law, with a particular focus on representing clients in the crypto sector. He received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 2015.
Grace E. Hart (Litigation / New York) represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial, employment, and trade secret litigation in federal and state courts, and has significant experience in matters involving emerging and established technology companies. She received her law degree from Yale Law School in 2016.
Scott K. Hvidt (Litigation / Dallas) focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and trial advocacy and is particularly experienced in antitrust litigation and commercial disputes in Texas courts. He earned his JD from Columbia Law School in 2015.
James Jennings (Tax / New York) has a broad transactional tax practice with a focus on complex M&A and capital markets transactions, as well as a variety of tax advisory matters, and particular experience in partnership taxation. He received his law degree from the University of Virgina School of Law in 2015.
Michael J. Kahn (Securities Litigation / San Francisco) focuses his practice on securities litigation, including shareholder class actions and derivative lawsuits. He earned his JD from New York University School of Law in 2012.
Harrison A. Korn (Mergers and Acquisitions / Washington, D.C.) advises public and private companies, private equity firms, boards of directors and special committees in a wide variety of complex corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, asset sales and other carve-out transactions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, joint ventures, and strategic investments and corporate governance matters. He earned his JD from Yale Law School in 2014.
Allison Kostecka (Securities Litigation / Denver) focuses her practice on securities litigation and complex civil litigation and has advised clients facing a broad range of commercial disputes in state and federal courts, as well as with regulatory agencies. She graduated from Duke University School of Law in 2010.
Poonam G. Kumar (White Collar Defense and Investigations / Los Angeles) focuses her practice on white collar criminal defense and investigations, litigation, and trials, helping clients in a wide range of industries navigate complex civil and criminal matters. She received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2007.
Melanie E. Neary (Capital Markets and Life Sciences / San Francisco) advises clients in the life sciences industry on a wide range of complex transactions and matters, with a particular focus on capital markets and private company financings and securities regulation and corporate governance. She earned her JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 2016.
Daniel Nowicki (Appellate and Constitutional Law / Los Angeles) focuses his practice on complex civil litigation—with an emphasis on trial advocacy and appellate brief-writing—and has litigated numerous cases at the trial and appellate level, as well as in arbitration. He received his law degree from New York University School of Law in 2014.
Andrew Robb (Intellectual Property / Palo Alto) has a wide range of experience litigating intellectual property disputes, with a focus on patent litigation. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 2013.
Sophie C. Rohnke (Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation / Dallas) has broad experience defending clients in regulatory investigations and high-profile class actions, with a particular focus on technology companies facing consumer protection and data privacy issues. She received her law degree from the University of Oxford Faculty of Law and her LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2011.
Elizabeth Romefelt (Mergers and Acquisitions / New York) has experience in a broad range of M&A transactions, including representation of both public and private companies and financial sponsors in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, minority investments, restructurings and other complex corporate transactions. She received her JD from The University of Texas School of Law in 2014.
David P. Salant (Litigation / New York) has a broad litigation practice focused on complex commercial, securities, and white-collar disputes in state and federal courts. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 2015.
Dennis Seifarth (Private Equity / Munich) focuses on private equity and M&A transactions and advises clients on complex domestic and cross-border acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, divestiture transactions, management equity programs, joint ventures, and all aspects of their M&A activities. He received his law degree in 2008 and his Dr. iur. in 2015 from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena Faculty of Law.
Stephen D. Silverman (Business Restructuring and Reorganization / New York) focuses on a broad range of restructuring and special situations matters, including comprehensive in and out of court restructurings, recapitalizations, financings and complex liability management transactions, in each case with a focus on creditor and investor side representations. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015.
Prerna Soni (Real Estate / San Francisco) has a broad real estate practice that includes acquisitions, joint ventures, mortgage and mezzanine financings, workouts, debt restructurings, and foreclosures. She received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2014.
Wesley Sze (Class Actions / Palo Alto) represents clients in class actions and complex civil litigation, with a particular focus on disputes at the intersection of law, technology, and privacy. He received his law degree from Stanford Law School in 2015.
Kate Timmerman (Investment Funds / New York) specializes in the establishment and operation of private funds, as well as advising fund managers with respect to GP-led secondary transactions and advising investors with respect to their investment in private funds and transfers of interest from such funds. She earned her LL.B. from Bond University Faculty of Law in 2012.
Todd J. Trattner (Life Sciences / San Francisco) focuses on intellectual property transactions in the life sciences industry, including royalty financings, licensing transactions, commercial agreements, asset acquisitions, and advising on complex intellectual property issues in connection with M&A and financing transactions. He earned his JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2011.
Jessica L. Wagner (Appellate and Constitutional Law / Washington, D.C.) is an appellate litigator who brings her strong analytical skills to a range of practice areas, including administrative law, judgment enforcement, and torts, helping clients present crisp arguments before all levels of federal and state courts. She earned her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2015.
Frances Waldmann (Artificial Intelligence / Los Angeles) advises clients in global regulatory compliance and enforcement, product counseling, litigation, and transactional matters related to artificial intelligence, data privacy, and emerging technologies. She received her law degree from the University of Oxford Faculty of Law in 2009.
Geoffrey E. Walter (Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance / Washington, D.C.) focuses his practice on advising public companies on a wide range of securities and governance matters, including corporate governance, shareholder activism, SEC compliance, annual meetings, investor engagement, and executive compensation. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 2013.
Adam Whitehouse (Mergers and Acquisitions / Houston) focuses his practice on M&A and advises clients ranging from private equity sponsors and portfolio companies to public companies, with particular experience in the energy space, including related to oil and gas, energy transition, oilfield services, and tax credit sales. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2010.
David A. Wolber (International Trade / Hong Kong) focuses on international trade and financial crime regulatory matters, spearheading the firm’s International Trade offerings in Asia, particularly around economic sanctions, export and import controls, cross border investment controls, and general geopolitical and national security-based advisory matters. He earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2011.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Emily Naughton has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner and member of the firm’s Projects and Infrastructure and Real Estate Practice Groups. Emily will continue to focus on real estate and infrastructure transactions, representing many of the largest owners and operators of data center facilities in the country.
“We are thrilled to welcome Emily to Gibson Dunn,” said Eric Feuerstein, Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. “Emily combines core real estate and transactional skillsets with exceptionally deep experience in the data center industry. With the global growth in AI, we are seeing and will continue to see an unprecedented rise in data center investments, and Emily’s experience representing top industry players will be an invaluable asset to our clients.”
“I’m excited to join the Gibson Dunn team,” said Emily. “Gibson Dunn’s premier platform is an excellent foundation on which to further build my practice. The firm’s talent is unmatched, and I look forward to working alongside this incredibly collaborative team.”
Gibson Dunn continues to attract top legal talent amidst one of the fastest growth periods in our history. In addition to Emily’s arrival, in the U.S. the firm has recently announced the joining of former Google Chief Privacy Officer Keith Enright, private credit partner Ryan Kim, special situations partner Caith Kushner, energy regulatory partner Tory Lauterbach, executive compensation and employee benefits partner Kate Napalkova, trial lawyer Liz Ryan, M&A partner George Sampas, private equity partner Brian Scrivani, regulatory finance partner Ro Spaziani, and real estate finance partners Krystyna Blakeslee and Michael Weinberger.
About Emily Naughton
Emily’s practice combines her core real estate and transactional background with deep industry expertise in the data center industry. Emily advises clients on a broad array of commercial real estate transactions, with an emphasis on digital infrastructure. She represents data center owners, developers, operators, and investors globally in connection with acquisition and development projects, disposition and transition of data center facilities, and data center leases and collocation agreements.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Will McDonald has joined the firm’s London office as a partner in its Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group.
Will has considerable experience in advising on complex cross-border M&A and brings deep expertise to U.K. public M&A transactions. During his two-year secondment at the U.K. Takeover Panel, he was involved in regulating over 250 transactions including Anheuser-Busch InBev’s £71 billion offer for SABMiller, the biggest takeover in U.K. corporate history.
Commenting on Will’s arrival, George Sampas, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group, said: “Will’s experience in complex mergers and acquisitions makes him an important addition to our London deal team. Clients will benefit, in particular, from his first-hand experience at the UK Takeover Panel, which gives him an edge in U.K. public M&A deals.”
“With Gibson Dunn’s reputation for excellence and network of private equity and M&A lawyers working across geographies and industries, the opportunity to join the firm was too good to pass up,” said Will. “I’m looking forward to getting to work in the London office, which has made some fantastic hires in the deals space in recent years.”
Gibson Dunn recently expanded its transactional practices in London, welcoming private equity partner Will Summers, and finance partners Kavita Davis and David Irvine in the past year. Transactional partners Isabel Berger, Alice Brogi, Wim de Vlieger, Robert Dixon, Federico Fruhbeck, and Till Lefranc also joined the firm in London in recent years.
About Will McDonald
Will is an experienced M&A lawyer specializing in U.K. public and private M&A. He undertook a secondment to the U.K. Takeover Panel for two years, during which time he regulated more than 250 transactions covered by the Takeover Code. He works across a range of industries including defence, aerospace and aviation, technology, real estate, and natural resources. He is a Recommended Lawyer in Legal 500 United Kingdom for London: M&A Upper Mid-Market and Premium Deals. Will earned his M.A. Hons. (first class) in History from the Universities of Edinburgh and Washington.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Ryan Kim has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner. Ryan will be heading Gibson Dunn’s private credit efforts.
“We are excited to welcome Ryan to Gibson Dunn,” said Scott Greenberg, Global Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group. “Ryan is a versatile finance lawyer with significant experience in private credit space. He is well known to our clients and a natural fit for our growing team.”
“Ryan’s comprehensive and distinctive practice spans the full life cycle of a credit investment, from initial capital deployment to liability management transactions and in-court and out-of-court restructurings for debtors and creditor groups. He will be an invaluable resource for our clients in a highly active private credit market,” added Doug Horowitz, Co-Chair of the firm’s Finance Practice Group.
“I’m thrilled to begin the next chapter of my career at Gibson Dunn,” said Ryan. “The talent across the firm is unmatched, and I very much look forward to working alongside this outstanding team. Gibson Dunn’s premier platform is an excellent foundation as I continue to build out my practice.”
Ryan’s arrival continues the growth of Gibson Dunn’s New York office, with the recent additions of M&A partner George Sampas, private equity partner Brian Scrivani, special situations partner Caith Kushner, regulatory finance partner Ro Spaziani, real estate finance partners Michael Weinberger and Krystyna Blakeslee, and executive compensation and employee benefits partner Kate Napalkova.
About Ryan Kim
Ryan is spearheading the firm’s private credit initiatives and focuses on advising creditors, asset managers and alternative capital sources on all aspects of financing transactions. He has experience with a wide variety of finance transactions, including syndicated loan financing, cash flow and asset-based lending, rescue financings, debtor-in-possession financings and other special situation opportunities. He is particularly active in representing asset managers deploying capital in the middle market and direct lending spaces. Ryan was previously a partner at an international law firm. He earned his law degree, with honors, from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Will Summers has today joined the firm’s London office as a partner in its Private Equity Practice Group. The group will also be joined in London by of counsel, Michael Skouras.
Commenting on the arrivals, Richard Birns, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Private Equity Practice Group, said: “Will has a reputation for excellence and a solid track record as a trusted advisor to large PE sponsors. We’re thrilled to have both Will and Michael join our global private equity team.” “I am excited to be joining a top-tier practice in one of the world’s most prestigious law firms. Gibson Dunn’s global footprint and strong reputation in private equity were a huge draw to me, together with its ambitious expansion plans in the UK, Europe and beyond. I am looking forward to utilising the firm’s expertise across all major practice areas to deliver the best possible service to the firm’s existing and future private capital clients,” said Will.
Gibson Dunn has expanded its transactional practices in London in recent years, with the arrival of private equity partners Isabel Berger, Alice Brogi, Wim de Vlieger, Robert Dixon, Federico Fruhbeck, and Till Lefranc. In the past year, the London office was also joined by finance partners Kavita Davis and David Irvine.
About Will Summers
Will advises private equity houses and financial sponsors on cross-border acquisitions, divestitures, co-investments, joint ventures, minority and growth capital investments, carve-outs, and corporate restructurings. He is a recommended practitioner in The Legal 500 for London for Private Equity: Transactions – High-Value Deals (£250 million+), where clients commend his “exceptional talent and dedication” and “sharp focus, attention to detail and pragmatism.” He earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Law with Another Legal System (Hong Kong) from the University College London.
About Michael Skouras
Michael advises private equity sponsors and other investors on complex cross-border acquisitions, divestitures, co-investments, minority and growth capital investments. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Exeter.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Ones to Watch recognized 109 lawyers in 40 practice areas. Ones to Watch “are recognitions given to attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.” The list was published on August 15, 2024.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 has recognized 205 lawyers in 64 practice areas. The list was published on August 15, 2024.
The Best Lawyers in America® named eleven Gibson Dunn lawyers as the 2025 Lawyer of the Year in their respective practice areas and cities:
- Wayne Barsky – Los Angeles – Litigation: Patent
- Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. – Los Angeles – Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Jessica Brown – Denver – Employment Law: Management
- Gregg Costa – Houston – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Michael P. Darden – Houston – Oil and Gas Law
- Miguel Estrada – Washington, D.C. – Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Tull Florey – Houston – Corporate Law
- Ronald Kirk – Dallas – Sports Law
- Doug Rayburn – Dallas – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Karen Spindler – San Francisco – Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
- Beau Stark – Denver – Corporate Governance Law – Corporate Law
The lawyers selected received particularly high ratings in Best Lawyers’ survey by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism and integrity. Only one lawyer in each legal community is selected as the Lawyer of the Year for each practice area. The list was published August 15, 2024.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Elizabeth “Liz” Ryan has joined the Dallas office as a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Trials Practice Groups.
“Liz is an outstanding trial lawyer known for her exceptional courtroom skills. She has an earned reputation as a tough, smart, and well-prepared trial lawyer. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Gibson Dunn litigation team,” said Trey Cox, Co-Partner in Charge of Gibson Dunn’s Dallas office and Co-Chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. “She has a proven track record of leading significant trials. Liz excels in navigating complex legal matters and providing invaluable counsel during challenging litigation. Her addition will enhance our robust litigation practice in Texas and beyond.”
“It is an incredibly exciting time to join Gibson Dunn. The firm’s growth in Texas is both explosive and impressive,” said Liz. “Even with this growth, Gibson Dunn has maintained a collaborative atmosphere, collegiality, renowned client service, and unparalleled litigation results. Having repeatedly co-counseled with outstanding Gibson Dunn attorneys throughout my practice, I’m now honored to join their ranks. I look forward to expanding my trial practice and appearing before courts and juries with even more frequency.”
Liz’s arrival continues the expansion of Gibson Dunn’s market-leading litigation practice in Texas, which features exceptional litigators who previously joined the firm, including Trey Cox and David Woodcock in Dallas and Gregg Costa, Collin Cox, and Sydney Scott in Houston, as well as recently promoted litigation partners, such as Christine Demana, Brad Hubbard, Ashley Johnson, and Betty Yang in Dallas. The firm’s Texas litigators are regularly recognized in industry rankings, such as Chambers USA, The Legal 500 United States, and Benchmark Litigation US. Last year, The American Lawyer named Gibson Dunn as the Texas Regional Litigation Department of the Year winner, which recognizes “the best litigation department in [the] jurisdiction.”
About Elizabeth “Liz” Ryan
Liz is a first-chair trial lawyer who handles complex, high-stakes disputes involving a wide array of legal issues, including antitrust, breach of contract, business tort, employment, intellectual property, product liability and mass torts. She has extensive courtroom experience and advises clients on how to navigate disputes through federal courts, state courts, and arbitrations.
Liz was previously a partner at both an international law firm and a preeminent trial boutique. She clerked for Judge Eugene E. Siler, Jr. in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She earned her law degree in 2007 from William & Mary Law School, where she was admitted to the Order of the Barristers.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Ekaterina (Kate) Napalkova has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the firm’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice Group.
“We are excited to welcome Kate to Gibson Dunn,” said Krista P. Hanvey, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice Group. “Kate has a reputation for being a trusted counselor to her clients, and with her excellent technical skills, she will add further depth and support for our growing transactional practices.”
“I am thrilled to join the Gibson Dunn team,” said Kate. “The Gibson Dunn platform will serve as an excellent foundation on which to continue building my practice. The firm’s reputation precedes it, and I look forward to collaborating with my talented colleagues and mentoring the team’s future leaders.”
Kate’s arrival continues the growth of Gibson Dunn’s New York office, including the recent additions of leading M&A dealmaker George Sampas, private equity partner Brian Scrivani, special situations partner Caith Kushner, regulatory finance partner Ro Spaziani, and real estate finance partner Michael Weinberger.
About Kate Napalkova
Kate advises public and private companies, private investment funds, boards of directors and management teams on a broad range of compensation and employee benefits matters. Her advice focuses on the compensation and employee benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, public offerings, spin-offs, and other corporate transactions. She is experienced in the negotiation and implementation of benefit and compensation plans, as well as compensation-related securities and corporate governance matters. Before joining Gibson Dunn, Kate served as a partner at an international law firm. She received her law degree cum laude in 2009 from the Fordham University School of Law, where she also served as the editor-in-chief of the Fordham International Law Journal.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Lore Leitner has joined the firm’s London office as a partner in the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group. She is also a member of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Group.
Commenting on Lore’s arrival, Joel Harrison, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group, said: “A wave of new legislation is leading to unprecedented demand among our clients for top-tier advice, and Lore’s arrival is an important step in growing our global data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI capability. She brings a wealth of experience in advising on data strategies and adjacent issues across a number of industry sectors, as well as engaging with regulators in the U.K. and the EEA to advance and defend those strategies.”
“I am thrilled to be joining one of the world’s top firms in Gibson Dunn and cannot wait to work alongside a talented team of leading practitioners in the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group,” said Lore. “Laws governing the digital world are only increasing, and I am looking forward to helping a variety of clients navigate that complexity.” Gibson Dunn is the leading law firm in privacy, cybersecurity, and data innovation. It is ranked by Chambers USA as an Elite firm and Band 1 Nationwide in Privacy & Data Security: Litigation. Global Data Review named Gibson Dunn the #1 law firm for Investigations in 2023. The firm has been named Cybersecurity & Privacy Practice Group of the Year by Law360 in three of the past seven years, and BTI Consulting Group recognized the firm as the Best of the Best Firms in Cybersecurity/Data Privacy Litigation. Lore’s hire continues the expansion of the group, with recent arrivals including Alison Beal and Joel Harrison (London), Robert Spano (London and Paris), Vivek Mohan (Palo Alto), and Stephenie Gosnell Handler and Jane Horvath (Washington, D.C.).
About Lore Leitner
Lore’s practice covers data privacy, technology, AI, and cybersecurity clients, and focuses on strategic counseling and advice, corporate support, incident preparedness and response, and regulatory engagement and investigations. She supports clients with the design and implementation of strategic global data privacy compliance programs, including those driven by GDPR, and she has advised companies in the context of business strategies that involve large-scale data use, regulatory investigations and engagement strategies, and mitigation of cyber intrusions or data breaches. She has substantial expertise in M&A and capital markets transactions, as well as advising on privacy litigation matters.
Lore was recognized in Global Data Review’s 40 Under 40 and Women in Data listings in 2021 and 2022, and Lawdragon recently identified her as one of the 100 Leading AI & Legal Tech Advisors and 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers. She is a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 UK 2024 for Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, where clients highlight her “no nonsense, commercial approach” and “deep understanding of data protection compliance and industry expertise.” Lore earned a Master of Law magna cum laude from the University of Antwerp in 2008 and a postgraduate LLM from King’s College London in 2009.
About Gibson Dunn’s Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group
The Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group brings together a global team of former in-house executives and technologists, former regulators, prosecutors, and government leaders, as well as cross-disciplinary experts from our regulatory investigations, litigation and appellate, corporate, crisis management, and compliance practices. The practice stands out for the remarkable breadth of high-stakes matters handled, its successes for clients in cross-border regulatory and multijurisdictional matters, and deep technical knowledge of data-driven business models.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Krystyna Blakeslee has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group.
“Krystyna is a brilliant lawyer who has built a formidable lender-side practice representing top-tier financial institutions,” said Eric Feuerstein, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Real Estate Practice Group. “She is a generational talent, and her addition to our best-in-class team will enable us to provide even more strength and experience to our leading real estate clients.”
“I have seen Gibson Dunn’s impressive real estate lawyers in action and I am looking forward to working with and building alongside the extraordinary talent here to scale the success of the Real Estate group,” said Krystyna.
Krystyna’s arrival continues the firm’s strategic transactional growth in New York, adding to recent hires including special situations partner Caith Kushner, M&A partner George Sampas, private equity partner Brian Scrivani, financial services regulatory partner Ro Spaziani, and real estate finance partner Michael Weinberger. The Real Estate Practice Group was recently named the 2024 Chambers USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, as well as Vault’s 2025 Best Law Firm for Real Estate Law.
About Krystyna Blakeslee
Krystyna is a commercial real estate finance lawyer, with a focus on lender-side representation in every phase of the life cycle of loans secured directly or indirectly by all types of commercial real estate. She has substantial experience in loan origination, loan purchases, loan dispositions (whether through syndication, sales, or securitization), financing/leverage transactions, post-closing loan modifications and loan workouts.
She represents all types of commercial real estate lenders, including commercial banks, life
insurance companies, CMBS lenders, specialty finance companies, debt funds, mortgage REITs and hedge funds. She has substantial experience in wide variety of asset classes, including data centers, office and retail properties, hotels, and assisted living/nursing care and condominium properties. Before joining Gibson Dunn, Krystyna was a partner at a New York law firm. She graduated with high honors in 2009 from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she served as the Managing Editor of Connecticut Law Review. Krystyna was previously a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Iraq.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce the appointment of George J. Sampas as Co-Chair of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group and Head of Cross-Border M&A. He will lead the global M&A practice with fellow Co-Chairs Robert Little in the Dallas office and Saee Muzumdar in the New York office.
“George is a preeminent M&A lawyer, and his extensive experience in cross-border deals is invaluable in an increasingly global world,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “As a trusted advisor for boardrooms across the globe, George brings a unique perspective and ability to advise our clients through a diverse range of deal structures and cycles. His addition to our leadership is a reflection of the firm’s commitment to growing our M&A platform across the globe.”
“I am thrilled to work with my Co-Chairs and colleagues at the firm to scale our exceptional M&A practice. Gibson Dunn’s global presence and the caliber of talent across the firm enable us to provide a tailored approach in our client offerings,” said George. George focuses on cross-border transactions, unsolicited U.S. and non-U.S. acquisitions and private equity transactions. He is consistently recognized as a leading adviser to companies on their most high-profile and strategically significant matters. His work spans a broad range of industries, including energy, aviation, food and beverage, and technology.
About the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group
Gibson Dunn’s M&A Practice Group is an international leader in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, proxy contests and joint ventures. The firm’s M&A capabilities are worldwide, as its combination of lawyers throughout the network of 21 offices in all major financial centers allows it to handle the most complex cross-border deals effectively and efficiently.
Industry rankings regularly recognize Gibson Dunn as one of the world’s top M&A firms. Chambers USA, which consistently lists Gibson Dunn as among “The Elite” nationwide for corporate/M&A, has noted that the firm “is frequently enlisted on some of the most significant transactions in the market.” The firm’s M&A clients include public and private companies, ranging from Fortune 100 and multinational corporations to smaller companies, private equity firms, boards of directors and special committees, selling shareholders, management teams, and financial advisors. Clients also regularly enlist Gibson Dunn to provide advice regarding takeover preparedness and the implementation of defensive measures. The firm’s Hostile M&A and Shareholder Activism practices are some of the most well-respected in the world.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Brian Scrivani has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner and a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups.
“Brian is a leading private equity partner who has worked with premier PE sponsors and their portfolio companies across all industries and verticals on some of their most complex and significant investments,” said Richard Birns, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Private Equity Practice Group. “His addition further solidifies our standing as a destination PE practice.”
“I am excited to join Gibson Dunn, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the firm’s extensive, market-leading platform,” said Brian. “The talent here is remarkable, and the firm’s investment in the M&A and private equity space, as well as the practices that are critical to the future of the addressable market, allows us to provide unparalleled support to clients on their most important transactions.”
Brian’s addition reflects Gibson Dunn’s commitment to growing its M&A and private equity groups globally. Over the past year alone, the firm has added over two dozen transactional lateral partner hires, including high-profile M&A partner George Sampas, and elevated over a dozen transactional partners worldwide.
About Brian Scrivani
Brian advises private equity firms and public and private clients on leveraged buyouts and other private equity transactions, public company acquisitions, sales and divestitures and mergers of equals. He also advises boards of directors and special committees on corporate and securities laws, and fiduciary and corporate governance matters, including unsolicited offers, proxy contests and other activist defense matters.
Brian previously was a partner at another leading international law firm. He graduated with honors in 2007 from The University of Texas School of Law, where he served as Chief Articles Editor for the Texas Law Review.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Victoria “Tory” Lauterbach has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner and a member of the Energy, Regulation and Litigation Practice Group.
“We are excited to welcome Tory to the firm,” said Bill Hollaway, Chair of the firm’s Energy, Regulation and Litigation Practice Group. “She has a rare, broad-based energy practice that covers all the bases, from regulatory transactional work to FERC litigation, appellate work, and regulatory proceedings. Her addition will complement our existing team and position us for further growth.”
“Gibson Dunn has an impressive energy platform with other industry-leading practice areas that will support my practice,” said Tory. “I am looking forward to leveraging my relationships with the firm’s wide network.”
Tory’s arrival follows recent substantial growth for Gibson Dunn’s energy practices, which span offices in Asia, London, the Middle East, Paris, and United States. The firm has invested in these practices with the opening of an office in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh and the addition of partners Federico Fruhbeck, Alice Brogi, Trinh Chubbock, Robert Dixon and Ben Shorten in London; Darko Adamovic in Paris; Marwan Elaraby, Renad Younes, Laleh Shahabi, Jade Chu, and Samuel Ogunlaja in Dubai; and Megren Al-Shaalan, Mahmoud Abdel-Baky, Mohamed Hasan, Jonathan Langley, and Ibrahim Soumrany in Riyadh; and Rahul Vashi in Houston.
Gibson Dunn was named among Law360’s Energy Practice Groups of the Year in the last two years, and the firm’s energy practices are regularly ranked in Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States.
About Victoria Lauterbach
Tory represents energy sector clients, including investors, generation developers, independent power producers, independent transmission companies, investor-owned utilities, natural gas companies, and pipeline shippers in a variety of regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters. She has significant experience in administrative litigation and settlement proceedings. She regularly represents companies before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and federal appellate courts and has represented clients before the Department of Energy (DOE) and state public utility commissions.
She helps clients navigate heavily regulated energy industry market environments, including wholesale electricity and carbon markets. Tory advises companies on issues relating to the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Interstate Commerce Act, related federal and state statutes, and federally regulated tariffs. She is Co-Chair of the Professional Education Council of the Energy Bar Association.
Tory graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where she served as Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review.
Chambers named Gibson Dunn as “Real Estate Law Firm of the Year” at its 2024 USA Awards. The awards recognize “outstanding legal work and expertise, impressive strategic growth and innovation, and unparalleled excellence in client service delivery.” The awards were presented on June 13, 2024.
The Real Estate Practice Group handles the most sophisticated real estate transactions worldwide. Our team of lawyers handles complex and challenging matters for a wide array of clients, such as the owners, developers and financiers of the largest real estate projects in the United States and Europe, both in the private and public sectors. Chambers USA has consistently recognized us as a top-tier real estate practice.