Industries
Aerospace and Defense
Premium Sponsor of A&D Industry Conferences
Represents 9 of the Top 15 Government Contractors Worldwide
#4 in Cross Border Announced Deals by Volume in 2025 Q1
$283 billion+ in Deal Value for Completed Deals in 2024
Overview
Gibson Dunn has decades of experience advising aerospace, defense, and government services clients, including manufacturers, defense contractors, airlines, and service providers.
We offer comprehensive legal support across transactions, contracts, and disputes, bringing a deep understanding of the sector’s unique opportunities and challenges.
Our team counsels aerospace and defense companies on government contracting, regulatory compliance, investigations, intellectual property, licensing and strategic risk management. We help clients navigate complex procurement regulations, trade controls, cybersecurity, industrial security, and congressional investigations — enhancing their competitiveness and ensuring compliance with evolving government requirements.
In collaboration with our M&A team, we support all phases of corporate transactions – including acquisitions, divestments, investments and joint ventures – from structuring and due diligence to financing and risk management. Our expertise includes national security reviews (CFIUS), navigating foreign direct investment, export controls and licenses, trade sanctions, and structuring deals involving government contractors. With insight into procurement processes, industry financing, and global regulatory enforcement, we provide strategic advice to help clients succeed in this highly regulated space.
“They have a surgical approach on how to negotiate the points which matter and moving forward efficiently and with a business mindset.”
Chambers USA, client quote
Experience
Recent representations include:
- ATL Partners: Advised ATL Partners, a private equity firm focused on aerospace, transportation and logistics, on its acquisition of Trident Systems, a premier provider of high-performance space electronics and C4ISR solutions, by LightRidge Solutions, a leading provider of space and defense mission solutions for the U.S. national security community.
- Veritas Capital: Advised Veritas Capital on its acquisition of CAES Space Systems, a supplier of high-reliability electronic solutions for space, defense, and other applications, from CAES, a provider of mission critical electronic solutions for the aerospace and defense industry.
- Liberty Hall Capital: Advised Liberty Hall Capital on its acquisition of Comply365 Holdings, a global provider of document and compliance management solutions to the aerospace industry, and subsequent merger with Vistair Limited to create a global provider of compliance, safety and data intelligence technologies.
- Arlington Capital Partners: Advised Arlington Capital Partners on its acquisition of Exostar, a leader in trusted, secure business collaboration in highly regulated industries including aerospace and defense, from Thoma Bravo.
- SES: Advised SES, a Luxembourg-based operator of broadcast satellite systems, on its proposed acquisition of Intelsat, a Luxembourg-based satellite communications provider.
- CACI International: Advised CACI International its $1.3B acquisition of Azure Summit Technology, a provider of high-performance RF electronics, software and systems.
- KBR: Advised KBR on its acquisition of LinQuest, a national security space systems and technology solutions provider to defense and intelligence communities.
- Comply365: Advised Comply365, a global provider of document and compliance management solutions to the aerospace industry, on the acquisition of Qualtero, a provider of training management.
- PAR Technology: Advised PAR Technology in connection with its sale of PAR Government Systems Corporation (PGSC) to Booz Allen Hamilton.
- Tyto Athene: Advised Tyto Athene on its acquisition of Microtel, a software development and systems engineering firm deeply embedded in long-term, space missions for NASA and international space programs; and on its acquisition of MindPoint Group, a premier provider of end-to-end managed cybersecurity services to leading U.S. federal agencies and organizations.