Michael Piazza > Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
811 Main Street, Suite 3000
Houston, TX 77002-6117
TEXAS
United States
Michael Piazza photo

Position

Michael De Voe Piazza is a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Houston office, and is Co-Chair of the firm’s U.S. Private Equity Practice.  Mr. Piazza focuses his private equity practice on mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and equity and debt offerings, including control, minority and preferred investments and structured equity and asset-level investments and financings.  He regularly represents clients in the financial, oil and gas, energy transition and power sectors.   Mr. Piazza has significant experience advising private equity funds and other financial sponsors in “GP stakes” transactions, leveraged buyouts, portfolio company investments and fund formation projects.  He also has developed expertise in transactions involving the mineral and royalty business, the renewable natural gas business, volumetric production payments and “DrillCo” structures.

Career

For more information, please visit https://www.gibsondunn.com/lawyer/piazza-michael/.

Education

J.D. Georgetown University Law Center cum laude in 2008, Princeton University magna cum laude in 2001.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)

The ‘excellent technical knowledge‘ displayed by the private equity funds team at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is appreciated by its client base of major private equity firms and other financial institutions. It has its strengths in substantial fund formation matters, acting for the sponsors in forming traditional funds, funds-of-one, separately managed accounts and co-investment vehicles. The team also covers fund manager servicing, transaction that involve funds and fund managers, and representation of institutional investors. A trio of lawyers coordinate the practice in this area: fund formation expert Shukie Grossman; Edward Sopher, who focuses on the establishment and operation of private investment funds; and LA-based Jennifer Bellah Maguire, who comes with client recommendation. Roger Singer‘s ‘specific real estate expertise‘ is appreciated by clients working in that field, while A.J. Frey focuses on advising large venture capitalists on investment in established companies. The Houston office saw the additions of Michael Piazza in March 2022 from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, who is strong on GP-led secondaries, and James Hays from the same firm in November 2022, who has niche strength in establishing platforms in Europe. Unless otherwise stated, above lawyers are based in New York.