Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

The firm: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a leading international law firm. Consistently ranked among the world’s top law firms in industry surveys and major publications, Gibson Dunn is distinctly positioned in today’s global marketplace with more than 1,300 lawyers in 20 locations across the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. Gibson Dunn represents some of the world’s largest multinational corporations in all major industries, leading government entities, commercial and investment banks, start-up ventures, emerging growth businesses, partnerships and individuals.

The London office: Gibson Dunn’s London office, founded more than 30 years ago, offers full-service capabilities in all aspects of corporate work, including M&A, private equity, capital markets, finance, project finance, real estate, business restructuring and reorganisation, and tax, as well as dispute resolution, international arbitration, competition and EU law, and labour and employment.

Types of work undertaken:Business restructuring and reorganisation: Gibson Dunn regularly advises private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, corporate groups and creditors on all aspects of restructuring, insolvency and financial distress. The firm advises borrowers and creditors in restructuring transactions involving highly complex, multi-tiered capital structures, both in the context of LBO transactions (complementing the strong acquisition finance practice) and in the CMBS market.

Capital markets: Gibson Dunn has a wealth of experience in working with companies listed on the official list of the London Stock Exchange, AIM and on other European exchanges, as well as US public companies.

Competition: Gibson Dunn’s UK and EU competition lawyers handle cartel investigations, merger control, state aid and the antitrust aspects of joint ventures, distribution and agency agreements. The team has extensive experience at the UK and European community level.

Corporate and M&A: Gibson Dunn is at the forefront of cross-border M&A and joint venture transactions, including acting for clients seeking to access the US and European capital markets. The firm offers English law capabilities in all aspects of private and public M&A, including negotiated and contested mergers, stock and asset purchases, tender and exchange offers, spinoffs, restructurings, and acquisitions out of bankruptcy. The lawyers also have extensive experience in the City code, which governs public takeovers in the UK, and the European Takeovers Directive.

Dispute resolution: Gibson Dunn covers commercial litigation, international arbitration, mediation, internal corporate investigations, regulatory investigations and proceedings, public law cases, governmental enquiries, antitrust matters and employment issues. The team regularly advises multinationals in arbitral proceedings across the world and represents clients before arbitral tribunals and the UK courts, including all appellate levels.

Finance: Gibson Dunn focuses on acquisition finance, securitisation, real estate finance, project finance, senior and mezzanine debt, refinancings, restructurings, loan notes, funds and Shari’a-compliant financings.

Labour and employment: Gibson Dunn advises on the whole range of contentious and non-contentious employment law issues, from corporate governance, boardroom appointments and removals, whistleblowing and discrimination claims, to cross-border employment issues, post-employment restrictive covenants, confidential information, employee consultation, collective labour and industrial disputes, redundancies and workforce restructurings, TUPE, the employment aspects of public and private M&A, and outsourcing arrangements.

Private equity: Gibson Dunn covers every type of investment and divestment activity for private equity firms, including early and later stage venture capital investments; MBOs, MBIs, IBOs and LBOs; re-engineered buyouts; public to privates; exits by sale to trade/financial buyers; equity and debt financings; rights offerings; and IPOs. The firm also advises on the establishment of private equity and venture capital funds, including funds established in offshore jurisdictions.

Real estate: Gibson Dunn is experienced in all aspects of commercial real estate, from corporate and investment property acquisitions and disposals, to financing, development, leasing and joint ventures.

Tax: Gibson Dunn advises UK, US and European clients on structuring transactions such as complex cross-border acquisitions, real estate investment, private equity, public offerings of debt and equity securities, joint ventures, executive compensation and share incentives.