The ‘extremely creative, accessible and diligent’ private equity practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP handles a steady stream of complex acquisitions, exits, joint ventures, and growth capital investments for a client roster that encompasses a wide array of asset managers and private equity funds, such as Platinum Equity and RedBird, as well as a diverse range of portfolio and target companies. In addition to handling buyouts in the retail and tech spaces, the team is capable of leveraging its nationwide and cross-border network to advise its sponsor clients on an increasing volume of investments in energy and infrastructure space. Houston-based lawyer Michael Piazza is a key contact for transactions in this sector in addition to advising on fund mergers and fund formation projects. Piazza co-heads the team with Los Angeles-based Ari Lanin, who focuses on public and private M&A and joint ventures, as well as with New York-based LBO experts Richard Birns and John Pollack.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘We have worked with Gibson on our most complex transactions, including large public to private deals that were particularly challenging. They have been thought partners to us through the deal planning stage and ultimately through to execution. They are extremely creative, accessible and diligent across all practice areas.’
‘Richard Birns is a highly impactful lawyer who has played a key role in shaping some of our most significant transactions. No issue is too small or too technical for him to focus on. I do not worry when Richie is working on our matters because I know he will be thinking around every potential corner. I have worked with may lawyers in the private equity practice area and he is consistently one of the most creative, thoughtful and reliable people we know. His understanding of public company issues and dynamics is very impressive.’

Key clients

Platinum Equity Advisors LLC
Veritas Funds
L Catterton
RedBird Capital Partners, LLC
Global Private Opportunities Partners
DreamBox Learning
The Chernin Group
Wafra, Inc.
Ridgemar Energy, LLC
Percussion Petroleum II, LLC
Lincoln International
Digital Alpha Advisors LLC
Gartner
Elliott Investment Management
RidgeLake Partners, LP

Work highlights

Advised Platinum Equity and its portfolio company Solenis on Solenis’ $4.6bn acquisition of Diversey Holdings.
Advised Veritas Capital on its $3.1bn acquisition of Wood Mackenzie from Verisk.
Advised L Catterton on its joint venture with Nestlé and on concurrent acquisitions by the joint venture of Freshly and Kettle Cuisine.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Richard Birns

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Richie Birns is a global co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s Private Equity Group and is co-chair of the firm’s Sports Law Practice Group. He regularly represents private equity firms and companies on domestic and cross-border leveraged buyouts, strategic mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, minority investments and joint ventures. Richie Birns focuses his practice on a wide range of merger and acquisition-related matters, including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, and joint ventures for both corporations and leading private equity firms. He also handles related corporate governance and takeover work. He has extensive experience advising clients on significant transactional matters across a number of practice areas and industry sectors, with significant depth in technology, media, sports and entertainment. He regularly serves as a personal advisor to owners of sports franchises and sports industry leaders on “bet the company” matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Richard Birns, John Pollack, Michael Piazza, Ari Lanin

Other key lawyers

Joe Orien, Candice Choh, Steven Shoemate