Till Lefranc

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. Download PDF

Dec 2

2 min

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. Download PDF

Sep 2

1 min

Latham & Watkins, Allen & Gledhill, JSA Advocates and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett are among the advisers on KKR and Singapore Telecommunications’ $5.1 billion acquisition of an additional stake in ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC). The transaction has also spawned roles for AZB & Partners, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. Latham & Watkins is advising seller ST Telemedia on the sale of its remaining stake in STT GDC to a consortium led by KKR and Singtel. The transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately $10.9 billion for the Singapore-based data centre platform. The Latham team is led by Singapore corporate partners Sharon Lau and Michael Rackham. Latham also advised ST Telemedia on receiving the consortium’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in STT GDC in 2024. Allen & Gledhill and JSA Advocates are advising Singtel, according to people with knowledge of the matter. JSA’s team is being led by partners Vikram Raghani and Nisha Kaur Uberoi. Simpson Thacher, retaining its role representing long-time client KKR, is acting as counsel to both KKR and Singtel, with Hong Kong partner Erik Wang once again leading the firm’s team on the transaction. Gibson Dunn is also acting for KKR on the deal. Gibson Dunn’s team is being co-led by Hong Kong partner Tyler Cohen and London partner Till Lefranc. In the initial $1.3 billion stake acquisition in STT GDC in 2024, it was Freshfields that advised the KKR-led consortium. The Freshfields team was then led by former partner Nigel Gleeson and associate Alice Boughton, both of whom have since moved to Gibson Dunn Singapore as partners. According to sources working on the deal, Indian firms AZB & Partners and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas are advising KKR and ST Telemedia on merger control aspects of the deal. In 2024, AZB acted as sole Indian counsel for the consortium leaders in securing a Competition Commission of India approval for their investment in STT GDC. Milbank also had a role in the deal, the firm advised a large group of lenders made up of global and regional banks on the financing for the acquisition. Its team, sources said, was led by partner Davide Mencacci and special counsel Daniele Sutto. Under the latest agreements, funds managed by KKR and Singtel will acquire the remaining 82% stake in STT GDC from founding shareholder ST Telemedia. Upon completion, KKR will hold a 75% interest in the company, with Singtel owning the remaining 25%, taking into account the conversion of existing redeemable preference shares held by both investors. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Founded in 2014, STT GDC is one of the world’s fastest-growing and most diversified data centre platforms, with 2.3 gigawatts of design capacity across12 markets in Asia Pacific and Europe.

Feb 5

2 min

Best Lawyers~~Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the United Kingdom 2025 recognized 25 Gibson Dunn attorneys, including 22 Gibson Dunn attorneys recognized as leading lawyers in their respective practice areas. The attorneys recognized as leading lawyers include: Cyrus Benson – International Arbitration; Sandy Bhogal – Tax law; Mitasha Chandok – Energy and Natural Resources Law; James Cox – Employment Law; Wim De Vlieger – Private Equity Law; Patrick Doris – International Arbitration; Claibourne Harrison – Real Estate Law; Joel Harrison – Information Technology Law, and Outsourcing; Chris Haynes – Capital Markets Law; Michelle Kirschner – Financial Services; Ceyda Knoebel – International Arbitration; Till Lefranc – Private Equity Law; Penny Madden KC – International Arbitration; Cason Moore – Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Private Equity Law; Mitri Najjar – Corporate Law; Ali Nikpay – Competition Law; Matthew Nunan – Financial Services; Philip Rocher – Litigation; Alan Samson – Real Estate Finance, and Real Estate Law; Robert Spano – Human Rights Law, and Public International Law; Mark Sperotto – Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Private Equity Law; and Steve Thierbach – Capital Markets Law.~~Three Gibson Dunn attorneys wer e also recognized in the 2025 United Kingdom Ones to Watch List: Marija Brackovic – International Arbitration, and Litigation; Sarah Leiper-Jennings – Capital Markets Law; and Tamas Lorinczy – Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law.~~The lists were published on June 20, 2024.~~Download PDF~~

Jun 20

1 min

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that James O’Donnell has today joined the firm’s London office as a partner in its Investment Funds Practice Group. Commenting on James’ arrival, Shukie Grossman, Global Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Investment Funds Practice Group, said: “We have been expanding our elite Investment Funds Practice, and, as one of London’s leading investment funds practitioners, James is a natural fit, and a very welcome addition. James’ practice encompasses fund formation and strategic arrangements with institutional investors, and he is known as a market leader in advising on matters that sit at the intersection of these disciplines.” “With Gibson Dunn’s prestigious global platform, and its fast-growing transactional practices in London, this is a fantastic opportunity, and a wonderful way to start the year. We have great ambitions for our London funds team, and I’m excited to begin working with new colleagues in London and internationally as part of the elite funds transaction practice,” said James. James is joined by Hannah Watson Fanin, with whom he has worked for many years. Hannah, who is ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ by Chambers UK 2025 for Investment Funds — Investor Representation, will join the firm as of counsel. Gibson Dunn has expanded its transactional practices in London, with other recent arrivals including M&A partner Will McDonald, private equity partner Will Summers, and finance partners Kavita Davis and David Irvine. The London office has also been joined in recent years by transactional partners Isabel Berger, Alice Brogi, Wim de Vlieger, Robert Dixon, Federico Fruhbeck, and Till Lefranc. About James O’Donnell James advises sponsors of, and investors in private investment funds. His experience includes the establishment and operation of funds, managed accounts and joint ventures, carried interest arrangements, management spin-outs, and secondary and co-investment transactions. His clients include fund managers, fund-of-funds managers, sovereign wealth funds, banks, development finance institutions, pension plans and insurance companies. James is recommended for Investment Fund Formation and Management: Private Funds in Legal 500 United Kingdom 2025 and has consistently been ranked Band 1 for UK-wide Investment Funds: Investor Representation in Chambers UK 2025, where clients describe him as “absolutely top of the class, top in his field” and a “shining star of the funds sector.” He is also ranked for Africa-wide Investment Funds in Chambers UK 2025. James earned his BA Honours History at the University of Durham. About Hannah Watson Fanin Hannah’s experience spans a variety of fund-related transactions, from fund formation, co-investments and secondary transactions, through to GP and LP-led restructurings, enforcement actions and advising on end-of-life issues. Having worked in-house prior to joining her previous firm, Hannah has first-hand knowledge of the unique needs and objectives of institutional investors. Hannah is described by Chambers UK 2025 as being a “fantastic lawyer” who “consistently provides expert advice, leads negotiations and represents our interests with aplomb.” Download PDF

Mar 21

2 min