Wim De Vlieger

Gibson Dunn advised global private equity firm KKR on its growth investment in Lighthouse, a leading data analytics and commercial intelligence platform for the travel and hospitality industry. The Gibson Dunn team advising KKR was led by partner Wim De Vlieger, and was comprised of partner Isabel Berger, of counsel Michael Skouras, and associates Sarah Reder and Lena Tarrin. The team also included partners Stephane Frank and Kristen Limarzi and associates Jan Przerwa and Jesse Schupack (Antitrust); partner Lore Leitner and associate Chris Puttock (IP/IT and Data Protection); partner Benjamin Fryer and associate Jason Richards (Tax); partner James Cox, of counsel Christina Andersen and associate Georgia Derbyshire (Employment). Download PDF

Nov 21

1 min

Gibson Dunn advised global investor EQT on its investment in Mews Systems B.V., a leading hospitality technology company.~~EQT acted as lead investor in Mews’ $300 million Series D financing round, alongside existing investors. The transaction valued Mews at $2.5 billion.~~Our corporate team was led by partner Wim De Vlieger and included partner Jakob Egle and associates Andreas Rief and Vladimir Konchakov. Additional support was provided by partner Joel Harrison and associates Chris Puttock and Ioana Burtea (IP/IT); partner Michelle Kirschner (financial regulatory matters); partners Christian Riis-Madsen and Kristen Limarzi and associate Jonas Jousma (antitrust/competition matters); partner Melissa Farrar and associate Victor Tong (anti-bribery and corruption); associates Irene Polieri and Zach Kosbie (sanctions); and partner Ben Rapp and associate Daniel Reich (tax).~~~~Download PDF~~

Jan 30

1 min

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

Note: This updates and supersedes a prior alert (available here).~~On March 25, 2025, amendments were adopted by the Delaware legislature and signed into law that both lower Delaware courts’ scrutiny of controlling stockholder transactions and moderate the scope of investors’ access to company books and records.  Senate Bill 21 (SB21) amends Sections 144 and 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL).  The amendments apply to all acts or transactions, except for litigations pending or inspection demands made on or before February 17, 2025.~~These amendments follow mounting concerns in Delaware about “DExit”—the actual and potential departures of Delaware-incorporated corporations from the State for jurisdictions perceived to be more friendly to certain types of corporations.[1]  By enhancing clarity and facilitating proactive evaluation of director appointments, conflicts cleansing, and transactional planning, SB21 continues Delaware’s long history of modernizing its corporate law in response to market developments.~~Amendments to Section 144~~Amendments to Section 144 of the DGCL significantly change how controlling stockholder transactions are reviewed by the court.[2]  The amendments also strengthen the presumption that a public company director is disinterested and independent.~~.</>~~Amendments to Section 220~~Following judicial expansion of stockholder inspection rights in recent years, corporations have increasingly been subjected to invasive demands for an ever-widening range of corporate records, including director, officer, or management communications that in some cases courts have permitted for inspection.  SB21 amendments to Section 220 of the DGCL narrow the scope of books and records available to stockholders and increase the burden on stockholders for obtaining such records.~~Stay Tuned~~Gibson Dunn will continue monitoring these developments as they are interpreted and applied in litigation.~~[1] For example, following Tesla’s reincorporation in Texas, TradeDesk reincorporated in Nevada, Dropbox filed notice that it is in the process of reincorporating in Nevada, and other controller-led companies announced they are considering reincorporation.~~[2] The amendments also provide a safe harbor for an act or transaction for which a majority of directors are conflicted—for example, decisions regarding director compensation—if such act or transaction is approved by a special committee of at least two disinterested, independent directors or approved or ratified by disinterested stockholders, in each case on a fully informed basis.~~The following Gibson Dunn lawyers prepared this update: Ari Lanin, Monica K. Loseman, Brian M. Lutz, Mary Beth Maloney, Julia Lapitskaya, Colin B. Davis, Jonathan D. Fortney, and Mark H. Mixon, Jr.~~Gibson Dunn lawyers are available to assist in addressing any questions you may have regarding these developments.  Please contact the Gibson Dunn lawyer with whom you usually work, the authors, or any of the following Securities Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, or Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance practice group leaders and members:~~Securities Litigation: Colin B. Davis – Orange County (+1 949.451.3993, cdavis@gibsondunn.com) Jonathan D. Fortney – New York (+1 212.351.2386, jfortney@gibsondunn.com) Monica K. Loseman – Denver (+1 303.298.5784, mloseman@gibsondunn.com) Brian M. Lutz – San Francisco (+1 415.393.8379, blutz@gibsondunn.com) Mary Beth Maloney – New York (+1 212.351.2315, mmaloney@gibsondunn.com) Mark H. Mixon, Jr. – New York (+1 212.351.2394, mmixon@gibsondunn.com) Craig Varnen – Los Angeles (+1 213.229.7922, cvarnen@gibsondunn.com)~~Mergers and Acquisitions: Robert B. Little – Dallas (+1 214.698.3260, rlittle@gibsondunn.com) Saee Muzumdar – New York (+1 212.351.3966, smuzumdar@gibsondunn.com) George Sampas – New York (+1 212.351.6300, gsampas@gibsondunn.com)~~Private Equity: Richard J. Birns – New York (+1 212.351.4032, rbirns@gibsondunn.com) Wim De Vlieger – London (+44 20 7071 4279, wdevlieger@gibsondunn.com) Federico Fruhbeck Jr. – London (+44 20 7071 4230, ffruhbeck@gibsondunn.com) Ari Lanin – Los Angeles (+1 310.552.8581, alanin@gibsondunn.com) Michael Piazza – Houston (+1 346.718.6670, mpiazza@gibsondunn.com) John M. Pollack – New York (+1 212.351.3903, jpollack@gibsondunn.com)~~Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance: Elizabeth Ising – Washington, D.C. (+1 202.955.8287, eising@gibsondunn.com) Julia Lapitskaya – New York (+1 212.351.2354, jlapitskaya@gibsondunn.com) James J. Moloney – Orange County (+1 949.451.4343, jmoloney@gibsondunn.com) Lori Zyskowski – New York (+1 212.351.2309, lzyskowski@gibsondunn.com)~~© 2025 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.  All rights reserved.  For contact and other information, please visit us at www.gibsondunn.com.~~Attorney Advertising: These materials were prepared for general informational purposes only based on information available at the time of publication and are not intended as, do not constitute, and should not be relied upon as, legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. Gibson Dunn (and its affiliates, attorneys, and employees) shall not have any liability in connection with any use of these materials.  The sharing of these materials does not establish an attorney-client relationship with the recipient and should not be relied upon as an alternative for advice from qualified counsel.  Please note that facts and circumstances may vary, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.~~Download PDF~~

Mar 27

3 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