Alexander D. Fine

Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Avista Corporation (NYSE: AVA), an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses, on its agreement to be acquired by Hydro One Limited (TSX: H), Ontario’s largest electricity transmission and distribution provider, for $5.3 billion. The combination will create a North American leader in regulated electricity and natural gas business with over $25.4 billion in combined assets. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2018 and is subject to Avista common shareholder approval and certain regulatory and government approvals and clearances. The full press release is available here. The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners George Stamas and Alexander Fine as well as Andrew Calder and Brendan Reed; litigation partner James Gillespie; and executive compensation partner Scott Price.

Jul 19

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Crestview Partners, a leading New York based private equity firm, on its agreement to acquire Accuride Corporation (NYSE: ACW), a leading supplier of components to the North American and European commercial vehicle industries, for $2.58 per share in cash. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. The full release is available here. The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Alexander Fine and George Stamas, and debt finance partner Judson Oswald.

Sep 2

1 min

Join Gibson Dunn’s White Collar Defense and Investigations team for a timely webcast exploring the U.S. Department of Justice’s M&A Safe Harbor policy. This recorded session unpacks the policy’s scope, practical application, and implications for deal diligence, post-close integration, and voluntary disclosures. Our panel shares insights from recent matters, discusses best practices for navigating enforcement risks in M&A transactions, and offers guidance on how to leverage the Safe Harbor to mitigate liability. Whether you’re advising on deals or managing compliance, this webcast provides actionable strategies to protect your clients and companies in today’s enforcement landscape.~~MCLE CREDIT INFORMATION:~~This program has been approved for credit in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 1.0 credit hour, of which 1.0 credit hour may be applied toward the areas of professional practice requirement. This course is approved for transitional/non-transitional credit.~~Attorneys seeking New York credit must obtain an Affirmation Form prior to watching the archived version of this webcast. Please contact CLE@gibsondunn.com to request the MCLE form.~~Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 1.0 hour in the General category.~~California attorneys may claim “self-study” credit for viewing the archived version of this webcast. No certificate of attendance is required for California “self-study” credit.~~PANELISTS:~~Patrick F. Stokes is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office and Co-Chair of the Anti-Corruption & FCPA Practice Group. He handles internal corporate investigations, government enforcement matters, and compliance reviews and routinely advises clients on anti-corruption compliance, monitorships, and risk assessments. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Patrick headed the FCPA Unit of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he managed the FCPA enforcement program and all criminal FCPA matters throughout the United States.~~Matthew (Matt) S. Axelrod is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. and Co-Chair of the firm’s Sanctions & Export Enforcement practice. Matt is the only person to have previously served as both Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice and Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s BIS. His over 25 years of government enforcement, white-collar defense, and crisis management experience are why clients consistently rely on Matt to help them navigate their most sensitive and complex matters.~~Michael M. Farhang is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office and a member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations and Securities Litigation practice groups. A former federal prosecutor, Michael is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who specializes in private M&A litigation matters, including rep and warranty, earnout, and working capital disputes, as well as the defense of companies, directors, and executives in DOJ and SEC investigations and in shareholder class actions, derivative suits and other commercial litigation.~~Alexander D. Fine is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office and is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions, Finance, and Private Equity Practice Groups. Alexander’s practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors and public companies on a wide range of transactional matters, including strategic mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, minority investments, and joint ventures. He also advises clients on corporate governance and securities law matters.~~© 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~~

Dec 11

3 min

Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGNT), a leading provider of affordable pharmaceuticals to the hospital market, on its acquisition by Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (TSE: 4541), the largest generic drug manufacturer in Japan by sales. The transaction is valued at approximately $750 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Nichi-Iko will commence a tender offer for the shares by the end of July, and the parties expect the transaction to close during the third quarter. Kirkland previously represented Sagent in its initial public offering for listing on the NASDAQ in April 2011. The full release is available here. The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners George Stamas, William Sorabella and Alexander Fine and associates Adele Maloney Thomas and Claire James; and executive compensation partner Scott Price.

Jul 11

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis LLP represents Piedmont Natural Gas, which announced today that it reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Duke Energy for approximately $4.9 billion in cash. Duke Energy will also assume approximately $1.8 billion in Piedmont Natural Gas existing net debt, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $6.7 billion. Upon transaction closing, Piedmont shareholders will receive $60 in cash for each share of Piedmont Natural Gas common stock. This represents an approximate 40 percent premium to Piedmont’s Oct. 23, 2015, closing stock price. Completion of the transaction is conditioned upon approval by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and Piedmont shareholder approval. The companies are targeting a closing by the end of 2016. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Piedmont Natural Gas. The Kirkland team includes corporate partners George Stamas, Mark Director, Alexander Fine, Andrew Herman and Brendan Reed, corporate associate Justin Roland, executive compensation partner Scott Price and associate Ashley McCarthy, and antitrust and competition of counsel Tim Muris and partner Bilal Sayyed. Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel to Duke Energy. Barclays served as the exclusive financial advisor to Duke Energy. Goldman Sachs & Co. served as the exclusive financial advisor to Piedmont Natural Gas.

Oct 26

1 min