George J. Mihlsten

A team led by partners George Mihlsten and Jim Arnone in Latham’s Environment, Land & Resources (ELR) Department has been recognized for innovative work in advancing one of the largest master-planned communities ever proposed in California, the Newhall Ranch project in Los Angeles County. The Daily Journal has bestowed a California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) award for the legal work on the project, which it called “a major component in solving the state’s enduring housing crisis.” The published award profile highlighted Net Zero Newhall, an unprecedented sustainability commitment to reduce or mitigate to zero all of the project's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and to address issues related to climate change and important Native American resource protection provisions. The Newhall Ranch community will include 22,000 homes, 11.5 million square feet of commercial space, and 10,000 acres of open space. The project had been in process for almost 20 years when Latham was brought into the long-running dispute two years ago. At that time, Five Point/Newhall Ranch was awaiting a decision from the California Supreme Court on the project's Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Court’s decision, issued days after Latham joined the team, found that the EIR failed to adequately analyze the project's greenhouse gas emissions – a major ruling that was closely watched in the legal community. Representing the Five Point/Newhall Ranch developers, Mihlsten and Arnone led a Latham team, including partners Marc Campopiano, Jean-Phillipe Brisson, Tommy Beaudreau and Janice Schneider, counsel Joshua Bledsoe, and associate David Amerikaner – and working with co-counsels Gatzke, Dillon & Balance and Sheppard Mullin – in taking the initiative to gain regulatory approvals based on innovative concepts and to forge a settlement of the litigation. The Los Angeles Times called the September 2017 settlement “a historic truce" that “comes amid a severe housing crunch across California." According to the Daily Journal, the key to the success of the legal work was how deeply collaborative it was from start to finish. “It’s important to understand: this was a team approach,” Mihlsten stated.~~

Mar 27

2 min

Cain International (Cain), a privately held investment firm focused on real estate and business opportunities that shape the fabric of global gateway cities, announced that construction has begun on One Beverly Hills. The 17.5-acre urban destination will bring together the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria with 10 acres of gardens and open space, introducing the West Coast's inaugural Aman hotel, an exclusive Aman club, and a limited number of branded residences. Master planned by globally renowned Foster + Partners, the project will feature a considerable restoration and enhancements to the Beverly Hilton, solidifying its legacy as one of the city's leading entertainment venues. Latham & Watkins LLP advises Cain in transactions related to the project with a deal team led by New York partner Michelle Kelban, with associates Aida Vajzovic and Lucas Fernandez-Rocha. Advice was also provided on financing matters by New York partner Betsy Jaffe; on land use matters by Los Angeles of counsel George Mihlsten and Century City counsel Benjamin Hanelin; on management and branding documentation by Century City/New York partner Meghan Cocci and Century City counsel Tiffany Taubman; and on tax matters by New York partner Alan Kimball, with associate Christina McLeod.~~

Feb 15

1 min

Four Latham & Watkins partners have been named 2017 MVPs by Law360 in the legal news service’s annual recognition of leading lawyers across a range of practice and industry areas. The honorees “have distinguished themselves from their peers by securing hard-earned successes in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals,” according to Law360. The Latham MVP honorees include: Matthew Brill, a Washington, D.C. partner and global Chair of the Communications Law Practice, in the Telecommunications category. His published profile cited recent and ongoing work on behalf of the cable industry, including “fighting off Telephone Consumer Protection Act lawsuits in court and working to shape federal policy in areas like net neutrality.” George Mihlsten, a Los Angeles partner and member of the Project Siting & Approvals Practice, in the Environmental category. He was recognized by Law360 for advancing notable land use projects, ranging from “a massive new residential and commercial development in Los Angeles County that had been bound up in the courts for years, to assisting in improvements at Universal Studios theme park.” Richard Owens, a New York partner and member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice, in the Banking category. His published profile highlighted Owens’ work on behalf of Deutsche Bank to “negotiate down a huge government settlement… following a probe into the company’s pre-crisis mortgage securitization practices.” Al Pfeiffer, a San Francisco partner, a global Vice-Chair of the Litigation & Trial Department and a member of the Antitrust & Competition Practice, in the Competition category. Pfeiffer was particularly cited by Law360 for a case win that “helped Cox Communications Inc. defeat a tying antitrust suit over set-top box sales that threatened an industrywide business model.”~~

Dec 11

1 min

Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce the appointment of George J. Sampas as Co-Chair of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group and Head of Cross-Border M&A. He will lead the global M&A practice with fellow Co-Chairs Robert Little in the Dallas office and Saee Muzumdar in the New York office. “George is a preeminent M&A lawyer, and his extensive experience in cross-border deals is invaluable in an increasingly global world,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “As a trusted advisor for boardrooms across the globe, George brings a unique perspective and ability to advise our clients through a diverse range of deal structures and cycles. His addition to our leadership is a reflection of the firm’s commitment to growing our M&A platform across the globe.” “I am thrilled to work with my Co-Chairs and colleagues at the firm to scale our exceptional M&A practice. Gibson Dunn’s global presence and the caliber of talent across the firm enable us to provide a tailored approach in our client offerings,” said George. George focuses on cross-border transactions, unsolicited U.S. and non-U.S. acquisitions and private equity transactions. He is consistently recognized as a leading adviser to companies on their most high-profile and strategically significant matters. His work spans a broad range of industries, including energy, aviation, food and beverage, and technology. About the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group Gibson Dunn’s M&A Practice Group is an international leader in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, proxy contests and joint ventures. The firm’s M&A capabilities are worldwide, as its combination of lawyers throughout the network of 21 offices in all major financial centers allows it to handle the most complex cross-border deals effectively and efficiently. Industry rankings regularly recognize Gibson Dunn as one of the world’s top M&A firms. Chambers USA, which consistently lists Gibson Dunn as among “The Elite” nationwide for corporate/M&A, has noted that the firm “is frequently enlisted on some of the most significant transactions in the market.”  The firm’s M&A clients include public and private companies, ranging from Fortune 100 and multinational corporations to smaller companies, private equity firms, boards of directors and special committees, selling shareholders, management teams, and financial advisors. Clients also regularly enlist Gibson Dunn to provide advice regarding takeover preparedness and the implementation of defensive measures.  The firm’s Hostile M&A and Shareholder Activism practices are some of the most well-respected in the world. Download PDF

Jun 25

2 min

Cain International, the privately held investment firm, has announced it has secured US$2 billion in construction financing to support the development of One Beverly Hills, a mixed-use urban project spanning 17.5 acres. The financing includes a US$500 million senior loan from JP Morgan in addition to other private financing commitments. The agreement will see JP Morgan join a consortium of world-leading architects, design houses, developers, and hospitality brands in supporting the development of one of the nation’s largest real estate projects. Latham & Watkins LLP advises Cain in the financing and in transactions related to the project with a deal team led by New York partner Michelle Kelban, with associates Aida Vajzovic and Lucas Fernandez-Rocha. Advice was also provided on financing matters by New York partner Betsy Jaffe; on land use matters by Los Angeles of counsel George Mihlsten and Century City counsel Benjamin Hanelin; on management and branding documentation by Century City/New York partner Meghan Cocci and Century City counsel Tiffany Taubman; and on tax matters by New York partner Alan Kimball, with associate Christina McLeod.~~

Mar 15

1 min