James O'Donnell

Foley & Lardner’s vice chair of restructuring Katherine Catanese joined Squire Patton Boggs’ restructuring and insolvency practice as a partner in New York as the firm works to further build out its bankruptcy offerings. Catanese’s November move came after more than 16 years at Foley & Lardner. In a statement, she called it the “ideal time for my clients and practice as a whole” to make a change, noting an increase in cross-border restructurings that made Squire Patton Boggs’ international presence a desirable platform for her. Stephen Lerner, global chair of Squire Patton Boggs’ restructuring and insolvency practice group, said in an interview that bringing Catanese aboard is part of the firm’s efforts to expanding its restructuring offerings, a project that he said she will be a key contributor to going forward. “Her joining us fits in perfectly with our existing cross-border restructuring platform and as well as the ability to expand it,” Lerner said. “One area that Katie is extremely well known is the offshore jurisdictions, particularly in the Cayman Islands, which is an important jurisdiction for global restructuring. That adds really a new element to our offerings because while we certainly had some involvement in new offshore jurisdictions, Katie brings a whole new dimension of depth to our capabilities there.” Lerner is also president-elect of the American Bankruptcy Institute, where Catanese is currently a vice president focusing on international matters. Catanese succeeded Lerner in the vice president role when he was elected president of the institute in April, and the two have worked together there for a long time, Lerner said. Catanese’s practice covers a variety of financial distress subjects including fraud-related litigations, involuntary bankruptcies, cross-border restructuring proceedings, distressed asset sales and workouts and other related matters. She represents debtors, creditors, trustees and liquidators across a variety of industries in high-stakes restructurings on both the domestic and international scale. “The cross-border nature of today’s restructurings demands a firm with global scale, and Squire’s international platform is a great fit for the work I do,” Catanese said in a statement. “I’m excited to collaborate with the firm’s complementary strengths in financial services, corporate, and litigation. Together, these capabilities create a strong foundation for helping clients navigate complex, multijurisdictional challenges.” Catanese is working out of the firm’s New York office, which it recently expanded as part of a broader trend of large national firms growing their footprints in the city. The firm also recently added partners in San Francisco and Dubai, but has been steadily losing partners in Australia throughout the year with the ninth departing at the end of November. In New York, Squire Patton Boggs has recently added multiple finance-focused partners, including Trish O'Donnell, who joined the structured finance practice in September, and Gabriel Yomi Dabiri, who came from Polsinelli in April and is now global head of private credit and direct lending at the firm. In a recent statement to Law.com, a representative for Squire Patton Boggs said that the firm continues to see New York as “an important part of our firm’s global strategy” when asked whether it was considering a merger with any other firms in the city, but did not indicate any specific combination talks were underway. A representative for Foley did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Catanese's departure.

Dec 3

2 min

An insurer seeking to recoup $375,000 paid in connection with an implosion that damaged a policyholder's home asked a Pennsylvania state court to toss a demolition contractor's counterclaim for an offset of damages, saying the contractor attempted to improperly join a claim from a separate action. In preliminary objections filed Tuesday, Erie Insurance Co. argued that Texas-based demolition contractor Grant Mackay Co. Inc.'s counterclaim constituted a misjoinder of claims and should be severed. According to court filings, the contractor is seeking an offset or setoff against any recovery sought by Erie based on damages Erie policyholder Daniel Garrigan alleged he incurred in a separate action. "The proper procedure for Grant Mackay to pursue its claim for damages arising from the alleged improperly granted injunction is against Daniel Garrigan personally, not against Erie in this instant subrogation action," the insurer said. The dispute stemmed from the demolition of two smokestacks at a coal-fired power station formerly known as the Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale, Pennsylvania. According to court filings, when the demolition took place in June 2023, the blast propelled dust, debris and flyrock into the surrounding residential neighborhood, damaging properties and utility lines. Garrigan, whose home was across the street from the power station, submitted a claim to Erie for losses arising out of the damage. Erie, which paid out over $375,000 for the claim, sued the companies involved in the demolition in May. Erie asserted claims of strict liability and negligence against Grant Mackay; Kentucky-based Charah Solutions Inc. and Cheswick Plant Environmental Redevelopment Group LLC, which were remediating and clearing the site; and explosive demolition subcontractor Controlled Demolition Inc. of Phoenix, Maryland. Grant Mackay lodged a counterclaim in an amended response to the insurer's suit, asserting that it is entitled to damages from an injunction that was improperly granted in a separate action brought by Garrigan. According to court filings, Garrigan and others were granted an injunction that prevented the implosion of the boiler house at the power station, but the decision was later reversed on appeal. Grant Mackay asserted that the damages it sustained exceeded the amount of a $50,000 bond posted by Garrigan and the others who filed the injunction, so any recovery by Erie must be reduced by the deficiency amount of the damages awarded to the contractor, it argued. "Erie was not a party to that action and does not have any involvement in the claims for equitable or injunctive relief pursued by Daniel Garrigan," the insurer said Tuesday. "Pennsylvania law prohibits the joinder of claims involving nonparties or unrelated issues in a single action." The insurer further contended that its subrogation rights are limited to the specific claim for which it made payment to Garrigan and do not extend to unrelated claims involving its insured. Representatives of the parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. Erie is represented by Melissa E. Kenney of White and Williams LLP. Charah and Cheswick are represented by Cynthia L. O'Donnell and Paul Shane Miller of Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP. Grant Mackay is represented by Timothy Smith and Julie A. Brennan of Pion Nerone Girman & Smith PC. Counsel information for Controlled Demolition was not available. The case is Erie Insurance Co. v. Charah Solutions Inc. et al., case number GD-25-005143, in the Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Sep 12

3 min

Chambers UK~~Gibson Dunn was recognized with 14 firm and 31 individual rankings in the 2026 edition of Chambers UK.~~The firm was recognized in the following categories:~~•              Asset Finance: Aviation Finance – UK-wide~~•              Capital Markets: Equity – UK-wide~~•              Competition Law – London~~•              Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above – London~~•              Information Technology & Outsourcing – London~~•              Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas – UK-wide~~•              Infrastructure – UK-wide~~•              International Arbitration: Commercial Arbitration – UK-wide~~•              International Arbitration: Investor-State Arbitration – UK-wide~~•              Investment Funds: Investor Representation – UK-wide~~•              Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above – UK-wide~~•              Real Estate: £150 million and above – London~~•              Real Estate Finance – UK-wide~~•              Tax – London~~The following partners were recognized in their respective practice areas:~~•            Alison Beal – Information Technology & Outsourcing – London~~•            Sandy Bhogal – Tax – London~~•            Alice Brogi – Infrastructure – UK-wide~~•            James Cameron – Asset Finance: Aviation Finance – UK-wide~~•            Rob Carr – Real Estate Finance – UK-wide~~•            James Cox – Employment – London~~•            Federico Fruhbeck – Infrastructure – UK-wide; Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above – UK-wide~~•            Ben Fryer – Tax – London~~•            Christopher Harris – International Arbitration – UK-wide~~•            Joel Harrison – Information Technology & Outsourcing – London; Data Protection & Information Law – UK-wide~~•            Chris Haynes – Capital Markets: Equity – UK-wide~~•            Christopher Howard – Restructuring/Insolvency – UK-wide~~•            David Irvine – Leveraged Finance: Big Ticket – London~~•            Tom Jackson – Asset Finance: Aviation Finance – UK-wide~~•            Mark Leverkus – Asset Finance: Aviation Finance – UK-wide~~•            Michelle Kirschner – Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory – UK-wide~~•            Penny Madden – International Arbitration – UK-wide~~•            Mark Manson-Bahr – Real Estate Finance – UK-wide~~•            Ali Nikpay – Competition Law – London~~•            James O’Donnell – Investment Funds: Investor Representation – UK-wide~~•            Piers Plumptre – International Arbitration – UK-wide~~•            Ben Shorten – Projects: Mainly International – UK-wide~~•            Lisa Stevens – Restructuring/Insolvency – UK-wide~~•            Will Summers – Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above – UK-wide~~•            Dee Taylor – Competition Law – London~~•            Simon Tysoe – Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas – UK-wide~~•            Presley Warner – Leveraged Finance: Big Ticket – London~~•            Hannah Watson Fanin – Investment Funds: Investor Representation~~•            Rebecca West – Asset Finance: Aviation Finance – UK-wide~~The guide was published on October 16, 2025.~~Download PDF~~

Oct 16

2 min

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is plotting a major scaling up of its London office to up to 500 lawyers in the next five years. According to sources with knowledge of the strategy, this could see the office more than double in size from its current headcount of around 215 fee earners, including those who straddle London and other offices. One person with knowledge of the firm said the aim was to bring its London headcount closer to that of its New York office. Insiders said the firm’s plans for a new London office are designed to meet the expansion effort. In September, Law.com reported that the firm has agreed to take around 140,000 sq ft at 1 Exchange Square in Central London, according to sources—significantly larger than its current Temple area offices. The firm has continued to build out its London bench this year with a series of strategic hires, several of whom arrived with additional lawyers in tow. In March, Chris Howard and Presley Warner joined from Sullivan & Cromwell, strengthening the firm’s business restructuring and reorganisation practice. They arrived with one counsel and one senior associate. That same month, James O’Donnell joined after 11 years at DLA Piper—where he served as global co-chair of investment funds—bringing with him an of counsel. In May, James Cameron joined the London office from Milbank as a partner in the finance practice and as co-chair of the transportation and space practice. Also in May, real estate partner Hayden Cameron arrived from A&O Shearman. The firm further expanded its transactional capabilities in October with the hire of M&A partner Simon Tysoe from Latham & Watkins. In 2024, private equity partner Will Summers joined from White & Case, alongside former Jones Day lifer and M&A partner Will McDonald. Commenting on London, chair and managing partner of Gibson Dunn, Barbara Becker said: "Our London growth has been transformative. The strength and depth of our London offering now mirrors the exceptional platform we have built globally. "We have strategically expanded our transactional capabilities—particularly in private equity, M&A, infrastructure, finance, bankruptcy and restructuring, and real estate—while leveraging our established disputes practice to attract and promote top-tier talent. Crucially, this growth reflects not just lateral recruitment but our investment in elevating homegrown talent." The strategy reflects strong confidence in London’s high-end transactional and disputes markets, where U.S. firms continue to exert significant influence. It also comes amid intensifying transatlantic competition. Law.com data shows that U.S. firms have doubled the volume of London office space they’ve transacted over in the past five years, while U.K.-founded firms have expanded far more cautiously. Since 2020, 18 Am Law 200 firms have committed to new London offices, compared with just eight among the U.K. top 50—during a period in which U.S. firms increased square footage by 50%, while U.K. firms collectively contracted by nearly 30%. For U.S. firms, London is increasingly viewed as both a crucial counterweight to domestic operations and a fiercely contested battleground for top talent. Gibson Dunn’s trajectory suggests it intends not only to compete in that arena, but potentially to redefine the scale of what a U.S. firm’s London presence can be.

Dec 2

2 min

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher on Monday announced the hiring of Duncan McKay, who joins the firm's New York office as a partner and head of fund finance. McKay arrives from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, where he practiced for three years after joining from Kirkland & Ellis in 2022. The hire is part of Gibson Dunn's effort to expand its investment funds practice in response to rising client demand, said global investment funds practice chair Shukie Grossman. "We understood we would need to complement that expansion with expansion into key adjacencies as well," Grossman said. "We were really looking for a market leader, someone who could essentially galvanize the practice and take it to the next level, and Duncan was that person." McKay is the latest of several investment funds hires in recent years. The firm added former DLA Piper investment management and funds practice co-chair James O'Donnell in London in March (alongside former DLA Piper colleague and Gibson Dunn of counsel Hannah Watson Fanin) and hired partner Carolyn Abram, formerly of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Dubai this summer. When Gibson Dunn approached McKay about the opportunity, McKay said he was attracted by "the prospect of building a premier fund finance and structured capital practice at one of the most prestigious global brands in the legal business, which allows me to combine my expertise and leadership in the fund finance and structured capital spaces with Gibson's elite and talented investment funds and finance practices on a global scale." On whether McKay's clients would be following him to Gibson Dunn, Grossman said, "Duncan is well-known in the market, and we expect that he will build a strong client base on the Gibson Dunn platform.” The proliferation of products that require specialized skills in traditional fund finance as well as investment funds, structured credit and capital markets has increased demand for lawyers with a cross-disciplinary approach, McKay said. Fund finance activity is also rising because of increasing demand for liquidity products, a condition spurred in part by fewer exits out of investments in recent years, as well as investors' increasing common expectation that fund sponsors "eat their own cooking" and invest personal capital into their own funds, Grossman said. "The thirst for fund finance solutions for liquidity problems is something that is inherent within the industry and, to my mind, is here to stay," Grossman said.

Nov 24

2 min