Simon J. Tysoe

Latham & Watkins has added to its private equity real estate bench in the U.K. with the hire of partner Jeremy Kenley from Gibson Dunn, marking the latest move in an active London hiring market. Kenley’s move adds further depth to Latham’s real estate private equity capability as competition among global firms for top-tier transactional talent continues to intensify. He advises a broad roster of clients, many of whom already work with Latham—including Brookfield and Apollo—and brings nearly eight years of experience from Gibson Dunn, preceded by more than six years as a partner at Mayer Brown, according to his LinkedIn profile. The firm said Kenley’s arrival "further enhances the firm's global leadership for sophisticated real estate transactions," underscoring its strategic push to deepen transactional capability across key sectors. Kenley’s hire follows a string of private equity–focused additions. In July, the firm announced that Ross Allardice from White & Case would join its London office as a partner in the M&A and private equity practice, reinforcing the firm’s ambition to grow its transactional offering in Europe. "We’re delighted to welcome Jeremy to the firm," said Ed Barnett, London Office Managing Partner at Latham & Watkins. "Jeremy is a star name in the market and one of the most accomplished real estate private equity lawyers in the City, with an impressive track record advising across the full spectrum of complex transactions," he added. "Jeremy brings deep experience that will further strengthen our London team and support our continued growth as a global leader in this space. He’s a fantastic addition to our already strong practice." Latham has been at the centre of London’s volatile hiring market for some time, with movement flowing both ways. In October, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher hired Latham partner Simon Tysoe, who joined its London M&A, energy and infrastructure, and oil and gas groups after a decade at Latham. That same month, Latham expanded its healthcare and life sciences practice with the addition of Simmons & Simmons partner Lydia Torne, who joined after nearly two decades at her former firm. She specialises in intellectual property transactions.

Nov 19

2 min

Gibson Dunn announced today that Jamal V. Lama has rejoined the firm in its New York office, where he will serve as a partner in the Energy & Infrastructure Practice Group, working closely with the private equity and M&A teams. Formerly in-house counsel at Ares Management, Jamal is an experienced dealmaker who has advised on a broad range of complex transactions spanning mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and preferred equity and other structured financings across sectors, including digital infrastructure and energy. “Jamal’s extensive private practice deal experience, coupled with his in-house perspective, provides clients with both technical legal skill and a deep commercial understanding of how private equity sponsors and infrastructure funds assess value, manage risk, and execute transactions,” said Tomer Pinkusiewicz, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Energy & Infrastructure Practice Group. “His addition underscores our continued commitment to expanding our world-class team and staying ahead of our clients’ needs amid strong demand for sophisticated transactions across asset classes and geographies. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the firm.” “I’m excited to be coming home to Gibson Dunn and rejoining a team I know firsthand is exceptionally talented, collaborative, and growth-oriented,” said Jamal. “The firm’s dynamic global platform and deep experience across the full lifecycle of infrastructure investments give it a distinct market advantage. As I return to private practice, Gibson Dunn’s entrepreneurial energy and exceptional platform provide the ideal foundation to build on and serve clients at the forefront of the evolving infrastructure, private equity, and energy markets.” Jamal’s arrival marks the continued expansion of Gibson Dunn’s preeminent Energy & Infrastructure Practice. Our multidisciplinary practice advises on transactions across all major infrastructure asset classes—including digital, social, and transportation—and spans financing (including capital markets), project development, strategic M&A, and private equity, fund formation and fund financing, regulatory and compliance advice, and disputes and litigation. Recent additions to the global team include Simon Tysoe in London and Dorothée Griveaux in Paris. About Jamal V. Lama Jamal will focus his practice on advising companies and private equity firms across a wide range of industries, with an emphasis on energy and infrastructure investments across geographies and asset classes. Jamal’s practice will include domestic and cross-border public and private M&A, joint ventures, preferred equity financings, and other strategic transactions. Before rejoining Gibson Dunn, Jamal served as in-house counsel at Ares Management, a leading global alternative investment manager. At Ares Management, Jamal provided guidance to investment professionals within the Infrastructure Opportunities, Infrastructure Debt, and Alternative Credit strategies on a range of complex transactions spanning various sectors, including fiber, data centers, renewable energy, midstream oil & gas, wastewater treatment, renewable natural gas, and power generation. Download PDF

Dec 1

2 min

Gibson Dunn announced today that Sebastian L. Fain has joined the firm’s New York office, where he will serve as a partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group and as Co-Head of Cross-Border M&A. A highly regarded deal lawyer, he brings extensive experience in strategic M&A, takeover and shareholder activism defense, and corporate governance. “Expanding our M&A team by adding premier talent like Sebastian is core to our strategy,” said Saee Muzumdar, Co-Chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. “He brings exceptional public and strategic M&A expertise and significant experience in helping companies execute their most complex transactions around the world. His skillset complements our best-in-class capabilities and will benefit clients as they navigate markets amid swelling strategic activity, shifting valuations, and heightened activist engagement.” “I’m excited to join Gibson Dunn’s tremendously talented, collaborative, and growth-oriented team,” said Sebastian. “Gibson Dunn has built a truly global M&A practice that is widely recognized for its excellence and is incredibly well-positioned to help clients through every phase of a transaction’s lifecycle. I’m confident this exceptional platform will provide a strong foundation for the continued growth of my practice and to serve clients on their most complex and important matters.” Sebastian’s arrival underscores Gibson Dunn’s continued investment in its global M&A practice, which has recently welcomed energy M&A partner Simon Tysoe and public company M&A partner Will McDonald in London, as well as Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group Co-Chair and Co-Head of Cross-Border M&A George Sampas in New York. About Sebastian L. Fain Sebastian advises both public company and sponsor clients on mergers and acquisitions, activism defense, and corporate governance issues. He regularly represents clients in a full range of domestic and cross-border transactions, including public company mergers, private equity acquisitions, joint ventures, complex business carve-outs and divestitures, hostile takeovers and defense, carve-out IPOs, spin-offs, and split-offs. Sebastian also has significant experience representing clients in complex commercial agreements and in capital markets transactions, such as IPOs, secondary offerings, block trades, high-yield bond offerings, and exchange offers. He has expertise across a range of industries, including life sciences, industrials, technology, media, telecommunications, and energy. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Sebastian served as a partner at a leading international law firm. Download PDF

Nov 3

2 min

The Lawyer~~“The growth has taken off like a rocket ship.”~~In its in-depth feature on Gibson Dunn, The Lawyer [PDF] examines the firm’s rapid expansion under the leadership of Chair and Managing Partner Barbara Becker.~~Featuring interviews with Barbara, London partners Federico Fruhbeck, Simon Tysoe, and Rob Carr, and Dubai partner Marwan Elaraby, the article offers a behind-the-scenes look at what’s driving Gibson Dunn’s momentum in London, the Middle East, and globally — and how targeted investment, connectivity across offices, and a balanced disputes and transactions platform are shaping the firm’s future as it goes from strength to strength.~~From record-breaking financial performance to a deliberate, people-driven approach to collaboration, the piece provides rare insight into how strategy, culture, and leadership intersect to fuel sustained growth.~~~~Download PDF~~

Jan 13

1 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