Richard Birns > Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP counts athletic commissions, television networks, and financial institutions in its client roster and chiefly handles media rights and crisis management issues as well as sporting disputes arising in federal and state courts. New York-based lawyer Richard Birns co-heads the team and is noted for his transactional expertise in connection with high-profile franchise acquisitions and joint ventures, while co-head Maurice Suh is based in Los Angeles and primarily advises on corporate litigation and government enforcement actions. Also operating out of Los Angeles, Kevin Masuda acts on behalf of talent and sports agencies in restructurings and strategic agreements, while Sarah Graham assists media and technology corporations with investments and betting law issues.

The ‘extremely creative, accessible and diligent‘ private equity practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP handles a steady stream of complex acquisitions, exits, joint ventures, and growth capital investments for a client roster that encompasses a wide array of asset managers and private equity funds, such as Platinum Equity and RedBird, as well as a diverse range of portfolio and target companies. In addition to handling buyouts in the retail and tech spaces, the team is capable of leveraging its nationwide and cross-border network to advise its sponsor clients on an increasing volume of investments in energy and infrastructure space. Houston-based lawyer Michael Piazza is a key contact for transactions in this sector in addition to advising on fund mergers and fund formation projects. Piazza co-heads the team with Los Angeles-based Ari Lanin, who focuses on public and private M&A and joint ventures, as well as with New York-based LBO experts Richard Birns and John Pollack.