Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has made a significant hire in its UK finance practice with the addition of Stephen Gillespie from Kirkland & Ellis.
Gillespie is a banking specialist and joined Kirkland from Allen & Overy in 2006 where he had led the global banking practice.
He acts on a variety of corporate finance matters including acquisition finance, restructurings, recapitilisations and debt finance. He is rated as a 'Leading lawyer' in the latest IFLR1000 'Financial corporate' research.
Commenting on the move Ken Doran, Gibson Dunn's chairman and managing partner said: “Building a top quality English law transactional practice is a strategic priority for the firm, and Stephen’s addition is an essential component to attaining that goal. Stephen is a recognised leader in European leveraged and acquisition finance. His profile and experience will help us further develop a broadly based capability that includes leveraged finance, high yield, real estate finance and restructuring.”
The firm has made significant additions to its English law practice already this year in the forms of Charlie Geffen, Nigel Stacey, Jonathan Earle and Mark Sperotto from Ashurst. All have a corporate/private equity focus.
The hire also represents the latest move by a US firm in London this year to enhance its English law finance capability. Kirkland itself hired Stephen Lucas from Weil Gotshal in May; Jones Day welcomed on board Justin Conway from DLA Piper and Reena Gogna joined Weil from Latham & Watkins.