Akin — United States

Abid Qureshi

Abid Qureshi, co-chair of Akin and co-head of the firm’s management committee, plays a crucial role in steering the firm's strategic growth. He is also a dedicated financial restructuring litigator, giving him comprehensive experience in virtually every issue that arises during a complex restructuring. Abid has litigated cutting-edge issues in the highest-profile chapter 11 cases, complex restructuring-related issues in state and appellate courts, and has extensive experience in cross-border insolvencies and chapter 15 proceedings. Significant matters include Diamond Sports Group, Yellow Corporation, Enviva, Rudolph W. Giuliani, Revlon, Intelsat, Aeroméxico, Brazos Electric, GWG, Sears, PG&E, Frontier Communications, Avaya, GTT Communications, Scandinavian Airlines, Nordic Aviation, and Crédito Real to name a few. To learn more about Abid, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/abid-qureshi.html · Financial Restructuring

Alexis Guinan

Alexis focuses her practice on economic sanctions, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption laws and the application of those laws as well as other international trade laws to transactional matters. With her deep knowledge of fund structures, Alexis handles complex investor- and investment-related challenges related to Russia and other sanctions programs. She routinely supports Funds, Corporate and Financial Restructuring clients in due diligence and negotiation of sanctions and other trade-related terms for debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, long-term supply agreements, and other types of transactions requiring international trade expertise. Alexis has leveraged her experience in sanctions and each other subspecialty within Akin’s renowned International Trade group to more effectively identify and evaluate potential liabilities and risks in sanctions and other areas of international trade on a transaction-specific basis. To learn more about Ms. Guinan, please visit his/her profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/alexis-h-grant · Economic Sanctions

Alison Chen

Alison Chen advises clients on the federal income tax aspects of business transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other partnership arrangements, recapitalizations, restructuring (in- and out-of-court) and other financing transactions, with a focus primarily in the energy sector. She also frequently serves as tax counsel in capital markets transactions, advising public companies (including MLPs) and underwriters in connection with initial public offerings (IPOs), follow-on equity and debt offerings, public mergers and spin-offs. To learn more about Ms. Chen, please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/alison-l-chen.html · Tax

Alissa Miller

Alissa Miller is a partner in the media, entertainment & sports practice, and the partner in charge of the Los Angeles office. She advises a variety of clients in the entertainment and media industry, including borrowers, distributors, studios, independent production companies, equity investors, high-net-worth individuals, completion guarantors and others involved in a broad range of entertainment-related transactions, with a focus on media finance and distribution. She also advises film and television clients in connection with tax-advantaged financing and co-production arrangements. To learn more about Alissa, please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/alissa-l-miller.html · Media

Amy Wollensack

Amy Wollensack represents private equity and other corporate clients in a wide range of complex transactions including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, divestitures, recapitalizations, joint ventures, going private transactions, PIPEs, venture capital and growth equity investments and other transactions. Amy also advises on corporate governance matters. She has extensive experience representing clients in domestic and cross border transactions in a broad spectrum of industry sectors, including health care, life sciences, technology, entertainment, logistics, media, consumer products, food and beverage, franchise, automotive, software, manufacturing, financial services, agriculture, defense and hospitality. As a result, she can anticipate and address industry-unique issues that often arise in the transaction process and structure the transactions efficiently. To learn more about Amy, please visit her profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/amy-wollensack.html. · Private Equity

Andrew E. Sagor

Focuses on a wide range of leveraged finance transactions with a focus on representing private equity sponsors and other borrowers in leveraged acquisition and asset-based financings, senior secured debt, high yield, bridge and mezzanine financings, distressed financings, recapitalization transactions and general corporate finance matters. Has successfully led significant debt financing transactions throughout the United States and in international markets. Has significant experience in financing in-court and out-of-court restructurings, including complex liability management transactions. Has advised on more than $50 billion of financing arrangements over the course of his career, with transactions ranging in size from tens of millions to in excess of $20 billion. To learn more about Andrew, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/andrew-e-sagor · Leveraged Finance

Andy Rosbrook

Senior Counsel To learn more about Andy, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/g-andy-rosbrook · Intellectual Property

Angela B Styles

Represents clients through the full lifecycle of public sector contracting with unique insight and ability to efficiently resolve issues and problems with federal departments and agencies without litigation. Focuses on suspension and debarment proceedings and show cause responses, internal investigations and resulting disclosures under the mandatory disclosure program for federal contractors, the Procurement Integrity Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, issues arising from revolving door and conflict of interest restrictions on public sector employees, and federal gift and gratuity restrictions. Counsels extensively on commercial item contracting, cost accounting, GSA and VA schedule contracting, federal leasing, and the Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts. To learn more about Angela, please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/angela-b-styles.html · Government Contracts

Ann E. Tadajweski

Ann Tadajweski advises established and emerging investment managers on the structuring, launch and ongoing operation of alternative investment funds. With over two decades of experience, she has acted as counsel with respect to a wide range of alternative investment products, including real estate funds, credit funds, hybrid funds, private equity funds, hedge funds, funds of funds, family offices, strategic partnerships, managed accounts and co-investment arrangements. Ann works closely with fund sponsors on all aspects of their operations, including governance, compensation arrangements and succession planning, as well as regulatory compliance matters. To learn more about Ann, please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/ann-e-tadajweski.html · Investment Management

Anne Borkovic

Anne Borkovic’s practice includes export controls, antibribery and anti-money laundering, and economic sanctions laws and regulations. She advises U.S. and international clients on law and policy affecting international trade and business in sectors including technology, aerospace, energy, defense, health care and life sciences, engineering services, logistics and freight forwarding, manufacturing, venture capital, private equity and retailers. She routinely works on matters related to defense trade controls (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), dual-use export controls (Export Administration Regulations), antibribery and anti-money laundering (Bank Secrecy Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) and U.S. economic sanctions programs. To learn more about Anne, please visit her full profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/anne-e-borkovic.html · Export Controls

Anthony T. Pierce

Tony Pierce is the partner in charge of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Tony draws on more than three decades of trial and litigation experience to deliver positive results. Clients look to Tony as a problem-solver, an aggressive advocate and a reliable source of practical legal advice. His clients span an array of industries, including technology, telecommunications, health care, energy, media and entertainment, financial services and government contracting. His range of cases is equally broad. Tony has defended large class actions and complex commercial disputes involving breach of contract, consumer protection, data privacy, trade secrets, product liability, intellectual property and high-level employment claims. He also has conducted numerous internal investigations. An experienced trial lawyer, Tony brings well-honed litigation skills, ingenuity and a vigorous presence. To learn more about Tony, please visit his full profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/anthony-t-pierce.html · Class Actions

April Kim

April Kim focuses her practice on energy industry transactions, including tax equity and tax credit transactions, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), project development and finance. April’s experience includes drafting and advising on tax equity transaction agreements, credit agreements, tax credit transfer agreements, security agreements, purchase and sale agreements, joint venture agreements and commercial project contracts, including engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreements, operation & maintenance (O&M) agreements, supply agreements and power purchase agreements (PPAs). To learn more about April please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/april-t-kim · Energy

Arik Preis

Arik represents informal and official committees of creditors, ad hoc groups, debtors, individual creditors, rights offering backstoppers, and rescue, DIP and exit lenders in both in-court and out-of-court restructurings. Arik plays a major role advising victims in many of the largest opioid-related bankruptcy cases in the industry. He has also represented lenders and administrative agents in non-restructuring-related loans, including leveraged loan transactions, mezzanine financings and more traditional loans. Significant matters include Rite Aid, Purdue Pharma, Mallinckrodt, HONX, Endo International, Insys Therapeutics, Achaogen, Pernix, Hertz, Boy Scouts of America, to name a few. To learn more about Arik, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/arik-preis.html · Finance

Avi Luft

Avi Luft is a committed restructuring litigator, taking the lead on all aspects of complex financial restructuring litigation matters. Having litigated some of the most complex chapter 11 cases and cross-border insolvencies, Avi focuses on impactful and creative advocacy to facilitate the strongest outcomes for his clients within the broader bankruptcy case or restructuring process. Avi frequently serves as lead trial counsel in bankruptcy and district courts throughout the country and commonly advises clients on the litigation implications of restructuring decisions and corporate transactions. Recent representations include Steward Health Care, Enviva, Franchise Group, Ho Wan Kwok, Celsius Network, Cred Inc., LATAM Airlines, Eagle Hospitality Trust, among others. To learn more about Avi, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/avi-e-luft · Financial Restructuring

Barbara Niederkofler

Barbara Niederkofler represents some of the most prominent private equity and hedge fund sponsors, as well as a broad range of other investment clients, including credit funds, hybrid funds, family offices and institutional investors. Barbara’s practice focuses on the formation and operations of private investment funds along the liquidity spectrum, including structuring funds and managers in multiple jurisdictions, providing guidance on fundraising and solicitation issues, advising on seed arrangements, spinouts, joint ventures and “upper tier” arrangements, handling registrations and exemptive filing under securities and commodities laws with regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association (NFA), and advising on ongoing maintenance of fund structures as well as compliance issues for managers. Barbara has substantial experience with all aspects of investment adviser compliance and registrations. She has extensive experience in relation to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and she also regularly advises clients with respect to regulatory examinations and investigations. To learn more about Barbara, please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/barbara-niederkofler.html · Investment Fund Formation and Management

Bernd Janzen

Bernd Janzen advises clients around the globe across a range of trade litigation proceedings arising under U.S. law. These include AD/CVD and safeguard law, U.S. customs requirements, Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act of 1962, and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. In his practice, he assists corporate and sovereign clients in Canada, China, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Singapore, navigate duty and penalty risk, and develop litigation strategy geared to current U.S. trade policy. He represents clients in appeals before U.S. courts and international tribunals. Bernd works with clients across multiple industries—including the automotive, building materials, chemicals, energy, softwood lumber, aerospace, seed, tire, paper, steel and consumer electronics industries—taking care to understand the unique challenges each faces in the context of rapidly evolving and complex U.S. and international trade requirements. To learn more about Bernd, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/bernd-g-janzen.html · International Trade

Blayne A Grady

Blayne Grady regularly represents private equity fund sponsors in connection with both U.S. and international funds throughout the life cycle of a private equity fund. He also represents registered investment advisers with respect to regulatory compliance, and has significant experience counseling new and emerging managers through the numerous issues that impact a first-time fund sponsor. In addition, he counsels institutional investors in connection with investments in private equity funds, hedge funds and direct co-investments. Blayne brings a breadth of market knowledge to bear in helping clients handle complex fund structuring and negotiation. He handles transactional matters involving private equity fund formation, fund investment, fund manager transactions and seed investments, mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, stock and asset purchases, equity and debt financings, strategic growth opportunities, and exit strategies. To learn more about Blayne, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/blayne-a-grady.html · Private Equity

Bob Lian

Drawing on more than 25 years of litigation experience representing employers and executives in a diverse array of industries, Bob Lian represents clients in their most challenging workplace legal issues. These include class and collective action claims, internal and regulatory investigations, disputes with executives, and restrictive covenant and competitive hiring claims. He also provides strategic advice to companies on a range of workplace legal issues. Mr. Lian also works with clients on a full range of occupational health and safety matters. For over a decade, he has led the firm’s labor and employment practice. To learn more about Bob, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/robert-g-lian.html. · Labor & Employment

Brad M. Kahn

Brad is a financial restructuring practitioner, focused on large, complex in-court and out-of-court corporate restructurings. Brad’s experience includes representing ad hoc and official creditors’ committees, as well as debtors, in high-profile chapter 11 cases. He also advises clients in multijurisdictional and cross-border insolvency proceedings. Brad’s restructuring matters encompass a variety of industries, including financial services, energy, telecommunications, shipping, and technology. Recent representations include SVB Financial Group, Steward Health Care, DISH Network, American Medical Technologies, Talen Energy, Nordic Aviation Capital, FirstEnergy, Intelsat, among others. To learn more about Brad, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/brad-m-kahn · Financial Restructuring

Brandon Rash

Brandon focuses on patent infringement litigation in federal district courts and at the U.S. International Trade Commission and post-grant proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He represents high-tech companies in a broad range of sectors, including electronics, computer hardware and software, Internet and network communications, wireless, and semiconductors. Brandon counsels clients in IP transactions, due diligence, strategic patent portfolio management, and other IP-related matters. Brandon has more than a decade of experience in all aspects of patent litigation, from pre-litigation through trial and appeal. He has served as lead counsel in district court actions and ITC investigations. He has substantial experience in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, known as the “Rocket Docket,” where he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry E. Hudson. To learn more about Brandon, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/c-brandon-rash.html · Patent Litigation

Brian Daly

Brian Daly advises fund managers on regulatory, compliance and operational matters. He has extensive experience helping clients navigate their regulatory compliance obligations under the rules and regulations of the SEC, CFTC and NFA. Brian also regularly represents clients in regulatory examinations, enforcement actions, trading inquiries and in seeking no-action or similar relief. Having spent nearly a decade in-house as general counsel and chief compliance officer at several global investment management firms, Brian is well versed in the wide range of legal and business challenges facing investment advisers, commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors. To learn more about Brian, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/brian-t-daly · Investment Management

Brian Pomper

Brian Pomper serves as co-leader of the firm’s lobbying & public policy practice and recently completed a 7-year term on the firm’s management committee. He offers public policy, political and strategic business advice to Fortune 500 and other domestic and multinational companies. He represents clients before Congress, the White House and federal agencies on a diverse set of public policy matters, including market access, investment, international trade disputes, intellectual property, international tax and customs issues. To learn more about Brian, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/brian-a-pomper.html · Lobbying

Brian Rafkin

Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust & International Competition Antitrust Mergers & Acquisitions Antitrust Counseling Antitrust Litigation To learn more about Brian, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/brian-rafkin · Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR)

Chadron Edwards

Chadron Edwards represents sponsors, lenders and other entities in connection with project financing transactions, with a focus on energy and infrastructure. Chadron has strong experience in renewable energy, finance and public-private partnership (PPP) transactions. He previously served in a credit structuring role in the transportation, infrastructure and energy group at a major project finance bank in New York. To learn more about Chadron please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/chadron-l-edwards · Project Finance

Charles Connolly

Co-head of Akin’s white collar defense & government investigations practice group. Represents companies and individuals in government investigations, white collar criminal defense matters, internal investigations and complex commercial litigation. Substantive areas include Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-money laundering (AML) statutes, financial fraud, federal procurement, public corruption, sanctions regimes, and False Claims Act (FCA) litigation. He has conducted investigations in multiple domestic jurisdictions, as well as in Latin America, China, Europe and the Middle East. To learn more about Charles, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/charles-francis-connolly.html · White Collar Criminal Defense

Charlie Ofner

Charlie Ofner’s practice encompasses a broad range of energy & infrastructure transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, project development and corporate finance matters. He has extensive experience in the negotiation of asset and equity purchase and sale agreements, joint venture and related corporate agreements, joint development agreements, farmout agreements, joint operating agreements, marketing agreements, gathering and transportation agreements, terminal agreements and other energy-related matters. Charlie regularly advises companies across the energy sector (including majors, independents, private equity (PE) funds and PE-backed portfolio companies in the upstream, midstream, downstream, infrastructure, power and related sectors) in acquisitions and divestitures of assets and equity interests, strategic joint ventures and investments, energy trading transactions, negotiation and implementation of commercial contracts, and corporate governance. Prior to private practice, Charlie served as senior counsel at Oasis Petroleum Inc., a publicly traded E&P company, where he was integral in the legal functions of multiple company divisions, including operations, land, midstream, marketing, finance and accounting. To learn more about Charlie, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/charlie-ofner. · Energy

Chris Spicer

Chris Spicer serves as the head of the firm’s media, entertainment & sports practice. He focuses on entertainment and media transactional matters, advising on projects throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He represents financial institutions, mezzanine investors, equity providers and other investors with respect to their film, television, digital media and music financings as well as in other media investments. He also advises borrowers, distributors, independent production companies and others involved in various aspects of the production, financing and distribution of content. To learn more about Chris, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/christopher-s-spicer.html · Media

Christian C Davis

Christian Davis advises on foreign investment, export controls, sanctions, anticorruption and customs laws. Christian represents clients in the merger, acquisition and divestiture process before CFIUS and on accounting for associated risks. He also advises in negotiating and implementing CFIUS mitigation agreements, developing and administering international trade compliance programs and conducting internal investigations. He has also advised sovereign entities in the formation of law and policy. To learn more about Christian, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/christian-c-davis.html · Foreign Investment

Christopher A. Treanor

Chris is a leading lobbying and public policy lawyer with nearly 20 years of experience specializing in energy, climate change, and energy transition issues. His practice centers on advising a broad range of clients, including the largest natural gas producers and infrastructure developers, technology firms, clean energy innovators, and conventional power companies—on complex domestic and international policy matters. Chris represents clients before federal agencies and the U.S. Congress, providing strategic counsel on regulatory, legislative, and advocacy initiatives. His work spans sectors such as energy and sustainability, data centers, transportation, and international trade, and includes advising on cutting-edge issues like artificial intelligence, supply chains, and competition policy. To learn more about Mr. Treanor, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/christopher-a-treanor · Lobbying

Claudius B. Modesti

Claudius offers extensive enforcement experience across a broad range of capital market regulatory and corporate governance matters, including representing corporations, accounting and other professional services firms and financial firms before the DOJ, SEC, PCAOB and other regulators. He also conducts internal investigations on behalf of board of directors, audit committees and senior management. Claudius’s practice builds on 25 years of government and regulatory service, including as a DOJ prosecutor, an SEC enforcement attorney and, most recently, as the PCAOB’s first enforcement director. As PCAOB enforcement director, he led investigations of U.S.- and foreign-based accounting firms, many of which involved parallel SEC investigations. He also played a key role in the PCAOB’s collaboration with its foreign audit regulator counterparts. To learn more about Claudius, please visit his full profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/claudius-b-modesti.html · Securities Enforcement

Cole Bredthauer

Cole leads transactions in the oil & gas industry with an emphasis on acquisitions and dispositions of exploration and production (E&P) and midstream assets and companies. He has extensive experience in connection with hydrocarbon marketing and transportation agreements, farmouts and farmins, participation and joint development agreements, and water disposal and transportation agreements. To learn more about Cole, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/cole-bredthauer · Oil and Gas

Cono Carrano

Cono Carrano is a trial lawyer and a registered patent lawyer who focuses his practice on complex patent litigation. His experience primarily involves semiconductors, electronics, software, wireless and optics technology. Cono has worked with patent trial counsel in numerous European and Asian countries. Cono brings a sophisticated technical understanding to matters involving a wide range of IP issues. Cono represents clients before the International Trade Commission, U.S. district courts, the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. To learn more about Cono, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/cono-a-carrano.html · Patent Litigation

Daniel I. Fisher

Dan Fisher, the leader of Akin’s integrated special situations group, practices at the nexus of M&A, restructuring, securities and finance. Dan has nearly two decades of experience representing large-cap private equity, hedge and credit funds and has market-leading experience in the unique issues raised by distressed and special situations. Dan is one of the nation’s leading experts with respect to the governance, liability management, securities compliance, tax and other issues specific to a post-restructured company. Dan also has significant experience advising companies, boards of directors and special committees on crisis management, including in connection with regulatory and public scrutiny and executive transitions. To learn more about Dan, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/daniel-i-fisher.html · Mergers and Acquisitions

Daniel Lynch

Dan Lynch’s practice encompasses derivative transactions, project finance and development, battery storage agreements, energy marketing and trading, renewable energy and M&A. He represents clients in a wide range of energy projects, including: • Developers • Commercial users • Energy marketers • Investors • Financial institutions • Utilities. To learn more about Dan, please visit his profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/daniel-lynch.html · Derivative Transactions

Daniel M. Witkowski

Daniel Witkowski focuses his practice on international trade remedies and customs. Dan represent governments and companies in antidumping (AD), countervailing duty (CVD), and safeguard proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission, and in appeals before the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and NAFTA binational review panel, and in disputes before the World Trade Organization. Dan also assists companies in navigating issues involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection. To learn more about Mr. Witkowski, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/daniel-m-witkowski.html · International Trade

Daniel Moffett

Daniel L. Moffett’s practice encompasses all aspects of intellectual property (IP) procurement and protection, with a focus on complex patent, trade secret and trademark litigation. He has served as lead technical counsel in cases involving claims of patent infringement, antitrust violations and theft of trade secrets. He also has first-chair experience representing clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in inter partes review proceedings. PTAB review, including the effect of PTAB decisions in district court proceedings, is a rapidly changing area affecting patent litigation. Daniel’s experience helps him provide clients with the best strategy for navigating parallel PTAB and district court proceedings. He represents a diverse group of clients, including clients in the medical device, biotechnology, animal genetics, digital communications, database software, Internet software, retail grocery, restaurant and entertainment industries. In addition to district court and patent office litigation, Daniel’s practice includes prosecution of trademark applications; licensing and assignment of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property. To learn more about Daniel, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/daniel-l-moffett.html · Patent Litigation

Daniel Tavakoli

Daniel Tavakoli represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in transactions, including follow-on acquisitions, dispositions and corporate governance matters. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) of both public and private companies and other complex corporate transactions, including leveraged buyouts, cross-border transactions, carve-out transactions, private equity investments, co-investments, joint ventures and divestitures. Daniel also has experience advising public companies and their boards of directors in connection with governance, securities and strategic matters, including takeover preparedness and shareholder engagement. To learn more about Daniel, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/daniel-tavakoli.html. · Mergers and Acquisitions

David Antheil

David Antheil focuses his practice on complex matters for investment fund clients, including guiding fund sponsors and managers in forming new funds. He also advises clients on a variety of financial transactions involving their investment activities, including acquisitions and dispositions of portfolio investments and corporate financing transactions. David provides advice to his clients on a broad range of investments, including real estate, energy, pharmaceutical, natural resources, transportation, infrastructure and mezzanine. To learn more about David, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/david-antheil · Investment Management

David Quigley

David Quigley advises lenders, sellers and buyers on evaluating the environmental liabilities associated with commercial, multifamily and industrial transactions. He develops solutions that are cost-effective and realistic in terms of the role of client as lender and the value of the property or portfolio. David solves problems so that clients can return assets to beneficial use. He has established a strong profile in this space, having developed an environmental due diligence model for use in the foreclosure of commercial properties. More generally, David has handled due diligence in connection with acquisitions totaling more than $1 billion in assets. David works closely with clients and other firm practitioners to anticipate changes to the environmental regulatory landscape and assists clients in complying with those changes. He can manage the defense of enforcement actions, having done so most recently in the Clean Air Act and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) contexts. David can also resolve, through mutually agreeable settlements where possible, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) cost recovery and allocation suits. To learn more about David, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/david-h-quigley.html · Environment and Natural Resources

David Vondle

David Vondle represents clients in intellectual property (IP) disputes at the International Trade Commission (ITC), in federal court, and in proceedings at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. David has extensive experience as lead counsel in patent and trade secret cases having significant commercial value involving computer hardware and software, wireless and satellite communications, clean technology, semiconductors, medical devices, and consumer electronics. He has successfully represented U.S. and foreign companies in more than thirty ITC investigations through trial, appeal, and proceedings before the United States Customs and Border Protection. David advises buyers, sellers, investors, and creditors on domestic and global transactions involving IP, including acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, and joint ventures. David also advises clients on the implementation of programs to protect trade secrets and other confidential information for clients developing autonomous vehicle systems. To learn more about David, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/david-c-vondle.html · Intellectual Property

Dennis Pereira

Dennis Pereira’s practice focuses on the domestic and international fund industry. He represents fund sponsors in the formation, structuring and operation of private investment funds, including private equity and hedge funds that employ groundbreaking investment strategies. Dennis handles funds matters involving fund formation, capital-raising activities, ongoing operational activities, fund investment, and carried interest programs. To learn more about Dennis, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/dennis-p-pereira.html · Investment Fund Formation and Management

Devin Sikes

Devin Sikes helps clients across the globe deftly navigate complex international trade laws and policies to seize opportunities and avoid risks. Devin has represented corporations, big and small, across numerous industries, as well as counseled industry associations and sovereigns. Thanks to his extensive experience before U.S. courts and international tribunals, Devin regularly leads clients through high-stakes litigation challenging unfavorable international trade laws and determinations. Each year since 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative has named Devin to the U.S. roster of panelists who may resolve certain trade disputes under the North American Free Trade Agreement (now the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement). To learn more about Devin, please visit his full profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/devin-s-sikes.html · International Trade

Donald R Pongrace

As chair of Akin’s American Indian law & policy practice, Don Pongrace provides strategic advice and advocates on behalf of tribal groups, governments and corporations. He has been involved in significant policy issues around the world, and he currently focuses his attention on policy issues relating to U.S. domestic policy at the federal, state and tribal levels. Don’s work on the federal aspects of tribal policies in the United States includes serving as lead counsel on the two largest Indian water settlements in U.S. history and one of the largest trust mismanagement claims in U.S. history. He also provides guidance to his clients on federal, state and tribal responses to the Colorado River mega-drought and the corresponding federal regulatory processes. To learn more about Don, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/donald-r-pongrace.html · Native American Law

Donna Mezias

Donna Mezias advises employers on a wide range of employment issues, including management of risks associated with employee terminations; sexual harassment and other employee investigations; reductions in force and facility closures; discrimination issues; trade secret and employee mobility issues; disability accommodation; family and medical leave laws; wage and hour compliance; drug testing; and employee privacy rights. She represents employers in all types of employment litigation including class action and individual discrimination cases; wage and hour class actions and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective actions; retaliation; whistleblower; wrongful termination and employment contract cases; trade secret; employee solicitation; defamation; and unfair competition litigation. To learn more about Ms. Mezias, please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/donna-m-mezias.html. · Employment Law

Douglas Brandon

Wireless, Satellite, Spectrum Telecom, Media & Technology To learn more about Mr. Brandon, please visit his profile here: Douglas I. Brandon, Partner, Telecom, media and technology | Akin, Elite Global Law Firm | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP · Wireless

Douglas Rappaport

Doug Rappaport is a litigator focusing on complex commercial and securities disputes. In recent years, he has served as counsel in trials involving disputes over secured assets, partnership interests, securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, trade secrets, options backdating, tax appraisals and the fraudulent sale of securities. Doug has won numerous dispositive motions and appeals in both state and federal court. On a daily basis, Doug advises clients on matters of regulatory compliance and corporate governance. He also provides advice on activist investing issues, devising strategies regarding the solicitation of board seats, the displacement of existing corporate management and contests for corporate control. To learn more about Doug, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/douglas-a-rappaport.html · Complex Commercial Litigation

Ed Pagano

Ed Pagano provides advice to clients in the artificial intelligence, antitrust, communications, small business, privacy and emerging technology, among others. He has a profound understanding of the federal government’s inner workings, given his tenure with the Obama administration as Senate liaison and deputy assistant to the President for legislative affairs and with Sen. Leahy and the Senate Judiciary Committee for more than 20 years. Ed began his professional career as an associate at a large law firm before moving on to serve as a field director for the Clinton-Gore presidential campaign in 1992. During college, he played power forward for four years for the Vermont Catamounts basketball team. He remains active at the University of Vermont as a member of the board of trustees and through alumni and student engagement. To learn more about Ed, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/ed-pagano.html · Artificial Intelligence

Eliot D Raffkind

Eliot Raffkind represents investment managers, including advisors to domestic and offshore hedge funds and other private investment funds. He provides advice in connection with fund formations and portfolio investing activities. He assists clients with navigating changing legal and regulatory frameworks. He also assists in formulating innovative structures to accommodate evolving investment strategies and the impact of changing market terms. Eliot’s clients value his strong technical knowledge and his ability to factor in business realities when providing legal advice. He is a frequent speaker before investment fund trade groups on issues affecting the investment management industry. To learn more about Mr. Raffkind, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/eliot-d-raffkind.html · Investment Funds

Emily Mallen

Emily Mallen counsels clients in the natural gas, oil and products pipeline industries in federal regulatory and transactional matters. She helps her clients understand and comply with their obligations under energy and environmental laws, with particular focus on the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Her experience extends to advising energy industry and trade association clients working through emerging issues in energy and natural resources law. Emily frequently assists developers of and investors in some of the largest midstream infrastructure projects in the United States, including greenfield and repurposed pipelines, underground natural gas storage facilities, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and export terminals. She also has provided strategic advice to over a dozen pipeline companies appearing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in rate proceedings under NGA sections 4 and 5 and certificate proceedings under NGA section 7, and has shepherded several projects through the NGPA section 311 process. To learn more about Emily please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/emily-p-mallen · Energy Law

Esther G Lander

Esther Lander’s practice focuses on complex employment disputes, high-stakes internal and government investigations, and client counseling regarding discrimination, harassment, reasonable accommodation, leave entitlements, workforce reductions, and employee misconduct; allegations of systemic discrimination, such as pattern or practice and class action claims; disparate impact discrimination involving hiring, promotion, and testing validation; diversity and inclusion initiatives and pay equity; and government enforcement activities. Esther represents clients in lawsuits arising under EEO laws such as Title VII, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and federal, state and local employment laws. To learn more about Esther, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/esther-g-lander.html · Labor and Employment

Fadi Samman

Fadi Samman represents domestic and international fund sponsors in connection with organizing, structuring and operating private investment funds, including private equity funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds, fund of funds, secondary funds and hedge funds. He advises institutional investors in connection with their investments in private investment funds. In addition, Fadi has extensive experience representing sponsors and investors in connection with liquidity solutions transactions, including acquiring and selling private fund investments on the secondary market and complex GP-led secondary transactions. To learn more about Fadi, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/fadi-g-samman.html · Private Equity Funds

Garrett DeVries

Garrett DeVries has led public equity and debt offerings, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions in a wide range of industries, including energy, retail, restaurants, infrastructure, manufacturing, aviation and finance, for more than 25 years. He has extensive experience in public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities, including initial public offerings and Rule 144A offerings. He also regularly advises public companies and investors on securities law compliance and exemptions, SEC reporting issues, securities exchange compliance, shareholder relations and communication and other corporate governance matters. He serves as the co-head of the firm’s Capital Markets practice. To learn more about Garrett, please review his full profile at: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/garrett-a-devries.html · Capital Markets

Gorav Jindal

Partner; Disputes & Investigations, Antitrust To learn more about Gorav, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/gorav-jindal.html · Disputes & Investigations

Hayden Harms

Hayden Harms advises energy & infrastructure clients on a broad range of transactional matters involving the entire project development life cycle, including the acquisition, development, financing and sale of energy & infrastructure projects. Hayden has extensive experience in the renewable energy, energy transition and traditional energy sectors, having advised clients in connection with numerous power generation and storage assets, including wind, solar, battery storage, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia, carbon capture, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and upstream and midstream oil & gas, as well as various other new and emerging technologies. To learn more about Hayden please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/j-hayden-harms · Energy

Heater Waters Borthwick

Capital Solutions

Hillary F. John

Hillary John serves as counsel in the firm’s government contracts group, where she helps clients with a wide range of issues, including government and internal investigations, white-collar defense, and regulatory compliance. She has particular experience in advising on issues relating to domestic preference laws, among other government contracting regulations. Hillary maintains an active pro bono practice and previously served as a judicial law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Prior to attending law school, she served as a physics teacher with Teach for America. · Government Contracts

Hunter Bates

Hunter Bates is co-leader of Akin’s lobbying & public policy practice and on the firm’s Management Committee, bringing more than 20 years of law, policy and advocacy experience to his client work. Hunter combines his extensive knowledge of policy and process with his close connections to key players to provide strategic advice and advocacy on behalf of a wide range of clients, including Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, coalitions and nonprofit organizations. Hunter brings to his client engagements a deep understanding of the intricacies of the legislative process and extensive experience working with members of the Senate and House on wide-ranging issues such as tax, trade, appropriations, healthcare, labor and sports law. Repeatedly named among the country’s “Top Lobbyists” by The Hill, Hunter’s ability to mobilize support and drive meaningful policy outcomes is a testament to his unwavering commitment to achieving tangible results for his clients. To learn more about Hunter, please visit his profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/hunter-bates.html · Lobbying

Hyongsoon Kim

Hyongsoon Kim leads Akin’s California litigation practice. He is highly experienced in complex commercial litigation, particularly in high-stakes class action matters and product liability cases. He has gained a reputation for innovative legal tactics and efficient results for clients. Hyongsoon has achieved multiple denials of class certification, as well as dismissals at the pleadings stage and through motions for summary judgment. He has defended clients in numerous class actions involving unfair business practices and false advertising laws across multiple states. He also has represented clients in defending claims brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the Videotape Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), and various securities laws. His client portfolio spans industries such as electronics and digital, oil and gas, retail, and food and beverage. To learn more about Hyongsoon, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/hyongsoon-kim · Complex Commercial Litigation

Ian Goldberg

Ian Goldberg advises clients on a wide range of energy transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, project development, financial transactions, and out-of-court and bankruptcy court restructurings involving upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas assets, renewable energy projects and rare earth mineral deposits. Ian has significant experience representing exploration & production companies and financial partners with respect to operations, acquisitions and divestitures in the major U.S. conventional and unconventional onshore oil & gas basins, as well as offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. He also regularly advises midstream clients on pipeline development and associated agreements, including gathering, transportation and processing agreements. In addition, Ian is well versed in real property and oil, gas and mineral law, and regularly assists clients with energy project development, operations, lease negotiations and mineral and royalty transactions. He also has extensive experience negotiating service contracts and working with clients on complex commercial arrangements, joint ventures and project development across the energy industry. Further, Ian is heavily involved in the development of carbon capture, utilization & storage projects, as well as the development, operation, acquisition and divestiture of renewable energy projects. To learn more about Ian please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/ian-richard-goldberg · Energy Transactions

Ikenna Emehelu

Ikenna “Ike” Emehelu is co-leader of Akin’s projects & energy transition practice. He focuses his practice on energy and infrastructure project finance transactions. He represents lenders, developers, private equity and infrastructure funds, credit and sovereign investors and other capital providers in the development, financing, acquisition and disposition of renewable energy projects—including wind, solar, battery storage, carbon capture and biomass—as well as traditional power generation, gas and non-generation infrastructure projects. To learn more about Ike, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/ike-emehelu.html. · Projects & Energy Transition