Akin Gump Promotes 10 to Partnership

(New York) – Akin Gump today announced the election of 10 new partners, effective January 1. The 10 individuals and their respective office locations are Gerald Brant (New York), Olivia Chung (New York), Olivier De Moor (New York), Sophie Donnithorne-Tait (London), Mahmoud Baki (Mac) Fadlallah (Dubai/Washington, D.C.), Jaisohn Jungbin Im (New York), Allison P. Miller (New York), Daniel L. Moffett (San Antonio),  Alexander Specht (New York) and Annisah Iman Um’rani (Washington, D.C.).

“The lawyers promoted to partner this year are a very talented and diverse group of individuals,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “I know they will continue to work tirelessly every day on behalf of our clients, and I am thrilled to welcome them to the partnership.”

Mr. Brant is a member of the firm’s corporate practice focusing on merger and acquisition transactions, including leveraged buy-out, carve-out and other private equity transactions. He also represents both financial and strategic clients on a variety of corporate matters, including corporate governance, fiduciary and securities issues. Mr. Brant, who plays a key role in the firm’s shareholder activism practice, received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Columbia University.

A member of the firm’s investment management practice, Ms. Chung assists private fund sponsors on matters involving the formation, structuring and ongoing operation of domestic and offshore private equity funds and hedge funds. She represents some of the most prominent private equity, hedge fund and fund of funds sponsors in connection with matters, including fund formation, regulatory compliance, complex fund restructurings and co-investment arrangements. She also represents institutional investors acquiring and selling investments in private equity and hedge funds. Ms. Chung received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her B.A. in economics and public policy studies from Duke University.

Mr. De Moor is part of Akin Gump’s tax practice, concentrating on the U.S. federal tax and tax treaty aspects of corporate and financial transactions involving hedge and private equity funds, the structuring and restructuring of investments in the United States, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. In addition, he regularly advises on the U.S. and international tax aspects of foreign investments by U.S. investors, advises on a broad range of U.S. withholding issues and has extensive experience handling Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act issues. Mr. De Moor received his International Tax LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School. He has an LL.B., cum laude, from Ghent University, a P.G.D.L., magna cum laude, from the Solvay Business School in Brussels and a P.G.D.L., magna cum laude, from the Brussels Tax College.

Also a member of the firm’s tax practice, Ms. Donnithorne-Tait advises on all aspects of U.K. corporate tax, with a focus on financial restructurings, group reorganizations, structured finance arrangements and value added tax. She has particular experience in the tax implications of restructuring U.K. oil and gas companies. She also works closely with her counterparts in the firm’s U.S. offices and frequently advises U.S. funds on the tax-efficient structuring of their investments into Europe. Ms. Donnithorne-Tait received her L.P.C. from BPP Law School, London, and a First Class degree in Law from the University of Cambridge.

Mr. Fadlallah leads the firm’s international trade practice in Dubai. He focuses his practice on the application of U.S. law to non-U.S. entities and operations, particularly with respect to global investigations and compliance with international sanctions, export controls and anticorruption laws. Mr. Fadlallah counsels clients across a variety of sectors, including aerospace and defense, satellite, logistics and freight forwarding, communications and technology, financial, energy, automotive, health care, industrial and chemical industries, among others. He received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and his B.A., with distinction, from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Im is a member of the firm’s corporate practice, focusing on corporate finance transactions. He provides counseling to private equity funds, hedge funds, institutional investors and portfolio companies on a variety of financing transactions, including in connection with leveraged buyouts, syndicated loan financings and other secured and unsecured debt facilities. He also represents debtors and creditors, including ad hoc creditor groups, in connection with restructurings, workouts, debtor-in-possession financings and exit financings. Mr. Im received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from Yale University.

Ms. Miller is also a member of the firm’s corporate practice, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and debt and equity financings, with a particular focus on transactions with distressed companies. She routinely advises hedge funds and private equity clients on matters related to business reorganizations, out-of-court restructurings, 363 sale transactions, rights offerings and exchange offers. She also advises clients on general corporate matters, U.S. securities laws and corporate governance. Ms. Miller received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Law and her B.A., with distinction, from Mount Holyoke College.

Mr. Moffett, a member of the firm’s intellectual property practice, works on all aspects of intellectual property 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, and he has first chair experience representing clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes review proceedings. Mr. Moffett received his J.D., with high honors, from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin.

A member of Akin Gump’s tax practice, Mr. Specht focuses his work on the U.S. federal tax aspects of domestic and cross-border financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships.  Mr. Specht regularly advises private equity and hedge funds on matters related to the structuring of investments and operations within and outside of the United States. He received his J.D., cum laude, from American University, Washington College of Law and his B.A. from Columbia University.

As part of the firm’s health practice, Ms. Um’rani focuses on regulatory and litigation matters affecting the health industry. She represents medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospital systems and other health care entities in governmental investigations, internal investigations and lawsuits involving alleged violations of the False Claims Act; Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; Anti-Kickback Statute; and the Stark Law. She also represents hospitals in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and enrollment litigation before administrative tribunals and in federal court. Ms. Um’rani received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall), an M.A. from the University of Chicago and her B.A. from Smith College.

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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