Akin Gump Promotes 15 to Partnership

(New York) – Akin Gump today announced the election of 15 new partners, effective January 1. The 15 individuals (and their respective office locations) are Peter I. Altman (Los Angeles), Matthew D. Bivona (Dallas), Sam Brodie (London), Jason M. Daniel (Dallas), Christian C. Davis (Washington, D.C.), Brett Daniel Fieldston (New York), Hyongsoon Kim (Irvine), Alissa Miller (Los Angeles), Matthew C. Nesburn (Los Angeles), Brian Glenn Patterson (Houston/Dallas), Jonathan R. Pavlich (New York), Jonathan A. Ross (New York), Jason P. Rubin (New York), Alan Yanovich (Geneva), Jacqueline Yecies (New York).

“These exceptionally skilled lawyers demonstrate the breadth of talent we have developed at Akin Gump over the years,” said firm chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “I could not be prouder to welcome these individuals as Akin Gump partners, and I know they will continue to shine in the work they do on behalf of our clients.”

Mr. Altman is a member of the firm’s white collar and government investigations practice, representing investment management firms, private and public companies, and individuals in white collar and other government enforcement and regulatory matters, internal investigations and securities class action litigation. He worked previously in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, where he led the agency’s enforcement efforts as lead counsel in several high-profile investigations. Mr. Altman received his J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School and his B.A., with honors, from the University of Michigan.

A member of the corporate practice, Mr. Bivona’s practice includes all aspects of finance, corporate and securities law. He has represented borrowers and lenders in secured and unsecured credit facilities and other lending arrangements, issuers in high-yield offerings, and debtors and creditors in distressed debt restructurings; public companies in ongoing corporate and securities matters; and real estate and hospitality companies in a wide range of financing activities, including mortgage and mezzanine lending arrangements, equity finance and joint ventures. Mr. Bivona received his J.D., magna cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law and his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma.

Mr. Brodie is part of the firm’s financial restructuring and finance practices. He represents institutional investors, credit funds and other financial institutions in a range of complex cross-border financings, including private placements, structured finance and securitization transactions, distressed financings and financial restructurings. Mr. Brodie received his L.P.C. and P.G.D.L. degrees from BPP Law School. He received an M.A. from the University of Oxford.

Mr. Daniel is a member of Akin Gump’s investment management practice. He focuses on securities trading and reporting advice, investment adviser compliance and registration, and securities advice in respect to mergers and acquisitions transactions. He is also part of Akin Gump’s knowledge management team, developing guides, resources and training relating to his areas of practice for Akin Gump’s lawyers and clients. Mr. Daniel received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law and his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

As a member of the firm’s international trade practice, Mr. Davis advises clients on foreign investment, export controls, sanctions, anticorruption and customs laws. His practice focuses on representing clients in the merger, acquisition and divestiture process before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and on accounting for associated risks. He also advises clients in negotiating and implementing CFIUS mitigation agreements, developing and administering international trade compliance programs and conducting internal investigations.  Mr. Davis received his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Fieldston is a member of the tax practice, with a particular focus on the structuring of alternative investment funds and their investments, as well as the structuring of investment management companies. He regularly advises fund managers and sponsors regarding cross-border tax considerations relating to their investors and investment vehicles and investments, as well as related cross-border regulatory issues. In his pro bono practice, Mr. Fieldston advises social impact investment funds and their sponsors (both public and private) on cross-border tax and regulatory issues. Mr. Fieldston received his J.D. from Yale Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Columbia University.

Mr. Kim, as a member of the firm’s litigation practice, focuses on the defense of class action matters, including consumer and digital privacy/security class actions, complex commercial and business litigation matters, corporate governance and shareholder disputes, and bankruptcy litigation. Mr. Kim received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from California State University, Los Angeles.

Ms. Miller is part of the firm’s entertainment practice, representing financial institutions, other financiers, producers and distributors with respect to their film, television and corporate activities. Among her clients are borrowers, distributors, studios, independent production companies, equity investors, high-net-worth individuals, digital platforms and completion guarantors. She also advises film and television clients in connection with tax-advantaged financing and co-production arrangements. Ms. Miller received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Mr. Nesburn is a member of the firm’s global project finance practice, where he represents companies engaged in the development, construction, financing, acquisition and disposition of solar, wind and other energy projects as well as in all aspects of corporate structuring. He also represents clients in commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Nesburn received both his J.D. and his B.A., the latter with distinction, from the University of California, Los Angeles.

As a member of the firm’s labor and employment practice, Mr. Patterson represents companies in a wide range of employment-related matters, including non-competition agreements, wage and hour claims, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement actions, whistleblower issues, executive employment contracts and employment discrimination. His litigation experience includes class action cases brought under both Title VII and the Fair Labor Standards Act and employment-related claims brought in state and federal courts, and he has represented clients before the Department of Labor, OSHA and the National Labor Relations Board. He is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in labor and employment law and was recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2014-2017). Mr. Patterson received his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Richmond.

Mr. Pavlich, who is a member of the firm’s tax practice, represents clients in a variety of domestic and international corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and hedge fund investments, joint ventures and strategic alliances, and corporate restructurings. He also advises on corporate governance and general corporate matters. Mr. Pavlich received his LL.B. from the University of British Columbia and his B.A., with great distinction, from McGill University.

Mr. Ross is a member of the firm’s investment management practice, representing private equity and hedge fund sponsors in the formation, structuring and ongoing operation of domestic and offshore private equity funds and hedge funds, including private equity-related cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He represents funds that primarily invest in real estate and credit strategies and also represents institutional investors acquiring and selling positions in private equity funds and hedge funds in the United States and abroad. Mr. Ross received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University.

Mr. Rubin is a member of the firm’s financial restructuring practice who focuses on creditors’ rights and corporate restructurings, including the representation of secured and unsecured lender groups, official committees of unsecured creditors and debtors in complex Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings. His restructuring matters encompass a variety of industries, including oil and gas, energy, retail and telecommunications. Mr. Rubin received his J.D., cum laude, and his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.

As a member of the firm’s international trade practice, Mr. Yanovich advises foreign governments and multinational corporations on litigation of disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international dispute-resolution bodies; on international business and policy issues; and on legislation, regulation and interagency policy formation. He has extensive experience with international trade and investment matters at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels and spent 12 years working at the WTO Appellate Body, the WTO’s highest tribunal. Mr. Yanovich received both his J.D. and his B.A. from Georgetown University.

Ms. Yecies is a member of the firm’s litigation practice, where she has developed experience in an array of areas, including investment funds, private equity, securities litigation and regulatory matters, commercial litigation, contractual matters, and bankruptcy and insolvency litigation. She has particular experience representing investment and endowment funds and private equity firm clients in relation to fund governance, regulatory issues, disputes among fund principals and investors, and portfolio company litigation. She also works closely with the firm’s white collar defense and government investigations practice, counseling clients in several significant litigations and investigations. Ms. Yecies received her J.D. from Columbia Law School and her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

# # #