Debt Finance Partner Michael Gustafson Joins Akin Gump in London

(London) – Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Michael Gustafson has joined the firm as a finance partner in its London office. Mr. Gustafson joins from Pricoa Private Capital―the private debt investment arm of Prudential Financial Inc.―where he served as deputy chief legal officer, Europe, based in London.

Mr. Gustafson focuses on sophisticated debt finance work, including institutional private placement transactions, direct lending and financial restructurings.

Before moving to Pricoa in 2013, he was a partner in the London office of Bingham McCutchen LLP, working closely with the team that moved to Akin Gump in late 2014. Over the last six years, he has been involved in successfully closing over 100 substantial finance matters, including private placement, direct lending and restructuring matters, as well as a broader range of middle-market credit, risk capital and “one-stop” senior/mezzanine finance transactions.

At Akin Gump, Mr. Gustafson will continue to focus on a range of debt finance transactions for institutional lenders. His arrival reunites him with his former Bingham colleagues―including London debt finance partner Tom O’Connor, who separately joined the firm with three other U.S. partners in October 2018―and will enhance the firm’s existing strong capabilities advising institutional private placement investors.

“Mike’s market knowledge of, and experience with, high-end finance work is a perfect fit for our London practice,” commented Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “He adds real depth, as he not only knows the team, the clients and the market, but he has a huge amount of experience with this type of work.”

Barry Russell, Akin Gump financial restructuring partner in London, added: “We are delighted that Mike is back with us again, rejoining former colleagues who represent the institutional investor market in all aspects of their investments and in relation to financings and restructurings worldwide.”

Mr. Gustafson added: “I am excited to rejoin the group at Akin Gump. Together we have done some highly innovative and very interesting work over the years, and now we can come together again to continue to build out Akin Gump’s successful and growing finance practice in London.”

Qualified in New York and California, Mr. Gustafson received his LLB from the University of British Columbia in 2003.

About Akin Gump’s Global Debt Finance Practice

Akin Gump’s global debt finance team assists some of the world’s leading investment funds, public and private companies and financial institutions in accessing and deploying capital and restructuring debt across borders, industries and asset classes. The firm is at the centre of many of today’s most innovative transactions, and its multidisciplinary team has advised on precedent-setting financings, including institutional private placements, special situations investments, direct lending, and workouts and restructurings in the U.S., the U.K. and throughout EMEA and Asia.

About Akin Gump in London

Akin Gump's London office is the hub for the firm’s international practice. The firm’s strategy in London is to grow practices that complement its core strengths. This has resulted in the growth of a fully integrated office, advising clients at the top of their respective markets.

Core strengths on which the office is founded include financial restructuring, finance, corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity), global project finance, energy, debt and equity capital markets, financial services regulatory, disputes and international arbitration, investment funds (hedge, private equity, real estate and infrastructure), EU competition, international trade and tax.

The integrated nature of the practice means that the firm’s London lawyers work closely, and on a regular basis, with their counterparts across the globe.

The work of the firm’s London lawyers has been recognised in numerous leading legal and industry publications such as Chambers UK, The Legal 500 UK and IFLR1000.

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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