Daniel I. Fisher

Partner

Areas of Focus

Daniel I. Fisher

Partner

dfisher@akingump.com

Areas of Focus

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Biography
  • Focuses on special situations and distressed transactions.
  • Advises companies and special committees on large public and private M&A transactions, typically with bespoke or off-the-run aspects.
  • Nearly two decades of experience representing large-cap private equity, hedge and credit funds and their portfolio companies.

Dan Fisher, the co-leader of Akin’s integrated special situations group and a member of the firm’s Management Committee, practices at the nexus of restructuring, finance, M&A and securities, and has market-leading experience in the unique issues raised by distressed and special situations.

He routinely advises companies, boards, creditor groups and investment funds on:

  • Public and private M&A
  • Corporate governance matters
  • Distressed M&A transactions
  • Special situations transactions, including distressed and bespoke financings, exchange offers and consent solicitations
  • In- and out-of-court restructurings

He also serves as outside general counsel to several public companies that have emerged from a Chapter 11 restructuring. He is a leading practitioner 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.

Representative Work
  • Advises Warrior Met Coal (NYSE:HCC), Inc. in connection with its corporate governance and securities matters since the emergence of its predecessor company, Walter Energy, from bankruptcy. Dan led the Akin Gump corporate team representing Walter creditors in the $3.1 billion restructuring of Walter Energy through a 363 credit bid, a special situations transaction. He has subsequently represented the company and certain selling stockholders in its NYSE IPO and in subsequent offerings of debt and equity.
  • Represented Neff Corporation (NYSE:NEFF) in the company’s $1.3 billion acquisition by United Rentals, Inc. This transaction was consummated following a robust go-shop process, with Neff ultimately accepting a topping bid in excess of 20 percent greater than an original offer.
  • Acts as outside general counsel to Eagle Bulk Shipping (NASDAQ:EGLE) following its emergence from bankruptcy, including in connection with numerous M&A and corporate finance transactions
  • Advising the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) in connection with various matters relating to the company’s founder, John Schnatter, including an investigation into the company’s operations and in an external cultural audit of the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, including its supplier and vendor engagements, as well as a $200 million strategic investment from Starboard Value LP.
  • Led the representation of Vista Credit Partners (the credit arm of Vista Equity Partners) in its $175 million global recapitalization of Meltwater, a leader in media intelligence solutions, in a transaction widely regarded to represent a confluence of trends in the private debt market. 
  • Led the representation of a crossover group of secured lenders and unsecured noteholders of Sungard Availability Services in what was, at the time, the fastest Chapter 11 restructuring ever.
  • Represented Francisco Partners in the $225 million financing to Eventbrite, Inc., a global self-service ticketing and experience technology platform, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investment helps to fund the execution of Eventbrite’s long-term growth strategy, strengthen its liquidity position and provide greater flexibility to manage through a range of recovery scenarios and the return to live events.  It also gives Eventbrite flexibility to manage through the effects of COVID-19 by tailoring its capital needs to the changing environment, while also reinvesting in its self-service platform.
  • Advises numerous special situations and other credit vehicles on their investments, including risk arbitrage, direct lending, out-of-court exchange offers and rescue financings.

"Really good at what he does, thoughtful and responsive."
Chambers USA, 2020

Education
  • J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law, 2002

  • B.A., Columbia University, 1999

Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia

  • New York

Recognitions
  • Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A & Private Equity, 2021 to 2023.
  • IFLR1000 US, Notable Practitioner – Capital Markets: Equity, and M&A, 2019.
  • The Legal 500 US, M&A, 2016 to 2019, and Corporate governance, 2019.
Affiliations and Public Service
  • Board of Trustees, Potomac School.

Insights and Achievements

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