Key Takeaways
- • Akin Gump strengthens its corporate M&A platform by bringing Neil DuChez onboard as a corporate partner in New York, expanding dedicated U.S.-based technology transactions capabilities.
- • DuChez joins from Goldman Sachs, where he served as Vice President and Senior Legal Director in the Technology Legal group, leading negotiations on complex global technology, product, partnership and services agreements across multiple business divisions.
- • His practice encompasses SaaS and software licensing, cloud services, AI and data analytics solutions, data and content licensing, payment technologies, and the technology, IP, data and transition services aspects of acquisitions and divestitures.
- • The hire reflects market-wide demand for counsel who can integrate technology, intellectual property, and data considerations into broader transactional advice, as these factors increasingly drive risk, value and execution in major corporate deals.
- • This addition follows Akin's recent strategic investments in technology and data capabilities, including the hiring of cybersecurity, privacy & data protection practice co-head Evan Wolff and technology transactions partner Natasha Ahmed.
Summary
Akin Gump announced that Neil DuChez has rejoined the firm as a corporate partner based in New York, bolstering its transactional capabilities in technology-driven corporate matters. DuChez, who most recently held the position of Vice President and Senior Legal Director in Goldman Sachs' Technology Legal group, brings specialized expertise in advising on complex technology and commercial transactions that increasingly define modern M&A and strategic business initiatives.
At Goldman Sachs, DuChez led the negotiation and execution of complex global technology, product, partnership and services agreements while advising on technology, data, artificial intelligence and intellectual property matters across the firm's business divisions. His practice at Akin will focus on strategic partnerships, joint development arrangements, outsourcing matters and technology-enabled transactions. His core competencies span SaaS and software licensing agreements, cloud services, artificial intelligence and data analytics solutions, data and content licensing arrangements, payment technologies, and the technology, intellectual property, data and transition services components of acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions.
According to Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi, the hire addresses a critical market need: "Technology, data and AI issues now sit at the center of our clients' most important transactions, from M&A and strategic investments to commercial partnerships, outsourcing arrangements and other complex business initiatives." Zachary Wittenberg, corporate practice co-head, emphasized that technology considerations are no longer a separate workstream but often represent the most important factors driving risk, value and execution in major transactions.
DuChez's arrival represents the latest addition to Akin's strategic investment in technology, data and cybersecurity capabilities, following the recent hires of cybersecurity, privacy & data protection practice co-head Evan Wolff and technology transactions partner Natasha Ahmed. Akin's corporate practice comprises more than 300 transactional lawyers across three continents, serving alternative capital providers including private equity, private credit, infrastructure and sovereign wealth funds, as well as public and private companies, boards and family offices in M&A, capital markets, and financing transactions globally.
At Goldman Sachs, DuChez led the negotiation and execution of complex global technology, product, partnership and services agreements while advising on technology, data, artificial intelligence and intellectual property matters across the firm's business divisions. His practice at Akin will focus on strategic partnerships, joint development arrangements, outsourcing matters and technology-enabled transactions. His core competencies span SaaS and software licensing agreements, cloud services, artificial intelligence and data analytics solutions, data and content licensing arrangements, payment technologies, and the technology, intellectual property, data and transition services components of acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions.
According to Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi, the hire addresses a critical market need: "Technology, data and AI issues now sit at the center of our clients' most important transactions, from M&A and strategic investments to commercial partnerships, outsourcing arrangements and other complex business initiatives." Zachary Wittenberg, corporate practice co-head, emphasized that technology considerations are no longer a separate workstream but often represent the most important factors driving risk, value and execution in major transactions.
DuChez's arrival represents the latest addition to Akin's strategic investment in technology, data and cybersecurity capabilities, following the recent hires of cybersecurity, privacy & data protection practice co-head Evan Wolff and technology transactions partner Natasha Ahmed. Akin's corporate practice comprises more than 300 transactional lawyers across three continents, serving alternative capital providers including private equity, private credit, infrastructure and sovereign wealth funds, as well as public and private companies, boards and family offices in M&A, capital markets, and financing transactions globally.
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