Pitch Best Young M&A Lawyer 2023: Omar El Gachi

Name: Omar El Gachi
Company: Stibbe
Job Description: Lawyer
Age: Under 35

What are the specialties of this talent?
Omar provides advice on a wide range of matters in the field of corporate law, with a growing focus on (inter)national mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity transactions, and corporate governance-related issues. Over the past years, he has been involved in transactions across various domains. His primary interest lies in public offerings and private equity deals, but Omar has also participated in various strategic transactions.

How does the talent distinguish itself from its peers?
Omar combines his excellent legal knowledge with a strong analytical ability, having graduated cum laude in his dual master’s degree in law. He is solution-oriented, has a keen sense of his clients’ priorities, and demonstrates extraordinary dedication. Moreover, he excels under the high pressure and significant stakes typically associated with M&A transactions. Omar continually strives to further develop himself, as demonstrated by his completion of a mini-MBA at INSEAD last year to broaden his financial knowledge.

Omar has a comprehensive understanding of the entire M&A landscape and the factors at play in an acquisition process. From the strategic considerations of pursuing an acquisition to the legal risks involved and the opportunities that arise in such a process, Omar consistently provides fresh, independent analysis and sharp advice.

Internally at Stibbe, Omar takes the initiative by organizing various internal seminars for young M&A lawyers, focusing on relevant legal M&A topics. These initiatives have garnered enthusiastic responses and showcase Omar’s strong legal knowledge and current awareness, as well as his passion for the field.

In addition to his dedication and substantive focus, Omar distinguishes himself by demonstrating his maturity and balanced professionalism on social and organizational fronts. He serves as a Guest Lecturer/Subject Guide (Law) at the IMC Weekendschool Foundation and previously held the position of Chairman of the Wachm Foundation, a participating and self-governing organization dedicated to promoting a connected society.

What impact does the talent have within the organization?
Omar is an up-and-coming talent within our office and has quickly developed into a significant force within our M&A practice. Despite his young age, Omar plays a central role in complex M&A transactions and is exceptionally capable of working independently. With his excellent legal skills, pragmatic problem-solving abilities, and determination, he has successfully concluded several complex transactions to the satisfaction of his clients. Currently, Omar is on secondment as a visiting lawyer at the powerhouse Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York, a position reserved for the most exceptional talents.

As a young lawyer, Omar has gained a substantial amount of M&A experience during his years at Stibbe and has rapidly proven himself as a knowledgeable and driven M&A attorney. With a combination of confidence and analytical ability, Omar enthusiastically tackles a wide range of cases, from significant complex transactions in which he provides a substantial contribution to smaller transactions where he takes the lead and leads negotiations.

Omar’s strength lies in his combination of highly developed analytical skills, a keen legal radar, a profound interest in the law, and a healthy dose of self-confidence. He does not shy away from taking the lead in a transaction or engaging in substantive discussions with his peers and experienced attorneys. Omar is also deeply committed to his clients and possesses an exceptional understanding of the strategic interests at play. This makes Omar, at a young age and early in his career, a significant asset to Stibbe’s M&A practice.

What impact does the talent have outside the organization?
An illustrative example of the private equity deals Omar typically works on is the €4.73 billion acquisition by 3G Capital of a majority stake in Hunter Douglas, a typical high-pressure private equity deal in a competitive setting. Omar has demonstrated his ability to perform at a high level in such processes. These types of acquisitions come with intense pressure, but the satisfaction at the end of the journey is all the greater.

A noteworthy case for Stibbe, in terms of intensity and visibility, was the €4.1 billion acquisition by Mitsubishi Corporation and Chubu Electric Power of all shares in Eneco, in which Omar was involved from the very beginning and played a significant role in every aspect of the process. The competitive nature of the bid, media attention, and substantial interests involved made this transaction an exceptionally instructive experience and contributed to Omar’s steep learning curve.

To what extent does this talent make the difference to clients?
Omar has been involved in M&A deals with a total deal value of over 27 billion Euros in just a few years. He has been a key figure in many Stibbe transactions, including some of the most significant and largest transactions in the Dutch market:

• Advising on the €518 million public offer by Sopra Steria for all shares in Ordina.
• Advising on the €4.90 billion combination of Aegon’s Dutch activities with a.s.r.
• Advising on the €4.73 billion acquisition by 3G Capital of a majority stake in Hunter Douglas.
• Advising on the €450 million acquisition by AVR-Afvalverwerking of AEB Holding.
• Advising on the €1.50 billion acquisition by Advent International of Caldic.
• Advising on the €5.10 billion acquisition by Apax Partners and Warburg Pincus of a 75% stake in T-Mobile Netherlands.
• Advising on the acquisition by Pershing Square Tontine Holdings of a €3.50 billion, 10% stake in Universal Music Group.
• Advising on the €850 million acquisition by Invest Industrial of CSM’s International Bakery Ingredients activities from Rhône Capital.
• Advising on the €4.1 billion acquisition by Mitsubishi Corporation and Chubu Electric Power of all shares in Eneco.