Bio
David is based in Appleby’s Hong Kong office and is head of Asia Private Equity, M&A and Corporate Restructuring and global co-head of SPACs.
Recognised as a leading lawyer in each of his practice areas, David has been named Cayman Islands “Merger and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year” for the last two years running, having completed transactions with an aggregate value in excess of USD65 billion during this time. He was also named Cayman Islands “Corporate Finance Lawyer of the Year” and “Most Trusted Corporate Restructuring Specialist” in 2019 and was named to Asia Legal Business’ “40 Under 40” in 2020.
David’s corporate clients include Ascendent Capital Partners, Benchmark Asia, Celadon Partners, Goldman Sachs, MUFG, SoftBank Group Corp. and SoftBank Vision Fund.
On the restructuring side David has led on many of the largest Cayman restructurings, particularly in the offshore oil and gas sector. Recent deals include acting for Pacific Drilling on its restructuring by US Chapter 11 and Cayman process, acting for an ad hoc group of creditors of Noble in relation to Noble’s restructuring and acting for an ad hoc group of creditors on the restructuring of Valaris.
David is qualified in England & Wales, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands. He graduated from Cambridge University and trained at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London before practicing at Kirkland & Ellis and Sullivan & Cromwell in London.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
“Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year – Cayman Islands” – Lawyer Monthly 2020
“ALB 40 Under 40” – Asian Legal Business 2020
“Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year – Cayman Islands” – Lawyer Monthly 2019
“Most Trusted Corporate Restructuring Specialist – Cayman Islands” – CV Magazine 2019
“Corporate Finance Lawyer of the Year – Cayman Islands” – Finance Monthly 2019
“M&A Rising Star” – IFLR 1000 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
“Restructuring Rising Star” – IFLR 1000 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
“Deal of the Year” – China Business Law Journal 2018 for work on Sensetime’s Series C/C+ financing
REPRESENTATIVE DEALS:
PE / M&A
- MUFG in connection with its USD706 million investment in Grab Holdings Inc.
- Ascendent Capital Partners on its USD150 million investment in Best Assistant Education Online Limited
- Celadon Partners on multiple M&A and financing transactions
- Cornershop in connection with a USD500 million issuance and tender offer;
- SoftBank Vision Fund in connection with an investment totaling USD1.5 billion in Chehaoduo, a leading Chinese customer-to-customer auto retail services company;
- A Japanese investor in connection with a USD700 million investment in a tech company;
- Itochu Corporation in connection with the structuring and establishment of a new investment fund with affiliates of CITIC Group Corporation;
- China Automation Group on its privatization by way of a Cayman scheme of arrangement for HKD391,998,649.50 (about USD50.06 million);
- A lead investor in connection with its investment in SenseTime’s Series C and Series C+ issuance;
- China UnionPay in connection with its bid for Chinese tech assets; and
- Elliott Management on the merger between Ocean Rid UDW Inc. and Transocean.
Restructuring
Creditor Representations
- The Ad Hoc Group of Creditors of Ocean Rig UDW. Inc. on a financial restructuring by way of multiple Cayman Schemes of Arrangement to reduce the debt load by USD3.2 billion;
- The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors on the Chapter 11 of Scottish Re;
- The Ad Hoc Group of Creditors on the first restructuring of Hercules Offshore Inc. by way of US Chapter 11;
- The Ad Hoc Group of Towergate Insurance Group senior secured creditors in connection with Towergate’s successful restructuring by way of Scheme of Arrangement; and
- Senior high yield noteholders on the EUR 1.2 billion restructuring of A.T.U Auto-Teile-Unger GmbH through an administration.
Debtor Representations
- Pacific Drilling on its restructuring by way of US Chapter 11;
- CHC Group Limited on its restructuring by way of US Chapter 11 and parallel Cayman process;
- Whalsay Energy Limited on its debt restructuring and subsequent listing on the Cayman Stock Exchange;
- Zim Integrated Shipping Services on the restructuring of its financing and capital markets financings, which was the largest restructuring in Israeli history; and
- Eksportfinans ASA on its USD 23 billion contingency plan and successfully resisting attempts by debt funds to trigger a global restructuring of the group.
Trustee Representations
- Chapter 7 Trustee in connection with Scottish Re; and
- Nordic Trustee AS in connection with multiple bond restructurings involving assets in Europe and Asia.
Education:
- University of Cambridge (England)
