Bio
David is the Managing Partner of the Hong Kong office and Local Corporate Group Head. He is also head of Asia Private Equity and M&A, 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 three years running, having completed transactions with an aggregate value in excess of USD100 billion during this time.
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 a wealth of knowledge and experience in advising clients on all aspects of offshore restructurings. Currently engaged on multiple mandates relating to the offshore bonds of Chinese real estate developers, David has led on many of the largest Cayman restructurings, particularly in the offshore oil and gas sector during the previous cyclical downturn.
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
Leading Expert in Corporate M&A Law 2022 ‐ Hong Kong (Offshore Law) – Corporate Vision Magazine
Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year – Cayman Islands – Lawyer Monthly 2019, 2020 and 2021
Corporate Finance Lawyer of the Year – Cayman Islands – Finance Monthly 2019 and 2021
ALB 40 Under 40 – Asian Legal Business 2020
Most Trusted Corporate Restructuring Specialist – Cayman Islands – CV Magazine 2019
M&A Rising Star – IFLR 1000 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Restructuring Rising Star – IFLR 1000 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
REPRESENTATIVE DEALS:
PE / M&A*
- Ascendent Capital Partners on multiple acquisitions and exits
- Benchmark Asia on its acquisition of assets out of the liquidation of Pacific Harbour
- Celadon Partners on multiple acquisitions and exits
- China Automation Group on its privatization by way of a Cayman scheme of arrangement
- China Post on its USD128m investment in ULE Holdings
- China UnionPay in connection with its bid for Chinese tech assets
- MUFG on its acquisition of an interest in Grab Holdings Inc. for USD706m
- Sequoia Capital on multiple acquisitions
- SoftBank Group Corp. on multiple acquisitions and exits
- SoftBank Vision Fund on multiple acquisitions
- Various – Multiple privatisation transactions with an aggregate deal value in excess of USD20bn
* A more complete list of experience is available upon request – representations set out above only includes Asia based transactions and not those completed for US / European clients
Restructuring**
Debtor Representations
- CHC Helicopter Group on restructuring by way of Chapter 11 and Cayman process
- Pacific Drilling on its 2018 restructuring by way of Chapter 11 and Cayman process
- Pacific Drilling on its 2020 restructuring by way of Chapter 11 and Cayman process
- Various – multiple Chinese real estate companies on their ongoing liability management and debt restructuring processes
- Whalsay Energy Limited on its restructuring and its listing on the Cayman Stock Exchange
Creditor Representations
- Hercules Offshore – The Ad Hoc Group of Creditors on the first restructuring of Hercules Offshore Inc. by way of US Chapter 11 and offshore process
- Noble – An Ad Hoc Group of Noteholders of Noble on its restructuring by way of Chapter 11
- Ocean Rig – The Ad Hoc Group of Creditors of Ocean Rig UDW. Inc. on a financial restructuring by way of multiple Cayman Schemes of Arrangement and Chapter 15
- Scottish Re – The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors on the Chapter 11 of Scottish Re
- Seadrill – The Ad Hoc Group of Senior Secured Creditors of Seadrill on restructuring by US and Bermuda process
- Valaris – The Ad Hoc Group of Creditors of Valaris plc on its restructuring by way of Chapter 11 and offshore process
- Virgin Atlantic – A major creditor on the restructuring of Virgin Atlantic
** A more complete list of experience is available upon request – representations set out above only includes offshore representations and not deals completed whilst at Kirkland & Ellis or Sullivan & Cromwell
SPAC / DE-SPAC REPRESENTATIONS***
US SPACS
- Artisan Acquisition Corp. – US$300m SPAC IPO – sponsored by C-Ventures and Adrian Cheng
- Black Spade Acquisition Co – US$150m SPAC IPO – sponsored by Black Spade Capital and Lawrence Ho
- Gobi Acquisition Corporation – US$250m SPAC IPO – sponsored by PAG
- Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation – US$300m SPAC IPO – sponsored by affiliates of Ascendent Capital Partners
Hong Kong SPACs
- Various – Multiple ongoing Hong Kong SPAC IPO processes following the implementation of the Hong Kong SPAC regime under Chapter 18B of the Hong Kong listing rules
De-SPACs
- Artisan Acquisition Corp. ongoing de-SPAC transaction with Prenetics
- Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation ongoing de-SPAC transaction with Tim Hortons China
***A more complete list of experience is available upon request subject to confidentiality for multiple ongoing de-SPACs
Education:
- University of Cambridge (England)
