Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Davis Polk is a global law firm with world-class practices across all major areas of law. Industry-leading companies and financial institutions rely on the firm for complex legal and business matters. With a history of 175 years, Davis Polk operates from offices in key financial centres and political capitals worldwide, providing seamless collaboration across practice groups and jurisdictions. The firm delivers sophisticated advice and practical solutions through an integrated approach.

Practice areas include antitrust and competition, capital markets, civil litigation, corporate governance, data privacy and cybersecurity, derivatives and structured products, environmental, executive compensation, finance, financial institutions, investment management, intellectual property litigation, intellectual property and commercial transactions, liability management and special opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, private wealth, public company advisory, real estate, restructuring, sponsor finance, tax, and white collar defense and investigations.

The firm operates internationally as Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP in London, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Hong Kong Solicitors in Hong Kong, Davis Polk & Wardwell Brussels LLP in Brussels, and Davis Polk & Wardwell, Consultores em Direito Estrangeiro/Norte-Americano e Inglês in Brazil.

In London, the team of over 60 English- and US-qualified lawyers advises on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, finance and restructuring transactions across Europe for corporate, private equity and investment banking clients. The practice also covers tax, executive compensation, financial regulatory, and antitrust and competition matters, as well as corporate governance, activism, internal investigations and regulatory issues.

The capital markets group advises issuers and underwriters on debt, equity and structured product transactions across industries, working with companies listed on European exchanges and those seeking listings on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq. The group has advised on debt issuances across Europe for more than 50 years and has experience with EU, UK and US securities regulations.

The mergers and acquisitions team advises on complex, cross-border transactions, representing strategic and financial buyers and sellers, as well as financial advisers and debt and equity providers. Work includes public takeovers, schemes of arrangement, mergers, acquisitions involving UK listed companies and equity financings, with close collaboration across tax, finance, antitrust and regulatory disciplines.

The finance practice advises banks, financial institutions, credit funds and borrowers on corporate loans, acquisition financings, bridge loans, high-yield bonds, structured financings, derivatives, recapitalisations and restructurings. The London team has particular experience in financings involving the UK Takeover Code and cash confirmations, as well as restructuring and insolvency situations.

The tax practice advises corporates, financial institutions and funds on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, spinoffs, reorganisations, restructurings, financing transactions and equity raisings, often with a US angle. The team advises on UK corporate tax as well as US tax issues including reorganisations, anti-inversion rules, CFC and PFIC rules, interest deductibility and withholding.

The executive compensation practice advises on compensation and benefits in connection with public and private M&A, IPOs, reorganisations and securities offerings. The team designs and implements incentive plans for private and listed companies and advises boards, directors and management teams on governance and sensitive matters.

The financial regulatory practice advises banks, investment firms, insurers and asset managers on authorisations, governance, remuneration, market conduct, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, corruption and fraud. The London team collaborates with the Washington DC office on compliance with UK and US regulatory regimes.

The antitrust and competition team advises on cross-border merger reviews, investigations and foreign direct investment matters, regularly representing clients before the European Commission, the UK Competition and Markets Authority and international regulators. The team also advises on day-to-day antitrust issues and emerging regimes such as the EU Digital Markets Act and Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

Staffing Figures
10 Partners