David L. Caplan

Partner

david.caplan@davispolk.com

Mr. Caplan is the global co-head of Davis Polk’s mergers and acquisitions practice. He advises corporate and investment banking clients in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and related matters. He has represented a number of clients in a range of transactions, including Aetna, Campbell Soup, Canadian National Railway, Comcast, Harvard University, Limited Brands, Marsh and McLennan Companies, NBCUniversal, Polo Ralph Lauren, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Sterling Equities/The New York Mets.

Mr. Caplan is also active in our corporate governance practice, advising managements and boards with respect to a wide range of corporate governance matters (including takeover defense and shareholder activism).

Contact

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New York
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
P: 212-450-4156
F: 212-701-5156

Related Practices

Bar Admissions

State of New York

Education

A.B., Princeton University - Woodrow Wilson School, 1983
- summa cum laude
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1986
- cum laude

Work Highlights

Selected Representations

Aetna in its acquisitions of US Healthcare and the health care businesses of New York Life and Prudential
Campbell Soup in the sale of Godiva Chocolatier and the acquisition of Ecce Panis
Comcast in its pending sale of wireless spectrum to Verizon Wireless; its acquisition of a majority stake in NBCU and its related joint venture with GE; and its investment in Clearwire with Google, Intel, Sprint, Time Warner Cable
Limited Brands in its divestitures of its Express, Lane Bryant, Lerner and Limited Stores businesses
Marsh & McLennan Companies in the sale of Putnam
NBCUniversal in its acquisition from Blackstone of a 50% interest in the Universal Orlando joint venture
PricewaterhouseCoopers in its acquisitions of PRTM and Diamond Management & Technology

Recognition

Listed as a leading M&A lawyer in several legal industry publications, including:
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- The Legal 500 (United States)
Listed by Lawdragon as one of the 500 leading lawyers in the United States
Recognized as a “BTI Client Service All-Star” in a survey of corporate counsel at Fortune 1000 organizations

Of Note

Membership

Member, Board of Trustees, Playwrights Horizons

Professional History

Partner, 1994-present
Associate, 1986-1994

News

Davis Polk Advises Comcast on the Sale of Advanced Wireless Spectrum to Verizon Wireless

Davis Polk Advises Limited Brands on an Acquisition by Sycamore Partners of a Controlling Interest in Mast Global Fashions

Davis Polk Advises Aetna on Its Acquisition of PayFlex

View More > >

Publications

Comments on Subtitle E of Title IX–Accountability and Executive Compensation under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Comment Letter to the SEC

Client Publications

SEC Clears the Way for “Private Ordering” for Proxy Access; Related Rules also Effective
Client Memorandum

Davis Polk Submits Two Comment Letters to the SEC on Key Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance Rulemaking
Client Newsflash

Proxy Access Rules Effective November 15, 2010
Client Newsflash

View More > >

Events

Annette Nazareth and David Caplan to Speak at NACD Webinar on Proxy Access

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