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David M. Wells
Senior Counsel
David is a member of our Corporate Department who practices in the London office. He represents European and Asian corporations and investment banks in international securities offerings and private financings, as well as corporate clients on a broad range of transactions.
Contact
  • London
    Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP
    99 Gresham Street
    London EC2V 7NG
    P: +44-20-7418-1320
    F: +44-20-7710-4820

    Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP is a limited liability partnership formed under the laws of the State of New York, USA, and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 566321.

Related Practices
Bar Admissions
  • State of New York
Education
  • A.B., Harvard College, 1968
    • cum laude
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1974

Work Highlights

His company clients have included ICI, Reliance Industries Ltd., Shire plc and Millicom International Cellular, and he has advised H.M. Government on U.S. securities law matters. In recent years, he has been involved in equity, convertible debt and high-yield or investment-grade debt offerings by companies, including Statoil, ICI, Telefónica, Reliance, Shire, Millicom, ICICI, Ericsson, Diageo, Alstom, Danske Bank, AU Optronics, EMI, New Skies Satellite, SNIA, Diamond Cable Communications, BE Semiconductor, Leica Geosystems and United Utilities, in sectors including telecom and satellite, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, chemical, investment funds, technology hardware and software, health care, banking, media, consumer goods, utility, real estate, hotel, airline and shipping.

Recent transactions include the $1.2 billion IPO of Reliance Petroleum, including pre-IPO investments by strategic partners, the London-listed IPO of Hogg Robinson Group, a travel company, and $1.8 billion of equity and convertible bond financing for Shire in connection with an acquisition.

David has also advised corporate clients on acquisitions, disposals and demergers, complex debt restructurings and corporate governance. Transactions include the acquisition by Reliance Infocomm of FLAG Telecom, and ICI’s transfer of its petrochemicals business to a joint venture with Huntsman Corporation, including bank and high-yield financing for the joint venture and subsequent restructuring of these arrangements.

During over 20 years in London, David has worked on a number of landmark securities offerings, including most of the U.K. privatizations, representing H.M. Government or the underwriters, such as BT, BG, British Airways, BP, National Power, Powergen and British Energy.

Of Note

Current Memberships

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, New York State Bar Association
  • Member, New York CIty Bar
Professional History
  • Partner, 1987-present
  • Associate, 1974-1987