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John J. McCarthy, Jr.
Senior Counsel

Mr. McCarthy is senior counsel in Davis Polk’s Corporate Department. He advises U.S. and non-U.S. clients on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, defensive matters and corporate governance issues, with a concentration on cross-border investments. Mr. McCarthy also maintains an active capital markets practice and private equity practice.

He maintains offices and practices in our New York and London offices.

Contact
  • New York
    450 Lexington Avenue
    New York, NY 10017
    P: 212-450-4334
    F: 212-701-5334


  • London
    Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP
    99 Gresham Street
    London EC2V 7NG
    P: +44-20-7418-1399
    F: +44-20-7418-1049

    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.

Bar Admissions
  • State of New York
  • State of California
  • State of Massachusetts
Education
  • A.B., College of the Holy Cross, 1968
  • J.D., Columbia Law School, 1972
  • M.B.A., Harvard University, 1975

Work Highlights

Mr. McCarthy has regularly advised non-U.S. companies, including The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, Shire Pharmaceutical Group plc, Smith & Nephew plc, Anders Wilhelmsen AS and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

 

Non-U.S. Advice
  • The Royal Bank of Scotland on many of its U.S. acquisitions, including the Charter One acquisition
  • Shire Pharmaceutical on all of its U.S. public company acquisitions 
  • SAB Miller on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Bavaria S.A.
  • T&F Informa on its acquisition of IIR Holdings
  • Royal Caribbean on its acquisition of Pullmantur, S.A.
  • Morgan Stanley Capital Partners on its European investments, including its investment in NOOS, the French cable company, as well as the Morgan Stanley real estate funds on their investment in Fadesa and their investment in Canary Wharf Group plc
  • ESAT Holdings on its defense against the hostile bid of Telenor and agreed bid of British Telecom
  • Digicel Limited on its wireless investments in the Caribbean
U.S. Advice
  • Argosy Casinos on its agreed merger with Penn National
  • The Emmis Communications Corporation Special Committee in connection with a proposed going-private transaction, work on some of the initial research and development limited partnerships, the Silver Screen/Disney series of film limited partnerships, and the formation of Chelsea Piers
  • Tribune lenders in connection with the sale of Chicago Cubs
Recognition

Listed as a leading lawyer in several legal industry publications, including:

  • Practical Law Company’s Cross-border Handbook – Corporate Governance and Directors’ Duties
  • Law Business Research’s Who’s Who Legal – International Who’s Who of Corporate Governance Lawyers
  • Legal Business Report’s Legal Experts – Corporate, M&A
  • Chambers Global: World’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Corporate/M&A, United Kingdom
Of Note
Membership
  • Member, Practical Law U.S. Advisory Board
Professional History
  • Senior Counsel, 2010-present
  • Partner, 1983-2010
  • Associate, 1975-1983
  • London office, 1990-1994; 1999-2005