Michael Davis
Lawyers
Advises U.S. and global companies on strategic M&A matters. Advises private equity sponsors on a full range of transactions and portfolio company matters.
Michael is a member of our Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practices. He advises leading U.S. and multinational corporations on a wide variety of strategic M&A transactions and advises private equity sponsors on a full range of transactions and portfolio company matters.
He has deep experience in many types of corporate transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and collaborations, spinoffs and restructurings. Michael also regularly provides defensive and corporate governance advice to his clients and is experienced at advising special committees on sensitive matters.
Experience highlights
Selected Representations
- Charles River Laboratories $875 million acquisition of Cognate
- Bertelsmann $2.175 billion acquisition of Simon & Schuster
- Traton $3.7 billion acquisition of Navistar International
- Lightyear Capital & Ontario Teachers’ Pension acquisition of Allworth Financial
- Baker Hughes combination with GE oil and gas business
- Kyocera $1.03 billion acquisition of remaining AVX shares
- Anacor $5.2 billion acquisition by Pfizer
- Warner Chilcott $8.5 billion acquisition by Actavis
- H.J. Heinz $28 billion acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital
- Bertelsmann acquisition of full ownership of Penguin Random House
- ABB $2.6 billion acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions
Private Equity Representations
- Lightyear Capital and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on the acquisition of Lendmark Financial Services and Allworth Financial
- Lightyear Capital, including investments in Augeo FI, Cerity Partners, Datalot, eCommission, Engage PEO and Lighthouse, and sales of Therapy Brands, Clarion Partners, Ridgeworth and Wealth Enhancement Group
- Crestview Partners, including investments in ICM Partners, Arxis Capital, Key Safety Systems, Protect My Car, Select Energy, Silver Creek, NYDJ, ValueOptions, and Voya Insurance and Annuity
- Metalmark Partners, including investments in Innovetive Petcare, Kissner Milling Company, NSC, US Salt and Williams Bio-Energy, and sale of WorldStrides and Kissner
Insights
Credentials
Recognition
IFLR1000 – M&A, United States, Rising Star
Education
LL.M., Harvard Law School
LL.B., University of Sydney Law School
- University Medal
- first-class honours
LL.B., University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law
Professional history
- Partner, 2007-present
- Associate, Davis Polk, 1999-2007
- London office, 2003-2004
- Associate, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, 1998
Qualifications and admissions
- State of New York