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Nicholas Spearing
Mr. Spearing is counsel in Davis Polk’s Corporate Department, practicing in the London office. He has experience in a broad range of antitrust matters, acting for leading companies in a range of transactional and behavioral practices cases in the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission. |
Work Highlights
- A.P. Møller-Mærsk in connection with its $7.45 billion disposal of Mærsk Oil to Total
- Charles Taylor on its £261 million takeover by Lovell Minnick
- Chemtura on its $2.5 billion acquisition by Lanxess
- Comcast on its £30.6 billion competitive takeover of Sky
- Emerson Electric on its $3.15 billion acquisition of Pentair’s valves and controls business, and sales of its network power business to Platinum Investors and generators/motors business to Nidec
- Fibria on its €8 billion merger with Suzano
- Heineken on its non-binding agreements with China Resources to join forces in China
- Ingersoll-Rand in connection with its approximately $15 billion combination of its industrial segment with Gardner Denver Holdings
- Ingram Micro on its sale to HNA Group
- Natura on its $1 billion acquisition of The Body Shop from L’Oreal and subsequent acquisition of Avon
- Nuvei on its $889 million takeover of SafeCharge
- SS&C on its $5.4 billion acquisition of DST Systems
- Suez on its $3.4 billion acquisition of GE’s water treatment and chemicals business
- Technip on its $17 billion merger with FMC Technologies
- Temenos on its £1.4 billion takeover offer for Fidessa
- Tokyo Century in connection with its acquisition of Aviation Capital from Pacific Life
- Vanke Service on its investment in Cushman & Wakefield
Mr Spearing advised in connection with the filings for:
- NBC Universal on its strategic partnership with Euronews
- Uber China on its merger into Didi Chuxing
- Volkswagen Truck on its strategic investment in Navistar
Before joining Davis Polk, Mr. Spearing’s representations included:
- Anchorage Capital on its acquisition of Ideal Standard
- Emirates' Alpha Flight Group on its joint venture with Lufthansa's LSG Sky Chefs
- Live Nation on its acquisition of Ticketmaster
- Party Gaming on its acquisition by bwin
- RBS on its acquisition of NatWest
- Xstrata on its acquisitions of Falconbridge and MiM
Recognition
Mr. Spearing has, for many years, been listed as one of London's leading antitrust/competition lawyers in various legal industry publications, including:
- Chambers UK − which praises his "great judgment and holistic view"
- Legal 500 − which refers to his combination of "great wisdom with a no-nonsense approach“ and that he is ‘inspired’, ‘sophisticated’ and ‘understands the nuances’
- Chambers Global and Chambers UK – “He cuts to the chase and retains a realistic approach”
- PLC Which Lawyer? – "Mr. Spearing is praised by some peers as one of the cleverest competition lawyers in the market"
Of Note
Mr. Spearing is a former chairman of the Solicitors’ European Group and the original author of the mergers section in Butterworth’s Competition Law.
Professional History
- Counsel, Davis Polk, 2015-present
- Partner, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, 2012-2015
- Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, 1984-2012
News
Articles and Books
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Getting the Deal Through: Private M&A 2021
Law Business Research Ltd.