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Lawyers

Simon Witty

Lawyers

Focuses on public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.

Simon’s practice focuses on public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.

His capital markets work spans IPOs, secondary and follow-on offerings, investment-grade and high-yield debt offerings, tender offers and other transactions. He has advised clients on both public and private mergers and acquisitions, as well as on strategic investments in other companies.

According to Chambers, clients praise Simon as “a highly experienced and senior practitioner who is present on key calls and involved in the detail of the transaction.” 

Experience highlights

Capital Markets

A market leader, Simon has advised issuers and underwriters on numerous notable capital markets transactions, including:

  • IPOs by Membership Collective Group, ReNew Energy Global, Royalty Pharma, Immunocore, Vaccitech, Freeline Therapeutics, Abcam, Endava, New Energy One Acquisition Corporation, ContourGlobal, Charter Court Financial, Unicaja Banco, Wizz Air, OneSavings Bank, Royal Mail, Manchester United, Oxford Immunotec, Telepizza, Eltel, Nordax Group, Hoist Finance, Rhodes Food Group, Abengoa Yield, Thule Group, Alexander Forbes, IMCD, eDreams ODIGEO and Matas
  • Equity offerings by LivaNova, Hammerson, Harmony Gold, Laboratorios Farmacéuticos Rovi, Rio Tinto, Banco Popular Espanol, Ensco, Delta Lloyd, Lar Espana Real Estate, Banco de Sabadell, Abengoa Yield, National Bank of Greece, Markit, Endesa, UBM, Alpha Bank, Ocado, Capitec Bank and Banco Espirito Santo
  • Debt offerings by Novo Banco, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, IHS Markit, ArcelorMittal, Dexia Credit, Abengoa, PSG Group, Societe Generale, Worldpay Finance, Danske Bank, Credit Agricole, GE Capital, Fresnillo and IBM
Mergers and Acquisitions

Simon has significant experience advising on both public and private mergers and acquisitions transactions. Notable experience includes advising:

  • Tencent on its takeover of Sumo Group
  • Mereo BioPharma Group on its combination with OncoMed Pharmaceuticals
  • Dai-ichi Life Holdings in connection with its investment in and strategic cooperation with Janus Capital Group and Henderson Group
  • Dialog Semiconductor on its proposed $4.6 billion acquisition of Atmel
  • Tesco on the sale of Fresh & Easy to Yucaipa
  • Edwards Group on its sale to Atlas Copco
  • MSCI on its acquisition of IPD Group
  • AstraZeneca in connection with Bristol Myers Squibb’s acquisition of Amylin Pharmaceuticals
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Insights

Credentials

Recognition

Financial News – “20 Most Influential in Legal Services,” 2021

Chambers Global – Capital Markets: Equity, UK

Chambers Europe – Capital Markets: Equity, UK

Chambers UK – Capital Markets: Equity

Legal 500 UK – Equity Capital Markets – Mid-Large Cap, Hall of Fame

IFLR1000 – Capital Markets: Equity, United Kingdom, Market Leader

Education
M.A., Jurisprudence, University of Oxford
  • Balliol College
Professional history
  • Partner, Davis Polk, 2012-present
  • Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, 1996-2012
Qualifications and admissions
  • England and Wales
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