David will become the firm's Managing Partner on 1 August 2025. He has over 30 years’ experience advising on a wide range of corporate transactions, commercial agreements and governance matters, with particular expertise in public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures and equity financings. David acts for a number of listed companies, including BHP, GSK, IAG, Marston’s, Mobico and SEGRO.
His recent significant transactions include advising:
- Mobico on the disposal of it's North American School Bus business to I Squared Capital for up to US$608 million.
- SEGRO on its recommended takeover of Tritax Eurobox
- BHP on its proposed offer for Anglo American
- Marston’s on its brewery joint venture with Carlsberg and subsequent £206 million disposal of its 40% interest in the joint venture
- The Restaurant Group on the recommended £506 million cash offer by Apollo
- Deutsche Bank on its £410 million recommended cash offer for Numis Corporation
- Cineworld on the UK aspects of its Chapter 11 filing
- GSK on the demerger of its consumer health business to form Haleon
- United Health Group on its £1.2 billion recommended offer for EMIS Group
- BHP on the unification of its dual listed company structure and the US$294 million disposal of its interest in the Cerrejón energy coal joint venture in Colombia to Glencore
- Arrow Global Group on the recommended £563 million cash offer by Sherwood Acquisitions
- IAG on its rights issue to raise up to €2.75 billion
- William Hill on its recommended £2.9 billion cash takeover by Caesars Entertainment
- GSK on its £3.1 billion sale of Horlicks and other consumer healthcare nutrition brands to Unilever and numerous other M&A transactions
- The Restaurant Group on its acquisition of Wagamama, the restructuring of its Leisure Group through a CVA and a placing and open offer to raise £175 million
David is named as a leading individual in the ‘Corporate M&A: Upper Market’ in both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.
"David Johnson's experience on top end M&A deals is invaluable for developing strategies on our own transactions. He has an uncanny ability to distil the complexities of English takeover laws into a language that resonates with CEOs and directors. I wouldn't contemplate doing a large M&A transaction in London without having David by my side." Legal 500 UK, 2025.