David is the firm’s Managing Partner. Together with our Senior Partner he is responsible for developing and promoting the firm’s strategy and practice. He also oversees management of the firm with our Chief Operating Officer. He works closely with our relationship firms globally and is a member of the firm’s Partnership Board.
Before taking on his current role, David was head of one of the firm’s corporate groups. 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’s clients have included BHP, GSK, IAG, Marson’s, Mobico and SEGRO.
His recent significant transactions include advising:
- Mobico on the disposal of its 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.