David Irvine is a partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. David is the head of European Leveraged and Acquisition Finance and serves as Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn’s Finance Practice.
David is a leading adviser to high-profile private equity sponsors on their most significant cross-border leveraged financing transactions and to private credit funds on their most complex financing arrangements. David also advises on recaps, minority back-leverage, special situations financings, margin loans, fund level financings and restructurings. He brings an excellent understanding of the Asian markets, having practised in Hong Kong.
David is currently ranked for Banking and Finance by Chambers UK and as a “Market Leader” in Banking and Finance, UK by IFLR1000. In 2020, David was named a “Band 1” lawyer in Banking & Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance by Chambers Asia-Pacific and a “Market Leader” in Banking & Finance, Asia-Pacific by IFLR1000. He was also named a “Leading Individual” in Banking & Finance by Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2019 & 2020 and one of the “Asia Best Lawyers 2020” by IFLR.
Prior to joining Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, David was co-head of the leveraged finance group at a magic circle law firm and practiced in the Hong Kong office of a major international law firm. David is admitted to practice in England and Wales and South Africa.
David's experience includes advising:*
- Brookfield Capital Partners on the financing for their recommended offer for the £2.2bn take-private of Network International PLC.
- RedBird IMI on the financing for its £1.15bn acquisition of All3Media, a leading global independent TV and film production, digital, and distribution group headquartered in the UK.
- Rhone Capital on the amendment and extension and recapitalisation of the senior and PIK facilities for Ask Chemicals.
- SoftBank Vision Fund: advising SVF on multiple financings including the flagship NAV facility for SoftBank Vision Fund II.
- IK Partners on multiple financings including:
- the take-private of The Medica Group Plc; and
- the acquisition of Ipsum Group Limited.
- Hillhouse Investment Management on numerous transactions, including:
- the EUR TLB and SSN leveraged financing for the US$3.7bn acquisition of the Philips Domestic Appliances business; and
- the US$11.6bn acquisition of GLP (SGX: MC0).
- Carlyle on multiple transactions, including:
- the leveraged financing for its acquisition of VXI Global Solutions; and
- the US$2.08bn acquisition of the McDonald’s operations in China and Hong Kong.
- The PIK investors on the take-private leveraged financing for Carlyle’s acquisition of Hexaware.
- KKR on multiple transactions including:
- the leveraged financing for the acquisition of the NVC Lighting business;
- the leveraged financing for the investment by KKR and GIC in Metro Pacific Hospitals;
- the leveraged financing of its acquisition of EuroKids pre-school chain; and
- the financing for its investment in Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd.
- Blackstone Capital Partners on multiple transactions including:
- the leveraged financing for the acquisition of a controlling stake in Essel Propak;
- the leveraged financing for its buy-out of Shya Hsin;
- the leveraged financing for its acquisition of at least 84% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s stake in Mphasis, in a deal valued at up to US$1.1bn; and
- the opco/propco leveraged financing the acquisition of Global Sources.
- Advent on multiple transactions including:
- the leveraged financing for the acquisition of Manjushree Technopack;
- the leveraged financing for the acquisition of Bharat Serums & Vaccines LTD.
- Apax on multiple transactions including:
- The leveraged financing for the acquisition of Healthium Medtech.
*Some of these representations occurred prior to David’s association with Gibson Dunn.
Capabilities
Credentials
Education:
- University of KwaZulu-Natal - 1998 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal - 1994 Bachelor of Social Science (Honours)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal - 1993 Bachelor of Social Science
Admissions:
- England & Wales - Solicitor
- South Africa Bar