David Gray is a partner in Freehills’ Corporate group.

David’s practice covers takeovers and schemes, equity capital markets and general corporate acquisitions, reconstructions and disposals.

David has worked for Freehills in its Melbourne, London and Perth offices. He was appointed partner in July 2001.

In his time in Freehills’ Perth office, David has acted in respect of numerous corporate takeovers, acquisitions and fundraisings. During this time he has advised:

• Wesfarmers Limited on its $500 million acquisition of the Linde Gas industrial gases business
• Mount Gibson Iron on its successful hostile takeover for Aztec Resources Limited
• Agincourt Resources Limited on its friendly merger with Oxiana Limited
• Great Southern Plantations Limited on its takeover of Sylvatech Limited and its associated $130 million capital raising 
• Wesfarmers on its capital management strategy including the implementation of over $1 billion in capital reductions, dividend reinvestment plans and its employee share schemes 
• JDV Limited on the divestiture of its broking operations and its defence of the takeover from IWL Limited 
• several boards and shareholders in respect of contested board elections including the change of management at St Barbara Limited 
• St Barbara on the disposal of its stake in NuStar Mining Corporation through an equal access buy-back 
• Australian Capital Equity, acting for its investment in, and disposal of its stake in, the Allight mobile lighting business and numerous other non-disclosed VC style investments 
• Peet & Company Ltd in relation to its initial public offering in 2004 
• Little World Beverages Limited in relation to its initial public offering in November 2005, and 
• ERG Limited on several business acquisitions and disposals as well as its recapitalisation and convertible note restructure and rights issues.

David was also part of the Freehills team acting for the Commonwealth of Australia on the Telstra 2 float. His role included coordinating all aspects of the retail offer, including media, logistics, advertising and negotiating with ASIC.

He has also had extensive takeover experience in our Melbourne office including:

• the takeover of Ashton Mining by Rio Tinto
• the Wesfarmers takeover of IAMA, and 
• the Mayne bid for FH Faulding.

In addition to his transaction based practice, David is a member of our national head office advisory team. As such he advises numerous Perth companies on corporate governance, capital management, executive remuneration and employee incentive schemes.

Between 1996 and 1999 David worked in the corporate finance department at Clifford Chance in London. During that period he acted on a number of takeovers, joint ventures and venture capital transactions.

David has a Bachelor of Economics degree (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws degree (Honours) from Monash University.

David is lead lecturer in the Perth mergers & acquisitions course run by the Financial Services Institute of Australia, and is one of the facilitators at the AICD company directors’ course.