Current practice

Industry experience

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

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

Professional background

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

David is lead lecturer in the Perth Mergers and Acquisitions Course run by the Financial Services Institute of Australia and is one of the facilitators at the AICD company directors’ course.