Davis Polk today announces that Will Pearce, a prominent M&A and corporate finance lawyer, will join the firm as a partner in its London office. Mr. Pearce’s arrival expands Davis Polk’s London-based English law practice, which launched earlier this year with Simon Witty, one of the City’s preeminent capital markets lawyers, and Jonathan Cooklin, an equally distinguished tax lawyer. With a rapidly growing suite of premier English law capabilities to complement its unsurpassed U.S. law practice in London, the firm further expands the scope of its offerings on complex securities, mergers and acquisitions and other cross-border corporate matters in the world’s key financial centres.
Mr. Pearce joins Davis Polk from the London office of Herbert Smith Freehills, where he has been a partner since 2006. He regularly represents companies and financial advisers in public and private M&A and restructuring matters, as well as issuers, selling shareholders and underwriters on a range of securities transactions. Cited as a ‘rising star’ of his generation, he is acknowledged as having built a prominent reputation in both the M&A and ECM markets.
“Will is another tremendous addition to our English law team in London,” said Thomas J. Reid, Davis Polk’s managing partner. “His skill and experience with intricate cross-border takeovers and combinations meshes perfectly with our global M&A practice. He also brings considerable versatility with his extensive background in securities transactions.” Mr. Reid added, “We are thrilled with the growth and direction of our London office and are committed to continuing the focused build out of our English law offerings there, as well as in Hong Kong, with additional lateral hires and ongoing organic development.”
“I have really enjoyed the first 16 years of my legal career with Herbert Smith and now am delighted to have the unique opportunity to build a first rate English law corporate practice at one of the world’s premier law firms,” said Mr. Pearce.
