David Pudge specialises in domestic and cross-border M&A, public takeovers and stock exchange matters as well as board advisory work, including corporate governance and activism defence. He acts for a broad range of clients and in particular large corporates and financial services groups.
Aviva plc on its £3.7 billion takeover of Direct Line Insurance Group plc
Legal & General on the sale of its US protection business, and the creation of a long-term strategic partnership with Meiji Yasuda, for a valuation of US$2.3 billion
SIX Exchange Group AG on its takeover of the UK based trading exchange operator, Aquis Exchange plc
Virgin Money UK plc on its £2.9 billion takeover by Nationwide Building Society and, previously, CYBG on its £1.8 billion takeover of Virgin Money – these are respectively the largest UK bank mergers following the global financial crisis
Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. on its US$688 million acquisition of Exscientia plc
Devro plc, a world leader in collagen casings manufacturing, on its recommended takeover by SARIA SE & CO. KG
Nielsen Holdings plc on its US$16 billion takeover by a private equity consortium led by Elliott Investment Management L.P., Brookfield Capital Partners LLC, GIC and The WindAcre Partnership
French Connection Group plc on its formal sale process and subsequent recommended takeover by MIP Holdings Ltd
CYBG PLC on its £1.7 billion takeover of Virgin Money UK, one of the UK’s leading challenger banks
C&C Group plc on its rights issue to raise approximately £151 million
Connells Limited, an estate agency subsidiary of Skipton Building Society, on the initially hostile and contested, but ultimately recommended, takeover of Countrywide Group plc
Jupiter Fund Management plc on the acquisition of Merian Global Investors Limited for £370 million
Booker Group plc on its £3.7 billion merger with Tesco plc
L&G on the sale of its general insurance business
National Australia Bank and CYBG PLC on the demerger of CYBG (the parent company of Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank) on the demerger and listing of CYBG in London and Sydney
RBS on the sale of the RBS Aviation Capital aircraft leasing business to a consortium lead by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation for US$7.3 billion and on the separate disposal of its European rail leasing business
Banco Santander on its recommended takeover of Abbey National plc
Seconded to Stikeman, Elliott in Toronto and Montreal 1994-1995
Partner since 1997
Professional
bodies
Chairman of the City of London Law Society Company Law Committee
Member of the Law Society's Company Law Committee
Awards and citations
"David Pudge is a superb lawyer. He is very amiable and pleasant to work with and able to distil complex issues into simple to understand explanations." Chambers UK 2024, Corporate M&A
"David regularly delivers first-rate, timely, commercial advice with calm and level-headedness, regardless of the issue." Chambers UK 2024, Corporate M&A
David is highly ranked in the major legal directories including being included in the "Hall of Fame" for both M&A and Corporate Governance advice Legal 500
David led the team that won the Legal Business Corporate Team of the Year award in 2017 for the demerger of CYBG PLC from National Australia Bank.
David Pudge "offers practical, commercial advice and with an eye at all times to the strategic implications." Chambers UK
David Pudge has been recognised by clients for his "outstanding knowledge and proportionality". Legal 500 UK
Clifford Chance
