David Higgins
M +44 77 4173 0100

Overview
A great leader on transactions. He is a fantastic adviser who is commercial in how he thinks and very good at coming up with ways to get to an ultimate deal. - Chambers UK, 2022
David is a partner in Kirkland’s corporate practice and a member of the Firm's Executive Committee. He advises private equity funds and other financial investor clients on all types of cross border leveraged M&A including public and private acquisitions, carve-outs, take privates, consortium deals, distressed acquisitions and disposals.
David regularly acts for BC Partners, Blackstone, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Cinven, GIC (Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund), Hellman & Friedman, Partners Group and The Carlyle Group.
External Recognition
- Private Equity News (2023): Listed as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers”
- Chambers UK (2022): Band 1 for UK-wide Private Equity: Buyouts where he is described as “widely acclaimed as a foremost talent in the UK private equity market”
- The Legal 500 UK (2022): Listed as a “Leading Individual” for Private equity: transactions – high value deals
- IFLR1000 UK (2022): Listed as a “Market Leader” for Private Equity; Mergers & Acquisitions
- Financial News and Private Equity News (2021, 2022): Listed in the “Most Influential Lawyers” list
- Financial News and Private Equity News (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022): Named as one of “Europe’s 50 Most Influential People in Private Equity”
Experience
Representative Matters
Apex Group on the acquisition of various operating businesses of MJ Hudson Group plc
Apex Group on the acquisition of Efficient Group
Advised Hipgnosis Song Management on the acquisition of Justin Bieber’s catalog
Advised Iconic Sports on its investment in Eagle Football
Advised Ares Acquisition on the business combination with X-energy
Francisco Partners on its acquisition of Kobalt
GIC on its investment in Unither
Oakley Fund IV on the sale of a majority stake in Contabo to KKR
Apex Fund Management:
- on the acquisition of the Maitland fund services business
- on the acquisition of the FundRock Group
Nordic Capital:
- on the acquisition of Ascot Lloyd
- on the equity and co-investment aspects of its recommended cash offer for Advanz Pharma
- and other stakeholders on the partial sale and co-investment in eResearchTechnology, Inc.
Thoma Bravo:
- and its portfolio company Veriforce on the acquisition of CHAS
- on its strategic growth investment in Circle Cardiovascular Imaging
- on the strategic investment in Condeco
- on the £3.1 billion recommended cash offer for Sophos
Partners Group on the acquisition of Forterro
CPP Investments:
- on the acquisition of a stake in Universal Investment
- and Motive Partners on the $1.4 billion investment in FNZ
- in connection with Sportradar’s IPO
- on its investment in Visma and the subsequent acquisitions of two additional minority stakes
- and its consortium partners on the acquisition of Galileo Global Education
GIC on the acquisition of an additional stake in Belron
BC Partners:
- on the sale of Elysium Healthcare
- on the extension of their investment in Springer Nature, a Fund IX asset
- on the sale of CeramTec
- on the sale of Pharmathen to Partners Group
- on the acquisition of a significant stake in Valtech
- on its acquisition of Keesing from Ergon Capital and Mediahuis
- on its investment in IMA
- on its investment in Advanced
- and its portfolio company, United Group, on the acquisition of Tele2 Croatia from Tele2 Group
- on its €2bn acquisition of a majority stake in United Group from KKR
Array Technologies on the acquisition of STI Norland
Blackstone:
- backed Hipgnosis Song Management on the acquisition of Justin Timberlake’s entire catalogue of more than 200 songs
- backed next generation media company on the acquisition of Moonbug Entertainment Ltd
- on its $1 billion partnership with Hipgnosis Song Management
- on the acquisition of a majority stake in VFS Global
- on a combined $800 million investment in the combination of APi Group Corp. and Chubb Fire & Security Business
- and Brown Bidco Limited on the $4.73 billion recommended take private of Signature Aviation
- on the £4.77 billion recommended cash offer for Merlin Entertainments plc
- on the acquisition of Murka
- on its bid for Sportradar from EQT
Antin Infrastructure Partners:
- on the acquisition of Wildstone
- on CityFibre’s £1.125 billion capital raise
- on its reinvestment in Eurofiber, including the sale of a minority stake to PGGM
Apex on the c. £1.51 billion recommended all cash acquisition of Sanne Group plc
Crystal Almond Holdings Limited on the sale of Wind Hellas to United Group
GIC on its investment to acquire an aggregate shareholding in Belron
Sun European Partners on the sale of Dreams to Tempur Sealy International
Alpine Investors and its portfolio company Alpine Software Group on the acquisition of Sendible
L Catterton on its agreement to acquire a majority stake in BIRKENSTOCK Group
Peak Rock Capital on its acquisition of AMB S.p.A
The Carlyle Group:
- on its acquisition of Jagex
- on the $500 million acquisition of EnerMech Group from Lime Rock
Rhône Capital:
- on its acquisition of a minority stake in illycaffè
- on its acquisition of a stake in Maxam from Advent
GTCR and Corza Health on the acquisition of TachoSil® Fibrin Sealant Patch from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Metaswitch Networks, a portfolio company of Francisco Partners, on its sale to Microsoft Corporation
CPP Investments and its consortium partners on the acquisition of Galileo Global Education
The bidding consortium led by Advent, Cinven and the RAG-Stiftung on the acquisition of the elevator division of thyssenkrupp AG
The consortium consisting of Apax, Warburg Pincus, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on the $3.4 billion take private of Inmarsat
Francisco Partners in the DKK3.7 billion acquisition of EG
Corsair Capital, as part of a consortium, on the £3.182 billion acquisition of a 59.2% stake in Itinere Infraestructuras
Rowan Companies plc in its US$12 billion combination with Ensco plc in an all-stock transaction
Pamplona Capital Management on the sale of Partner in Pet Food to Cinven
Hellman & Friedman on its c.US$6 billion bid to acquire claims manager Sedgwick from KKR
Prior Experience
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, London
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Partner (2001–2018)
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Co-head of the Global Financial Investors sector group (2010–2016)
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 1994, Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales
Education
- The University of Law, ChesterLaw Society Finals1991
- Exeter UniversityLL.B.Hons1990