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David Martin

Corporate Partner, London

"I specialise in advising sponsor and sponsor-backed clients on their infrastructure (core and non-core) and long-term sponsor investments, with a particular focus on digital infrastructure coordinating transactions and assisting in competitive processes across multiple jurisdictions, combining international best practice with the specific requirements of local laws and regulatory requirements."

Overview

Professional experience

Education and qualifications

Overview

David is a corporate partner in the London office's financial sponsors group and co-head of the firm’s Telecoms, Media and Business Services sector. David regularly works on transactions in the infrastructure sector, with a particular focus on digital infrastructure.

He advises on mergers and acquisitions, consortium deals, co-investments, financial sponsor exits (including equity capital markets transactions), joint ventures and carve-outs, often with a multi-jurisdictional, cross-border and competitive element.

David was also Global Diversity Partner, working closely with the firm’s dedicated DE&I team, to deliver the firm’s global DE&I strategy.

Work highlights include:

Work highlights

Data Centres:

  • DigitalBridge on the acquisition of Yondr Group, a global developer, owner and operator of hyperscale data centres, through one of its managed investment funds.
  • DigitalBridge and Vantage Data Centers on a US$9.2bn equity investment in Vantage, led by investment vehicles managed by DigitalBridge Group, Inc. and Silver Lake.
  • DigitalBridge and Vantage Data Centers on AustralianSuper’s €1.5bn investment in Vantage’s EMEA platform for a significant minority stake.
  • DigitalBridge on its €2.5bn Investment Partnership with a consortium of investors led by MEAG and Infranity along with funds affiliated with the investment management platform of DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
  • DigitalBridge on its joint venture with Liberty Global and Telefónica, AtlasEdge, to establish a European edge data centre platform.

  • DigitalBridge and Vantage Data Centers on a US$9.2bn equity investment in Vantage, led by investment vehicles managed by DigitalBridge Group, Inc. and Silver Lake, to accelerate and extend Vantage’s strategic capabilities across North America and EMEA.

  • Ardian on the US$575m acquisition of Verne, a leading Nordic data centre platform.

Infrastructure (Digital)

  • TPG and GIC on the acquisition of Techem from Partners Group for €6.7bn.
  • Ardian on the acquisition of Mila ehf, the largest integrated telecommunications infrastructure provider in Iceland, from Siminn Group.
  • DigitalBridge on the acquisition of Wildstone and the establishment of its European digital billboards platform and subsequent sale to Antin Infrastructure Partners.
  • Arqiva (owned by a consortium of investors, including Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, CPPIB, IFM Investors and Whitehelm Capital) on the sale of its telecoms division (towers business) to Cellnex Telecom S.A. for £2 billion.
  • Vodafone Group on the demerger and listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange of Vantage Towers.
  • USS, advising the UK’s largest private pension scheme, on its investment in G.Network.
  • InfraVia Capital Partners on joint venture with Liberty Global and Telefónica to build a new fibre network in the UK.

Infrastructure (Transport/Other)

  • AviAlliance GmbH on the sale of Budapest airport.
  • AviAlliance GmbH and PSP on the €2.46bn IPO of Athens International Airport S.A. and the acquisition of a controlling interest in the airport.
  • Peel Holdings and DWS on the sale of a strategic interest in Peel Ports to AusSuper.
  • DP World on the establishment of a global investment platform with CDPQ and the sale of two Canadian ports and the acquisitions of Dubai Maritime City, Dry Docks World and Unifeeder S.A.
  • The sellers on the disposal of their Maldivian seaplane businesses to Blackstone.
  • Dubai World and Port & Free Zone World on the disposal of Economics Zone World, which operates Jebel Ali Free Zone, to DP World.
  • Sovereign related entities and pension funds on strategic investments in global infrastructure, including toll roads, power and utilities, airports, ports, rail and towers.

Business Services

  • Jacobs Holding on the acquisition of Cognita schools from Bregal Investments and KKR.
  • The Wendel Group on agreement with Providence to invest €625m in Globeducate.
  • Nestlé S.A. on its strategic investment in IVC Evidensia alongside EQT, Silver Lake and Berkshire Partners.

Professional experience

Earlier in his career, David spent seven months on secondment to the group legal department of Vodafone Group.

David moved to Abu Dhabi in 2011 in order to help set up the firm’s second office in the UAE and returned to London in 2017.

Education and qualifications

David studied law at the University of Nottingham.

Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.