David Edwards

David Edwards is Co-Head of Simpson Thacher’s European disputes practice and is based in the London office. Recognized among the world’s leading practitioners advising on both litigation and international arbitrations by Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal and Euromoney, David counsels clients on a variety of high-stakes disputes, including shareholder litigation, tax matters, insurance-related disputes and other regulatory concerns. His clients include major global companies, sponsors, financial institutions and ultra-high-net-worth individuals on matters across numerous industries, including energy and infrastructure, telecom, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, cryptocurrency, commodities and trusts. David also advises clients on international corporate crisis and strategy matters, as well as with respect to ESG-related issues.   

Notable experience includes representing:

• Corporate entities whose stakeholders acquired interests in landmark U.K. hotels that are at the center of a series of significant disputes, including a major LCIA arbitration, across multiple jurisdictions involving financial claims and counterclaims
• A consortium of investors in a dispute over a multibillion-U.S. dollar financing related to a major power project

Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes representing:

• A major international social network developer and operator in defending arbitration claims brought by investors in a blockchain project
• A major Taiwanese client in a complex multibillion-dollar dispute involving court proceedings in multiple jurisdictions across Asia, the United States and the Caribbean
• An ultra-high-net-worth individual in successfully striking-out a $380 million civil fraud claim (with associated worldwide freezing orders) brought by oil company Tatneft in the English Commercial Court
• An ultra-high-net-worth individual in English High Court proceedings involving the successful strikeout of a $300 million partnership dispute on jurisdictional grounds
• A European energy company in judicial review proceedings before the English High Court related to significant investments in British North Sea-based oil and gas exploration and production assets
• A high profile private equity group in parallel multijurisdictional litigation and arbitration proceedings concerning interests in a major social online networking service
• A national motor sport body in relation to claims arising in the context of Formula 1 racing
• A consortium of venture partners in a headline-grabbing dispute with BP over BP’s attempt to form a $16 billion strategic alliance with Rosneft, the state-owned Russian oil company, for the exploration of oil in the Arctic Circle
• A major international mining company in connection with offensive actions by a host state against the company’s commercial interests
• An offshore construction company in its ICC arbitration (Geneva) against a major European oil company relating to an Iranian gulf-based gas production platform
• A giant U.S. pharmaceutical company in a series of major London-seated arbitration disputes with excess loss insurers, arising from indemnification claims related to class action litigation brought in the U.S. by users of its pharmaceutical products
• A U.S. private equity firm and one of the world’s largest cruise line operators in a construction dispute with a major European shipyard concerning two revolutionary cruise liners before the London High Court

David is recommended as a “Leading Individual” by The Legal 500 U.K., including being selected to the publication’s U.K. “Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist.” He has also been named a “Future Leader” by Who’s Who Legal and a “Rising Star” in Commercial Arbitration by Euromoney.

David received his LPC, with distinction, from Bristol Institute of Legal Practice in 2001. He received his LL.B. with Honors from University of Exeter in 2000. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales and holds higher rights of audience as a Solicitor-Advocate in the English courts.