Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes David Collins as new Divisional Managing Partner

Charles Russell Speechlys today announces the appointment of David Collins as a new Divisional Managing Partner, strengthening its international corporate transactional and business advisory capabilities.

David will be assuming the role of Divisional Managing Partner for the Business Advisory & Transaction Services division which includes the Corporate, Commercial, Employment, Immigration, Pensions, Financial Services and Banking teams.

David joins the Firm from Dentons, where he was Head of the UK Corporate department and co-chair of Dentons' Global M&A group. With over 30 years’ experience, he advises on a broad range of UK and international cross-border corporate finance transactions, including public and private M&A, joint ventures and equity capital markets.

David has acted for corporations, financial institutions and corporate finance intermediaries across many industry sectors, including technology, betting and gaming, media, healthcare, financial services, energy and natural resources, real estate, support services and retail.

Simon Ridpath, Managing Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys, said:

“Bringing David to the Firm is a significant step in delivering on the Firm’s strategy to enhance the strength and depth of our transactional teams alongside our pre-eminent private client practice and our international disputes & regulatory capabilities.

"Advising on the creation, preservation and successful deployment of private capital runs through the heart of what we offer clients and this move helps ensure we are uniquely placed to serve clients through the transactional, advisory and contentious services we offer from our varied geographic footprint."

David Collins said:

"Charles Russell Speechlys’ enviable reputation in the private wealth sector, complemented by strong dispute resolution and real estate offerings; a leading mid-market corporate M&A and commercial franchise; a compelling international expansion strategy; and a positive and collaborative culture, together provide an excellent platform from which to continue to build the Firm’s business advisory and transactions businesses in line with the Firm’s strategy.

"I very much look forward to working with my new colleagues across the division and the wider Firm and am really delighted to be joining at such an exciting time in the Firm’s evolution.”

David will join the three other Divisional Managing Partners, Robert Blower, Private Client, Robin Grove, Construction, Real Estate & Disputes and Stewart Hey, Litigation & Dispute Resolution. The four form part of the firm’s Operational Committee led by Simon Ridpath and include Chief Financial Officer, Tom Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Lesley O’Leary and HR Director, David Green.

The arrival of David Collins follows the recent hire of Robert Reymond and his international tax team in the UK, and the recruitment of a new Private Wealth and Commercial Real Estate team, led by Silvia On and Ian Devereux in Hong Kong.