David Kirkland
PartnerDavid is a seasoned expert in international and domestic finance transactions, providing strategic guidance to lenders, borrowers, and sponsors across a wide range of sectors. His expertise spans leveraged, acquisition, syndicated, infrastructure, and general finance, with a deep understanding of both senior and subordinated debt structures.
Focusing on cross-border leveraged finance, David has extensive experience navigating complex financial instruments, including US-style term loan Bs, unitranche loans, super-senior revolving facilities, high-yield notes, asset-backed loans, and traditional bank facilities. This breadth of knowledge allows him to deliver innovative and effective solutions for even the most intricate deals.
David also plays a pivotal role in distressed and restructuring transactions, assisting administrators, lenders, corporates, and other stakeholders in navigating complex situations. He has been integral to some of Australia’s largest and most high-profile restructurings, consistently demonstrating his ability to drive successful outcomes under pressure.
With a proven track record of executing landmark deals in the leveraged finance space, including high-profile transactions such as Origin, Crown Resorts, Transgrid, and Healthscope, David is recognized as a trusted advisor in the market. His work on significant restructuring cases like Arrium, Basslink, Billabong, and Mirabela Nickel further showcases his exceptional capability in managing complex, high-stakes situations.
David is admitted as a solicitor in both Australia and England & Wales.
EXPERIENCE
- A leading institutional global energy and infrastructure investor on the funding of the proposed AUD20bn acquisition of Origin (including their funding arrangements with ConocoPhillips).*
- An Australian Coal Company on the funding of their USD3.2bn acquisition of the Blackwater and Daunia mines.*
- A Global Investment Bank and A leading Australian Bank on their underwriting of a AUD1.6bn loan underpinning Aware Super’s (formerly First State Super) successful AUD2.8bn bid for Victoria’s land titles registry (together with a number of subsequent refinancings and extensions of these facilities). *
- The financiers (12 banks in total) in connection with the Hasting consortium’s AUD10.258bn long-term lease of the TransGrid business, which represents one of the largest infrastructure (and lending) transactions in this space and which won Australasian Law Awards 2016 Australian Deal of the Year. *
- A clean energy enterprise in connection with the issuance of a AUD1bn green bond.*
- Energy infrastructure business in connection with their acquisition of the Basslink interconnector through a formal insolvency process. *
*Denotes experience gained before joining DLA Piper
Diploma in Practical Legal Training, University of Technology, Sydney, 2004
- Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Laws University of Technology, Sydney (First Class Honours), 2004