George Davis, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Restructuring & Special Situations Practice, represents public and private companies, private equity sponsors, direct lenders, asset managers, and alternative capital providers in complex liability management transactions, recapitalizations, restructurings, and other special situations transactions. 

Widely recognized as one of the top restructuring lawyers in the United States, George has led some of the most complex and novel recapitalization and restructuring transactions of the past three decades. 

A trusted strategic advisor to boards and management teams, George unlocks the full resources of the firm’s global platform to guide clients on strategy, litigation risk, and board duties in transformative liability management and restructuring transactions.

George regularly garners broad recognition for his distinctive practice from clients, peers, and industry publications, including as The American Lawyer’s 2023 Dealmaker of the Year for his work on Mallinckrodt's landmark chapter 11 restructuring. In 2024, Chambers USA recognized him “amongst the very best practitioners in the field of restructuring,” and as “one of the most practical and business-oriented restructuring lawyers” who “knows how to counsel a board and navigate difficult situations.” The Legal 500 US 2023 highlighted his powerful leadership, calling him “a superb team leader who has led many of Latham’s largest and most complex engagements,” as well as “practical, reasonable, persistent, insightful and an excellent leader. He is tough without coming across as aggressive.” IFLR1000 noted that George “stands out due to his success in building consensus among groups with extremely different viewpoints.”

Previous editions of Chambers USA recognize George as:

  • “Simply one of the best restructuring lawyers in the field.”
  • “A master strategist, a super negotiator and a very astute counselor.”
  • “He has strong expertise and clout with the relevant parties.”
  • “Very strong at seeing the big picture and communicating that effectively with clients.” 

In the past three decades, George has represented hundreds of companies (or their sponsors or boards of directors) in complex liability management transactions and restructurings, including:

  • 2U
  • AIG Financial Products
  • Alta Mesa Resources
  • Audacy
  • Barretts Minerals
  • Cal Dive International*
  • Caribbean Petroleum*
  • Corium Therapeutics
  • Entegra Power (2014 Restructuring of the Year, Turnarounds & Workouts)
  • Farfetch
  • Global Eagle
  • Hexion
  • Homer City
  • Imerys subsidiaries
  • Joann Stores
  • Libbey Glass
  • Lincoln Power
  • Lucky Brands
  • Lumileds
  • LyondellBasell Industries* (2010 Restructuring Deal of the Year, Investment Dealers’ Digest; 2010 Restructuring Deal of the Year, IFLR Europe)
  • Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (2023 Dealmaker of the Year, The American Lawyer)
  • MOD Pizza
  • MediaMath
  • National Association of Realtors
  • National CineMedia
  • North American Dental Group
  • Ocwen Financial*
  • Owens Illinois/Paddock
  • Pacific Drilling
  • Rackspace
  • Robertshaw
  • Sable Permian Resources
  • Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers*
  • Savers Thrift Superstores
  • TPC Group
  • Travelport
  • Verso and New Page*
  • Weatherford

Creditors and Investors 

George has represented major creditors, ad hoc lender groups, and investors in many complex recapitalizations and restructurings, including:

  • Avaya
  • Bausch Health
  • Bennu Oil & Gas*
  • Bioventus
  • Camston Wrather
  • Dynegy
  • Fieldwood Energy
  • First Energy Solutions 
  • Gavilon 
  • HAL Investments
  • Hertz
  • Invacare
  • Legacy Reserves
  • Scandinavian Airlines
  • Service King 
  • Specialty Dental Brands
  • Stewart Health 
  • Stone Energy*
  • Swissport

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Thought Leadership

  • Co-author, Chambers Insolvency Global Practice Guide: USA Trends and Developments (December 2023)
  • Consulting Editor, Lexology’s Getting the Deal Through Insolvency Litigation Guide (2022, 2023)
  • Co-author, 2020 Bankruptcy Trends And Sectors To Watch In 2021, Law360 (December 2020)

Bar Qualification

  • New York

Education

  • JD, Hofstra University School of Law
    with distinction
  • BS, Binghamton University
    magna cum laude
Davis, George A.
October 31, 2024 Recognition

MVP: Latham’s George Davis

George Davis, Global Chair of Latham’s Restructuring & Special Situations Practice, recognized by Law360 for successfully navigating major companies, including Mallinckrodt, Joann Inc., and Audacy, through significant restructurings.