"Amongst the very best practitioners in the field of restructuring. He is very thoughtful, very responsive and very knowledgeable."
Chambers USA 2024
"Provides wisdom and knows how to counsel a board and navigate difficult situations."
Chambers USA 2024
"One of the most practical and business-oriented restructuring lawyers."
Chambers USA 2024
"An extremely strong strategic thinker on his deals."
The Legal 500 US 2024
"Brings vast experience and knowledge to every matter on which he works. He has impeccable judgment and a calm, steady hand in every crisis."
The Legal 500 US 2024
"George is simply one of the best restructuring lawyers in the field."
Chambers USA 2023
Profile
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.”
Experience
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)
Qualifications
Bar Qualification
New York
Education
JD, Hofstra University School of Law with distinction
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.
A multidisciplinary team represented the global design, engineering, and manufacturing company in a restructuring that positions the company for long-term growth.
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