David has over 35 years of experience of international M&A, strategic capital raising, restructuring and other corporate finance transactions. He has advised on and executed over $100 billion of transactions for private and public companies during his career.
David spent a significant proportion of his career at Citigroup, where he was Managing Director in their Global Investment Bank, also serving on Citigroup’s European M&A and Valuations Committees (responsible for complex M&A and corporate finance transactions). Prior to Citigroup, David led the TMT M&A team at Société Générale.
Following Citigroup, David has built several financial boutiques and was Head of Corporate Finance at ReSolve Group (a London-based boutique advisor), until its successful sale to Apax-backed Smith & Williamson in 2024.
David qualified as a chartered accountant at KPMG and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) and a Fellow of the Chartered Securities Institute (FCSI). He is also an experienced expert witness in relation to high profile M&A and corporate finance cases in the UK High Court.
Ignacio began his career as a corporate lawyer in Madrid at Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo, going on to manage the firm’s office in New York. Ignacio later joined SNR Denton’s and then Hughes Hubbard & Reed’s New York offices as an international lawyer, advising on cross-border M&A, EU commercial law, financings, and international commercial disputes.
Ignacio now acts as a strategic advisor, working with investors, founders and corporates on M&A, capital raising, and strategic international transactions. His work sits at the intersection of law, finance and negotiation - where discretion, structure and alignment are critical. He brings a calm, analytical approach to complex deals, often involving regulatory, political or family dynamics.
Ignacio holds an LL.M. from Columbia Law School in New York and is fluent in English, Spanish and French.
Jon has 34 years of experience in the British Diplomatic Service focused on the Middle East. His most recent appointment was as British Ambassador to Qatar in Doha. Jon has previously served as British Ambassador to Iraq, Oman and Yemen. He had earlier postings to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
Jon is fluent in Arabic and expert in Arab media and cross-cultural communications, further to his role as British government regional Arabic spokesman. Jon travels regularly to the Middle East and holds various senior policy advisory roles.
James has over 30 years of experience in the U.S. Foreign Service. He has served as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti and Croatia, and held senior positions in Washington including Deputy Spokesman of the State Department, and Political Adviser to the Deputy Secretary of State. James has also served in embassies in Manila and Algiers, and at the US Mission to UN Organizations in Geneva.
James is fluent in French and has significant expertise in diplomacy, geopolitical risk and international crisis management. James advises on transatlantic affairs, global strategy and political risk and writes for numerous publications on U.S. and international issues.
John is a renowned international arbitrator, highly experienced in resolving complex, high-value disputes across jurisdictions and sectors. Until 2020, he was co-chair and partner of International Arbitration at Hughes Hubbard & Reed in New York, where he spent over 30 years advising multinational corporations, sovereigns, and financial institutions on the most sensitive and high-stakes cases.
John has acted as counsel and arbitrator under all major institutional rules. He is ranked by Chambers USA as “one of the best, his reputation is phenomenal and deserved,” and has been named Best Lawyer in New York for International Arbitration by Best Lawyers. Who’s Who Legal has recognised him as a “Global Elite Thought Leader,” and he received the Global Arbitration Review award for Best Prepared/ Most Responsive Arbitrator.
John holds degrees from Harvard Law School (LL.M., S.J.D.) and Durham University (B.A. Hons. in Law). He is admitted to the New York Bar and is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He also serves as Adjunct Professor at NYU School of Law and Honorary Professor of Law at Durham University.
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