Simon Walker is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales with extensive international experience, having worked in the City of London, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in both the private and public sector.

He has extensive experience of corporate and business acquisitions, private equity transactions, general commercial and finance transactions, joint ventures, banking/finance arrangements, distribution, supply and trading arrangements, shipping and transportation structuring and transactions, and real estate related transactions. He has significant disputes management expertise related to all such matters.

Simon previously practiced with Travers Smith, Mayer Brown JSM, O’Melveny & Myers, Addleshaw Goddard, DAC Beachcroft, and Holland & Knight.

Simon has spoken at numerous public seminars on matters including capital markets listings, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, and has published articles in legal journals such as the USA International Herald Tribune & National Law Journal and the UK Financial Times, Law Society’s Gazette; and formulated in-house brochures.

Admission

• English Solicitor
• Hong Kong Solicitor
• Abu Dhabi Legal Consultant
• Dubai Legal Consultant

Education

• Radley College and Buckingham University, Oxford, England. LLB (Honours) Degree in Law.

• Caffe Nero Group Plc – £30 million London Stock Exchange Listing and bank refinancing.

• Cathay Pacific Airways Limited – Variety of complex and large scale commercial and employment issues over a five-year period.

• Citibank Group – Acting on a global project in relation to a significant business line expansion.

• Crest Nicholson Plc – Acquisition and £1.2 billion joint venture with Grosvenor.

• Financial Times – Acquisition of their seed company for the commencement of on-line publication in Asia and subsequent licensing and trading issues in relation to their internet business.

• KPMG – 15+ jurisdiction group reorganisation.

• JP Morgan – Acting on fund distributions and investment restructuring.

• Marriott Hotels – Ongoing commercial and hotel management agreement advice.

• Pillsbury Company – Acquisition of the Haagen-Dazs distribution company and ongoing commercial work.

• Royal Bank of Scotland – 2 acquisition finance transactions.

• Bin Sina Pharmacies – representing Al Khayatt Group, owners of Bin Sina, and distributors of many household name pharmaceuticals, clothing and food brands in the UAE.

• Sony Pictures – Movie purchase and production agreements, author agreements and artist agreements.

• Swire Pacific Group of Companies – Disposal of Hong Kong Kentucky Fried Chicken operation; acquisition of the Reebok operations in Hong Kong and China, including franchise arrangements, acquisition of Asian Volvo operations from Jebsen & Co. Limited including franchise arrangements; Sale of 80% of the Marriott Hotel to the Government of Singapore and co-investors; corporate acquisition of development property (a $2.5 billion plus transaction).

• Time Inc. – Acquisition of a majority of Emphasis Limited; buy-out of minority stake in Asiaweek Limited; disposal of Ming Pao (leading Chinese language newspaper).
  

• Wahat Al Zaweya Holding PJSC – multibillion UAE Dirham project development finance restructuring for Abu Dhabi listed real estate developer.