News
Turning Crisis into Strategy: Contracts, projects and disputes at a global chokepoint
David P. Simonds
Partner Corporate & Finance
Los Angeles
New York
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Client quoted in Chambers USA 2025"David is the best lawyer I have ever worked with. He's a true consigliere."
When direct lenders, distressed debt investors, and other creditors, or financially distressed companies, need experienced counsel to navigate a Chapter 11 case, liability management exercise, or complex U.S. or cross‑border out‑of‑court restructuring, they turn to David Simonds. David regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors, private credit and bondholder funds, and official and ad hoc creditor committees in high‑stakes restructurings across a wide range of industry sectors.
For more than 30 years, David has advised on complex U.S. and international restructuring matters, including first‑of‑their‑kind transactions, special situations and rescue financings, liability management exercises, and negotiated restructurings both inside and outside of Chapter 11. In addition to creditor‑side representations, his experience includes advising distressed companies and their boards of directors, as well as acquirers of businesses and assets in distressed M&A transactions.
According to Chambers, clients describe David as “the best lawyer I have ever worked with — a true consigliere” and note that he is “extraordinarily knowledgeable about the law and process, but also understands business objectives,” adding that “his advice is always on point, and he is very responsive and easy to work with.”
Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, David spent 19 years at a prominent international law firm, including 15 years as a partner in its financial restructuring group. He also previously served as Director of Operations for a leading apparel company and is a certified public accountant (South Dakota, inactive).
Client quoted in Chambers USA 2023'David has a great combination of client focus and commercial instincts.'
Representative experience
Represented an ad hoc group of noteholders of a global business services company whose principal operations span Latin America in connection with its comprehensive restructuring.
Represented appellant Insight Terminal Solutions in successful Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversal of adverse bankruptcy court and bankruptcy appellate panel decisions.
Represented a DIP lender in the chapter 11 case of LATAM Airlines.
Represented an ad hoc group of secured noteholders of a Chilean transportation/bus company in connection with its prepackaged chapter 11 case in the United States.*
Represent the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 case of premium baby products company Hello Bello.
Represented a group of noteholders and investors in a Mexican homebuilder that restructured US$2bn in debt and other claims.*
Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 case of plastics recycling company CarbonLite Holdings.
Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 case of Wave Computing.
Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Speedcast, a global satellite service provider with over 80 satellites and local support in over 40 countries, in its chapter 11 case.
Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 case of Virgin Orbit, a commercial satellite launch company founded by billionaire Sir Richard Branson.
Represented a holder of a majority in principal amount of notes issued by mortgage origination company Stearns Holdings in connection with its chapter 11 case.
Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 case of Washington Mutual Inc., a bank holding company in largest U.S. commercial bank failure.*
Represented the official committee of unsecured creditors in the chapter 11 case of Delta Air Lines.*
Advised an ad hoc group of noteholders of oil and gas producer Atlas Resource Partners in connection with its restructuring, effected through a prepackaged chapter 11 case.*
Represented a global asset manager as term lender in restructuring a specialty agriculture company in its restructuring, leading the client through acquisition of majority ownership in the company.*
Lead U.S. counsel representing a global asset manager’s rights as noteholder of a Canadian lumber products company in proceedings under the Canadian Business Corporations Act (CBCA).*
Represented an ad hoc group in the acquisition of ownership of a U.S. and Canadian thrift retailer through a debt-for-equity exchange and new money investment.*
Represent an ad hoc group of secured noteholders of Brazilian airline GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes in its chapter 11 case.
*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.
Credentials
Education
- J.D., New York University School of Law, 1992
- B.S., State University of New York at Albany, summa cum laude, 1989
Bar admissions and qualifications
- California
- New York
- Certified Public Accountant, South Dakota (inactive)
Court admissions
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Memberships
- Fellow, American College of Investment Counsel (ACIC), 2012-present
- Member, Communications Committee and Development Committee, ACIC
- Member, ABI
- Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
Recognition
News
Press releases
30 November 2023
Press releases
17 November 2023
Events
Webinar
16 March 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (HKT)
Sponsorships and Speaking Engagements
15-18 January 2023