David Bulley

David is the Managing Partner of the Hong Kong and Shanghai offices of Appleby, a leading offshore law firm, and the Head of Corporate and Restructuring in Asia. With over 14 years of experience in the legal industry, he is a trusted advisor to clients on complex and high-value transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and restructurings across multiple jurisdictions.

As a CFA Level 1 holder and a recognized restructuring and M&A specialist, David has a deep understanding of the financial and strategic aspects of his practice areas, as well as the regulatory and market dynamics in the offshore jurisdictions.

David’s advice is regularly sought on all aspects of offshore debt restructurings by both debtors and creditors. Dominant in the market for advising China real estate developers on offshore aspects, David advises on liability management and offshore restructuring options. David is currently leading the Appleby teams acting for six China real estate developers, previously advised on all offshore aspects of the successful restructuring of China Fortune Land Development Co., Ltd. and led the Appleby team which created new Cayman precedent by obtaining the dismissal of a winding-up petition brought against Shinsun Holdings Group Co, Ltd. by ultimate account holders of NY law governed notes, with such precedent recently having been referred to and followed by the Courts in Hong Kong.

In the last four years David has successfully led and completed M&A transactions with an aggregate value in excess of USD 135 billion, being named "Cayman Islands Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year" in each of these years, and has advised on numerous landmark and precedent-setting mandates involving US and Hong Kong listed companies, creditors, and debtors.

David is recognised as: - "Leading Individual" by Legal 500 for Restructuring and Mergers and Acquisitions; - "Highly Regarded" by IFLR1000

Amongst other awards, David has been named as: - "Merger and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year - Cayman Islands" in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 - "Corporate Finance Lawyer of the Year - Cayman Islands" in 2019, 2021 and 2023 - "Most Trusted Corporate Restructuring Specialist" in 2019

David has also been shortlisted for “Dealmaker of the Year” at the upcoming ALB Hong Kong Legal Awards 2023 - the only offshore lawyer shortlisted for this category, with Appleby shortlisted for “Offshore Law Firm of the Year”