About David Brooks

David advises corporates and private equity sponsors on a broad range of intellectual property and commercial issues across the sports, retail, technology and healthcare sectors.

David has recently advised on a number of high-profile sports investments, with a particular focus on the protection and exploitaton of commercial rights. 

David frequently advises on large-scale multi-jurisdictional separation projects involving a broad spectrum of commercial agreements connected with the merger, acquisition, disposal or outsourcing of business units, and in particular in the context of carve-outs.

His work on commercial agreements covers the full waterfront of IP rights, including licensing, merchandising, image rights, endorsement and sponsorship arrangements.

David qualified at Freshfields in 2002 and has worked in the firm’s London, New York and Singapore offices.

Recent work

• Advising Smiths Medical in its negotiations with the UK Government and a consortium of blue-chip British medical, engineering and technology companies in connection with the emergency and expedited ramp-up, manufacture and supply of ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Advising CVC on a number of investments in sports rights including:
  • Six Nations Rugby, the official organising body of the Six Nations Championship and Autumn Internationals
  • Premiership Rugby and related commercial rights
  • Pro14 Rugby and related commercial rights
  • Fédération de Internationale Volleyball (“FIVB”) and partnership in Volleyball World
• Advising CVC on:
  • the acquisition of SkyBet in a carve-out transaction from London-listed Sky plc, and subsequent sale to Stars Group
  • the acquisition of a majority interest in Medivet, a leading veterinary care provider in the UK, Germany and Spain
  • investment in Acronis, a leading global cyber protection, backup and disaster recovery provider
  • investment in Rayner, the global ophthalmology business, from Phoenix Equity Partner
  • investment in Aleph Holding, global partner to the world’s biggest digital media players
• Advising Pilgrim’s Pride on its US$952m carve out acquisition of Kerry’s Meats and Meals business in the UK and Ireland
• Advising an AI/tech start-up on a joint venture and collaboration with a Premiership football club and a national football league in connection with the development and roll-out of a consumer-facing mobile app
• Advising Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband company, on the sale of its operations in Germany, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic to Vodafone
• Advising Novartis on the intellectual property, business separation and services arrangements for a number of transactions including:
  • the spin-off and operational separation of its eyecare division, Alcon in 2019
  • divisional asset swaps with GSK in 2015 covering oncology, OTC and vaccines assets
  • a series of disposals mandated by several national competition authorities of a number of healthcare products in Europe, Asia, North America and South America
• Advising AstraZeneca on a joint venture pharmaceutical collaboration with Merck, including reciprocal IP licensing arrangements
• Advising JB Chemicals on the sale to Johnson & Johnson of its OTC business in Russia and various CIS territories.
• Advising on the divestment of manufacturing facilities around the world, with associated long-term manufacturing and supply arrangements.