Davis Polk today announced that Thomas J. Malone and David J. Penna have joined the firm as partners. Mr. Malone joins Davis Polk’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice and Mr. Penna joins the firm’s Finance practice.

“We are delighted to welcome Tom and David to Davis Polk as we continue to grow our preeminent M&A and finance teams,” said Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Managing Partner. “Tom and David are fantastic lawyers at the top of their fields, and there are a number of compelling synergies between their practices and our platform that will be very valuable to our clients.”

Both partners join Davis Polk from Latham & Watkins, where Mr. Malone was a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practices and Mr. Penna was a partner in, and previously served as Global Co-Chair of, the Project Development & Finance practice.

Mr. Malone represents private equity funds, public and private companies, and boards of directors in connection with a range of matters involving mergers and acquisitions, complex investments, carve-outs, auction processes, joint ventures, recapitalizations, corporate governance and defense, strategic planning, project development and other corporate matters. His work has been recognized by Chambers USA, Legal 500 US and Legal 500 Latin America.

“Tom has a broad-based and highly respected practice servicing both private equity and corporate clients,” said Will Aaronson, head of Davis Polk’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice. “He is an excellent fit with our M&A team and will further solidify our leadership position in the market.”

Mr. Malone said, “Davis Polk has a deep bench of world-class M&A lawyers committed to collaboration and an unmatched level of client service. I am excited to work with this outstanding team to help clients execute on their largest and most significant deals.”

The arrival of Mr. Penna establishes Davis Polk’s infrastructure finance practice. Mr. Penna represents sponsors, lenders, developers, multinational corporations and governmental entities on complex project development, financing and M&A transactions, with a focus on the energy, power and infrastructure sectors. From 2019 to 2020, he served in the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, providing strategic policy advice related to U.S. national security and international development matters. Mr. Penna is recognized as a leading project finance lawyer by publications including Chambers USA.

“David has an enviably diverse background that includes government service and extensive work with lenders, sponsors and strategics, allowing him to truly understand the market,” said Jason Kyrwood, co-head of Davis Polk’s Finance practice. “We are thrilled to have David on board to anchor our multidisciplinary infrastructure team as we continue to build out a one-stop shop for sophisticated financing transactions of all types.”

Mr. Penna said, “I have long admired Davis Polk’s exceptional finance lawyers and am thrilled to be joining such an energetic and team-oriented group. I look forward to hitting the ground running and building on the excellent work the team is doing in the finance space.”

Mr. Malone earned his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 2005. Mr. Penna earned his J.D. from Yale Law School in 2001.

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