Latham & Watkins LLP is pleased to announce that David Blumental has joined the firm as a partner in the Corporate Department.
Blumental’s practice spans cross-border mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, project development and financing, and private equity investments focusing on oil and gas, LNG, infrastructure and mining. He advises clients on a wide-range of cross-border energy and natural resources transactions, including upstream oil and gas, LNG supply agreements, petrochemicals, chemicals and mining projects in China, North and South America, Africa, Russia and the CIS, Southeast Asia and Australia.
In addition to advising on transactional matters, Blumental regularly counsels clients on cross-border litigation, arbitration, compliance and corporate governance matters involving Chinese or other Asian parties. He also works with clients in other industries including real estate, retail, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
David Miles, Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Asia practice and a partner in the firm’s Hong Kong office, said: “As we continue to position ourselves as one of the leading global oil and gas firms David has a unique blend of Asian experience and knowledge that makes him an exciting and important addition to our existing Asian energy and natural resources team. He is a market leader with a tremendous profile and reputation in the oil and gas sector in particular but also more broadly with his strong Chinese credentials so we are delighted that he has decided to join us.”
Blumental handles significant outbound work, representing Chinese corporate clients including state-owned enterprises and private Chinese companies on cross-border acquisitions as well as other transactions and matters outside of China. He also has extensive experience advising clients on sophisticated and complex regional matters. Blumental will be based in the firm’s Hong Kong office, and he will spend significant time in the firm’s Beijing and Shanghai offices as well as other Asian countries as he helps expand Latham’s pan-Asian oil and gas practice.
“Living and working in Asia for nearly two decades has given David an excellent understanding of the legal and commercial issues that affect clients in their transactions and matters. David’s strong client relationships are a testament to his problem-solving skills and business judgment,” added Michael Sturrock, Vice Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Global Corporate Department and a partner in the firm’s Singapore office.
“Chinese companies are increasingly active in outbound energy and resources investment activity. David’s deep industry experience matches up nicely with our platform and he adds further depth to our global oil and gas practice. This is, and will continue to be, a highly active sector and we see significant opportunities to grow our practice,” said Michael Darden, Co-Chair of the Global Oil & Gas Industry Group and a partner in Latham’s Houston office.
“I’m excited to be joining Latham & Watkins. I’ve known a number of partners in Latham’s Houston office and beyond for many years and have long admired the firm’s investment in its energy practice. Asia is a vibrant hub with strong established and exciting emerging markets contributing to the dynamism in the region. As more and more deals span markets, Latham’s footprint in Asia and the firm’s global resources are increasingly important to grow my practice,” said Blumental.
Blumental joins Latham & Watkins from Vinson & Elkins in Hong Kong. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College in 1988, a Certificate in Graduate Studies from Johns Hopkins University – Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies in 1989, a Master of Arts from Stanford University in 1991 and a Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies from Beijing University in 1992. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of California at Berkeley in 1999. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Shanghainese.
