David Syed: Head of Sovereign Advisory Practice at Dentons

David Syed is an Irish lawyer and head of the Sovereign Advisory Practice at international law firm Dentons. In his current role, Mr. Syed represents a variety of entities including governments, sovereign wealth funds, and state-owned enterprises on complex financial transactions, transformation and litigation.

Background

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, to an Irish mother and a Pakistani father, David Syed grew up across Canada and South America, before attending boarding school in the United States and Ireland.

Mr. Syed earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne in 1984, followed by a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Exeter in 1987. He was admitted to the Paris Bar in 1991.

David Syed Professional Experience

David Syed has enjoyed a varied and successful career, gaining significant global experience working in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

He began his career as in-house counsel for French automotive company Renault, advising on corporate and commercial matters.

For 10 years Mr. Syed served as Partner at Watson Farley & Williams, founding the firm’s Paris office and handling cross-border financing and corporate transactions.

In 2002, he led the Paris office merger with US firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and, in 2005, facilitated a merger with renowned French M&A expert Jean-Pierre Martel.

Current Role at Dentons

In 2017, David Syed assumed his current position, joining Dentons Europe to serve as head of the Sovereign Advisory Practice. At Dentons, Mr. Syed advises governments on matters related to public debt, energy, taxation, international trade, and foreign investment.

He also coordinates large, diverse teams and consortia on finance and corporate transactions. These include high-value, complex, cross-border transactions; privatisations; and transformation projects ranging from $100 million to multi-billions. The projects span many industry sectors, including energy, mining, transportation, infrastructure, and telecommunications.

Supporter of Economic Integration

For a long time, David Syed has been an advocate of Latin American economic integration, which he views as essential for the region’s growth and prosperity.

In an article published in The Law Society Gazette in 2023, he called on the Union of South American Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to utilise the region’s civil law tradition to establish a unified legal and economic space, thereby promoting enhanced global commerce, regional political stability, and economic growth.

Currently, Mr. Syed is working with the government led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez on reconnecting Venezuela with the Western Hemisphere and implementing legal reform, such as the next law on hydrocarbons.

Pro Bono Work

David Syed has also worked extensively on pro bono matters. His most notable roles include serving as a UK Board of Trustees member for the cultural event Festival d’Aix en Provence, as a Board of Advisors member at Indego Africa, an NGO that empowers African women through economic and educational initiatives, and as Chairman of Positive Planet UK, an NGO dedicated to promoting fair and sustainable economic, social and environmental inclusion worldwide.

David Syed’s Awards and Recognition

In July 2010, David Syed was inducted into the auspicious National Order of the Legion of Honour in France. He was also appointed an Officer of the Malagasy National Order in 2018.