David L. Irvine

David Irvine is a partner in the firm’s tax practice. He specializes in investment fund work (including fund formation and fund secondary transactions) and corporate restructuring (including distressed M&A) transactions.

David advises multi-asset managers, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, debt and credit fund sponsors and management teams on the domestic and international aspects of fund structuring, tax efficient incentivization arrangements and tax issues associated with their investment programs. He also advises a number of institutional investors on their investments with and into private funds as well as providing them with assistance in relation to their own account transactions and strategic advice on managing their tax profile.

David has significant experience in advising on financing and restructuring transactions, particularly in the context of financially troubled debtors; advising administrators, debtors, creditors, potential acquirers, and investors both within and outside formal insolvency processes. He also provides advice on UK tax issues arising in complex public and private cross border M&A transactions.

David’s recent representative experience includes:

• McWin Capital Partners on its acquisition of the popular restaurant chain, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, originating in Denmark with additional restaurant sites in the UK and Germany
• EQT Credit on its investment in and the restructuring and recapitalization of ACPS Automotive*
• one of the world’s pre-eminent international financial services firms on various post-bankruptcy matters*
• a global nuclear power plant manufacturer on the tax aspects of its chapter 11/restructuring*
• numerous global financial investors on various structuring and fundraising matters including fund manager clients such as Abraaj, Actis, Arcus, Brookfield, Castleforge, Chorus Capital, EQT, Glennmont Partners, Graphite Capital, Hastings, InfraRed, Macquarie, Montagu, MV Credit, Orion Capital Managers, Revetas, and 8 Miles* 
• a global advisory-focused investment bank on the spin-out an investment advisory business from one of the world's leading private equity firms and the merger of the businesses*
• various sovereign and state backed investors, including significant pension funds, on tax and structural issues affecting their investment programs including CIC, GIC, OTPP and OMERS* 
• an offshore drilling company on the tax aspects of its chapter 11/restructuring*
• the administrators of a major commodities brokerage firm*
• a leading private equity firm on the tax aspects of the restructuring of a steel trading and distribution company*
• the financial services division of a multinational conglomerate on a number of complex M&A transactions*

*Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

Prior to joining Goodwin, David was most recently a partner in the tax practice of Kirkland & Ellis in London having joined Kirkland & Ellis from Weil, Gotshal & Manges where he was a partner and co-leader of the UK tax group. He started his career with Deloitte in Sydney. He moved to London and joined Clifford Chance and later joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as part of a funds and tax team move before moving to Kirkland.

David is a qualified Chartered Accountant with Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (formerly the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia).

David has been ranked by Chambers UK 2025 and Chambers Global for Tax, where he is described as exhibiting “strength in handling the tax issues that arise from fund formation and structuring.” Other client testimonials note:

• "David is a creative genius; he instinctively loves a challenge. He's intellectually open-minded and commercially astute."
• "David is clearly knowledgeable on tax matters generally, but his commercial approach is especially appreciated as it makes his advice cost-conscious and solutions-oriented."
• "David is an amazing partner to work with and his knowledge of tax is deep."
• “Very good to deal with — he is proficient and detail-oriented, and has a commercial view of the world”

David’s recent publications include:

• Co-Author, “Horizon Scan for Private Investment Funds: Tax Developments to look out for (May 2024),” Goodwin Alert, May 2024
• Co-Author, “Taxation in corporate insolvency — the principal issues in outline,” Lexis Practice Note
• Co-Author, “Joint and several liability of company directors for tax debts,” Lexis Practice Note