Mr. Wells is a member of Davis Polk & Wardwell’s Corporate Department practicing in the London office. He represents European and Asian corporations and investment banks in international securities offerings and private financings, as well as corporate clients on a broad range of transactions.

His company clients have included ICI, Reliance Industries Ltd., Shire plc and Millicom International Cellular, and he has advised H.M. Government on U.S. securities law matters. In recent years, he has been involved in equity, convertible debt and high-yield or investment-grade debt offerings by companies, including Statoil, ICI, Telefónica, Reliance, Shire, Millicom, ICICI, Ericsson, Diageo, Alstom, Danske Bank, AU Optronics, EMI, New Skies Satellite, SNIA, Diamond Cable Communications, BE Semiconductor, Leica Geosystems and United Utilities, in sectors including telecom and satellite, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, chemical, investment funds, technology hardware and software, health care, banking, media, consumer goods, utility, real estate, hotel, airline and shipping.

Recent transactions include the $1.2 billion IPO of Reliance Petroleum, including pre-IPO investments by strategic partners, the London-listed IPO of Hogg Robinson Group, a travel company, and $1.8 billion of equity and convertible bond financing for Shire in connection with an acquisition.

Mr. Wells has also advised corporate clients on acquisitions, disposals and demergers, complex debt restructurings and corporate governance. Transaction include the acquisition by Reliance Infocomm of FLAG Telecom, and ICI’s transfer of its petrochemicals business to a joint venture with Huntsman Corporation, including bank and high-yield financing for the joint venture and subsequent restructuring of these arrangements.

During over 20 years in London, Mr. Wells has worked on a number of landmark securities offerings, including most of the U.K. privatizations, representing H.M. Government or the underwriters, such as BT, BG, British Airways, BP, National Power, Powergen and British Energy.

Mr. Wells joined Davis Polk in 1974 and became a partner in 1987. He has practiced in the London office since 1980.

Mr. Wells graduated from Harvard University in 1968 and in 1974 received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was senior lead articles editor of Law and Policy in International Business.

Mr. Wells is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the New York City Bar Association.