David Bumgardner

David Bumgardner is a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice, based in the Houston office. He represents leading private equity firms and public and private companies in a wide range of high-stakes strategic transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. His work spans across sectors such as oil and gas, infrastructure, renewables, and energy transition.

David earned his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University. He is admitted to practice in Texas, bringing both academic excellence and regional insight to his sophisticated legal practice.

Throughout his career, David has guided clients through some of the largest energy and infrastructure transactions in the U.S. and globally. He advised KKR on its joint venture with T-Mobile to acquire Metronet and led major deals involving firms such as BlackRock, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and DigitalBridge. His counsel on multi-billion-dollar projects demonstrates his command of complex, cross-sector dealmaking.

Before joining Simpson Thacher, David played a key role in several landmark transactions, including the $13 billion sale of Noble Energy to Chevron and the $6.4 billion acquisition of DoublePoint Energy by Pioneer Natural Resources. He also advised on the $11 billion take-private of Switch, Inc., and the historic $3 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.

David Bumgardner’s legal acumen and industry knowledge make him a trusted advisor for clients navigating transformative business decisions. His proven ability to manage and close complex deals positions him as a strategic leader in the evolving energy and infrastructure landscape.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
• Member, State Bar of Texas

Licensed State

• Texas

Education

• University of Texas at Austin School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Texas A&M University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges