Bio

James Deeken is a partner in the Dallas and Houston offices of Akin Gump and represents private fund managers in fund formation activities and in investments into a wide range of investment funds and preferred equity structures. He is one of only two Texas attorneys recognized by Chambers and Partners in the 2022 USA - Nationwide Private Equity: Fund Formation category where he was described as “an all-around great lawyer who is client-centric and has a commercial approach.” Furthermore, James is noted for being “client-driven, responsive and business-minded” and someone who “does great work” and clients “benefit from his experience and knowledge.” Clients look to James to provide valuable counsel as they seek to protect their business and legal goals, while at the same time successfully reaching resolution, in negotiations with large institutional investors. James brings to the table a deep understanding of the business, tax and legal concerns that underlie investor comments and negotiating positions, gained through experience over two decades. He regularly helps clients structure partnerships with a wide range of various investors including private pension fund investors, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, non-U.S. tax treaty jurisdiction investors, university endowments, public retirement plans, fund of funds, charitable foundations and family offices. His experience with fund formation consists of representing managers in the formation of buyout funds, growth equity funds, oil and gas and other energy funds, loan origination funds, multi-manager funds, opportunistic funds, real estate funds, fund of funds and hedge funds, as well as special-purpose vehicles, “funds of one” and co-investment vehicles.