Bio

James Cooney is a corporate partner specialising in M&A and capital markets transactions. He advises leading companies and sponsors on their most complex and significant transactions in the New Zealand market. ​​​James advises clients on private acquisitions and disposals, public takeovers and schemes of arrangement, equity capital markets, and listed corporate governance. He has a reputation for providing excellent client service and for being solutions-oriented. James has particular expertise in takeovers law and strategy (including e​xtensive schemes experience), and is one of New Zealand's leading takeovers lawyers. He has acted on nearly half of the major takeovers in the New Zealand market over the last decade. He brings an international perspective to his takeover practice, having worked on a number of significant takeovers during his four years at Slaughter and May in London. His understanding of Australian and UK takeovers law and practice is particularly valued by international clients. In addition to his transactional work, James regularly provides listing rule and corporate governance advice to a number of listed companies. He is a member of the executive of the Listed Companies Association. He was also a member of the regulatory working group of Capital Markets 2029 (the NZX and FMA initiated industry-led review of New Zealand's capital markets). Chambers Asia Pacific 2023 ranks James as a leading lawyer in corporate/commercial. In previous editions of Chambers Asia Pacific 2022, James was also ranked as a leading corporate lawyer, noting that he was well regarded for his work advising clients in relation to both international and domestic M&A transactions. It noted that he was described by clients as "our go-to front man", “the possessor of a constructive and conciliatory manner” and a source of "straight-to-the-point, commercial advice." The IFLR1000 2022 recognises James as highly regarded for his M&A work.​ ​James is also recommended for corporate and M&A by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 and previously in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, with previous edition client feedback stating that he “provides insightful and commercial advice" and is “highly recommended".​ He is also recognised by Best Lawyers® for Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law.