Bio

With a forward-thinking approach, and enthusiasm for collaboration and relationship building, James learnt early in his career that ‘you’re only as good as your next deal’. Bringing that mantra and passion to each transaction, James is committed to finding innovative solutions and pragmatically implementing clients’ commercial goals. James is a hands-on practitioner, with clients describing him as ‘savvy, technical and business minded, with a flair for meeting all deadlines, getting the right commercial outcome and cutting through the complexity’ (Chambers). James in a specialist in complex private M&A transactions, inbound investment, fundraisings, management incentive arrangements, corporate governance, joint ventures, international business (re)structures and the decarbonisation industry (including Project development, TCFD/ISSB reporting, policies and charters). James has more than 20 years’ domestic and international private practice experience in leading firms in London, New York and Sydney, counselling corporations, private equity sponsors, founders and management, in all forms of corporate activity, with ranked recognition (individually and with Hamilton Locke’s M&A team) in leading independent global publications including Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. James’s principal practice areas include advising on sell side and buy side private M&A, inbound investment regulation (including Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)), director duties, the full acquisition/sale transaction lifecycle (with ongoing operational matters), shareholder arrangements (including management equity plans), group restructurings, employee share schemes, recapitalisations and fundraisings. In addition to his leading role in the firm’s private M&A practice, James’ leads the firm’s Foreign Desk, Executive Compensation (complex equity plans) and New Energy & Carbon Markets groups. James is bilingual (French native speaker) and dual qualified (England & Wales and New South Wales). He was previously a partner at PwC, Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Kirkland & Ellis.