James is a strategic advisor to private equity funds and operating companies across many industries. He focuses his practice on representing private equity funds in all aspects of their investment activities, recently acting for Atlas Holdings, Bregal Partners, The Carlyle Group, Oaktree Capital Management and Stellex Capital Management, among several others.
He is recognized by The Legal 500 US in Private Equity Buyouts and has been recognized for numerous consecutive years by Chambers in New York M&A, has been featured in Buyouts, including a Buyouts Deal of the Year, The Deal, Bloomberg and Law360 as well as other leading publications. He has presented for several education providers, including Practicing Law Institute and Strafford. He has received recognition for his pro bono work, including the Pro Bono Publico Award from The Legal Aid Society. James is a member of the Syracuse University College of Law Board of Advisors.
His transactions include primary and secondary leveraged buyouts, add-on acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, divestitures and restructurings, including cross-border transactions involving numerous jurisdictions. He also regularly represents public and private operating companies and special purpose acquisition companies, across a variety of industries, including technology, software, video gaming, information, media, entertainment, business services, consumer goods and services, industrials and manufacturing, energy, engineering and infrastructure, food, agriculture, education, healthcare and life sciences.
DLA Piper most recently ranked as the #2 most active legal advisor in global buyouts by deal volume (PitchBook), the #1 legal advisor to investors (PitchBook) and #1 global M&A by deal volume (Mergermarket).