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James Watson

He/him/hisAssociate
James Watson in particular has been an impressive addition to the deal team and always goes the extra mile in assisting with various workstreams.
— Legal 500, Banking and Finance, 2024
London
About

James has experience acting for UK, US and European banks, private credit funds, loan agents, sponsors and other investors on real estate financings, leveraged finance, general corporate lending, and restructurings.

He has a particular focus on cross-border real estate transactions, advising on investment and development financing of logistic assets, data centres, student accommodation, hotels, and retail and commercial property portfolios.

He has previously been on secondment at Goldman Sachs in the Global Banking & Markets legal team.

Areas of FocusFinancePrivate EquityReal EstateFinancial ServicesCorporateInvestment Management and Funds
Bar admissionsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising Maslow Capital in connection with its GBP500m whole-loan facility to Fusion Group, one of the largest single-lender debt packages arranged for UK PBSA.
  • Advising Mount Street in their role as facility agent and security trustee in connection with the origination, back-leverage and securitisation of a logistics portfolio in Belgium, France and the Netherlands owned by EQT.
  • Advising National Energy System Operator in respect of its GBP700m investment grade revolving credit facility with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
  • Advising Mount Street in their role as agent on the EUR108m media financing package for Sevilla FC.
  • Advising Hercules Capital in connection with their USD125m financing to Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc, an Oxford-based biopharmaceutical company.
  • Advising Invesco Real Estate on its EUR30m facilities to an Italian cold storage facility in Trieste, its first-ever Italian real estate loan.
Languages
  • English

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Associate to Watch, Chambers & Partners (2025)
  • Key Lawyer, Legal 500 (2024)
  • Key Lawyer, Legal 500 (2023)
Education
  • University of Law, Legal Practice Course with MSc in Business, Law and Management, 2021
  • Aberystwyth University, Law LL.B. (Hons), 2020

Additional News

James is also supports with and is passionate about DLA Piper’s various socioeconomic mobility initiatives.

Between 2021 and 2022 James was part of the City of London Corporation’s Future Leaders Programme.  The taskforce was mandated with advising the Lord Mayor of London on social mobility issues affecting those entering the financial, professional services and technology sectors.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Solicitor registered with the Law Society of England & Wales

My latest insights

News
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DLA Piper advises Slip.stream in its acquisition of assets from Anthem Production Music...

18 November 2024 .1 minute read

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Connect

Phone

+44 (0) 20 7796 6805
(Work, London)