James L. Kelly

Partner
Chair, New York Private Equity
New York
About

James is a strategic advisor to several private equity funds in all aspects of their investment activities. He also advises certain royal families engaging in private dynastic capital deployment. These transactions involve regulated businesses, numerous jurisdictions and all industries.

James is recognized by The Legal 500 US as a Leading Partner in Private Equity Buyouts. He has also been recognized by Chambers in New York Corporate M&A. The Firm is ranked by Pitchbook as the #1 legal advisor for private equity buyouts globally and recognized for private equity by Chambers Global, USA, and Europe, and Legal 500 US and EMEA, where private equity buyouts is ranked Band 1/Tier 1 in select categories based on transaction size and geographic market. James if often featured in industry publications such as The Deal, Buyouts, Buyouts Deal of the Year, Bloomberg and Law360. He has received recognition for his pro bono work, including the Pro Bono Publico Award from the Legal Aid Society.

James currently serves as the Chair of New York Private Equity and as a member of the Firm's Global Policy Committee. James also serves as an academic board member of Syracuse University College of Law.

Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and RetailEnergy and Natural ResourcesHealthcareIndustrialsInfrastructure, Construction and TransportInsuranceLife SciencesMedia Sports and EntertainmentTechnologyCorporateMergers and AcquisitionsPrivate Equity
Bar admissionsNew York

EXPERIENCE

  • Represented 26North Partners in connection with its leveraged acquisition of Intermedia Intelligent Communications from Madison Dearborn Partners and other asset management transactions
  • Represented Stellex Capital Management in connection with numerous platform, add-on, investment and exit transactions, including: its acquisition of Fincentric from S&P Global; its leveraged acquisition of TriplePoint and TriplePoint's MEP sector add-on acquisitions; its leveraged acquisition of G2 Risk Solutions from TransUnion, G2's add-on acquisitions of ZignSec and EverC; its investment in PLH Group and exit of PLH Group to Primoris Services Corporation; and its leveraged buyout of Peltram Plumbing Holdings, Peltram's numerous plumbing sector rollup acquisitions and Peltram's sale of Precision Plumbing & Service to Comfort Systems
  • Represented HBMA Capital Management in connection with numerous private equity, asset management and other strategic investment activities
  • Represented Atlas Holdings in its leveraged acquisition of Foster Farms
  • Represented The Carlyle Group in connection with iC Consult Group's add-on acquisitions of ICSynergy, SecureITSource and Kapstone Technologies
  • Represented Bregal Investments in its leveraged acquisition of Juniper Landscaping and Juniper's numerous landscaping sector rollup acquisitions
  • Represented Green Courte Partners in the sale of The Parking Spot to KKR
  • Represented Qatar Sports Investments in the investment by Arctos Partners in Paris Saint-Germain.
  • Represented Oaktree Capital Management, Assured Investment Management and Stellex Capital Management in the sale of PLH Group to Primoris Services Corporation
  • Represented Columbus McKinnon Corporation in its leveraged acquisition of Dorner from EQT and its leveraged acquisition of Kito Crosby from KKR
  • Represented InfoDesk from inception, including it's numerous financing transactions, strategic acquisitions, and its exit to Cuadrilla Capital
  • Represented Starling Physicians in its sale to VillageMD
  • Represented The Wicks Group of Companies in connection with numerous platform, add-on and exit transactions, including: its leveraged buyout of Gladson from Lake Pacific Partners, Gladson's numerous software sector add-on acquisitions and its exit of Syndigo to The Jordan Company; Invo's numerous behavioral health sector rollup acquisitions and its exit to Golden Gate Capital; its leveraged buyout of Bonded Services from Berggruen Holdings, Bonded Services' numerous storage sector add-on acquisitions and its exit to Iron Mountain; its acquisition of Antenna Audio from Discovery Communications; its leveraged buyout of Education Direct from Thomson Corporation and its exit of Penn Foster to The Princeton Group

Awards

  • Leading Partner, Private Equity Buyouts, The Legal 500 United States
  • Recognized, New York Corporate M&A, Chambers USA
  • Buyouts Deal of the Year
  • Pro Bono Publico Award from The Legal Aid Society
Education
  • J.D., Syracuse University College of Law
    magna cum laude
    Lead Articles Editor, Syracuse Law Review
    Order of the Coif
  • B.A., University of Washington

Media Mentions

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises Columbus McKinnon in US$2.7 billion business combination with Kito...

12 February 2025 .2 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises Brookline Capital Acquisition Corp. in the closing of its business...

1 August 2022 .3 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises Mercedes-Benz in equity investment in Factorial Energy

10 December 2021 .3 minute read

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Phone

+1 212 335 4705
(Work, New York)