James is a Senior Associate in the Corporate department based in Bahrain. He has extensive experience advising on complex corporate transactions across the Middle East and the United Kingdom, with a particular focus on equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and strategic joint ventures.
James has particular experience in initial public offerings, rights issues and other equity capital markets transactions, as well as public and private mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments and joint ventures. He advises throughout the transaction lifecycle, including on transaction structuring, legal due diligence, prospectuses and shareholder circulars, acquisition and investment agreements and complex shareholder and governance arrangements.
He previously practised in the United Kingdom and in Dubai before joining the firm's Bahrain office. He regularly advises listed companies, financial institutions, private equity investors, founders and multinational corporates on domestic and cross-border transactions and is experienced in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and overseas counsel across multiple jurisdictions.
His sector experience includes financial services, insurance, real estate, hospitality and leisure, technology, retail and consumer business.
James is recognised as a Rising Star in the IFLR1000 rankings and a Key Lawyer in the Legal 500. He has also been shortlisted for the Rising Star Award at the IFLR Middle East Awards.
James graduated from SOAS, University of London and completed his Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at BPP University. He was admitted as a solicitor in the Senior Courts of England and Wales in July 2017.
Relevant Experience:
• Silah Gulf B.S.C. on its initial public offering and admission to the Bahrain Bourse.
• Bahrain Development Bank B.S.C.(c) on the establishment of an SME fund, Bahrain's first credit fund.
• Solidarity Bahrain B.S.C. on its acquisition of Bahrain National Insurance Company B.S.C.(c) and Bahrain National Life Assurance Company B.S.C.(c).
• Solidarity Bahrain B.S.C. on its BHD12 million capital raise, marking Bahrain's first Shari'ah compliant Tier 1 preference share issuance.
• Al Abraaj Restaurants Group B.S.C. on its initial public offering and listing on the Bahrain Bourse.
• Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait B.S.C. on its acquisition of HSBC Bank Middle East's retail banking business in Bahrain.
• Al Salam Bank B.S.C. on its US$3.9 billion acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain B.S.C.(c).
• Brightbay Real Estate Partners in relation to the sale of Holiday Inn London Brentford Lock in London to Splendid Hospitality Group.
• Brightbay Real Estate Partners (formerly RDI REIT P.L.C.) on the sale of its flexible office portfolio to Office Space in Town.
• RDI REIT P.L.C. on its £467.9 million recommended cash takeover offer by an entity owned by a fund of Starwood Capital Group.
• Aldar Properties on its acquisition of a 70 per cent stake in Abu Dhabi Business Hub.
• Acquisition of Hairburst Holding Group Limited, a lifestyle, supplement business stocked within major beauty retailers for £26.5 million.
• Bibby Line Group on the sale of Costcutter Supermarkets Group. Manchester Airport Group on the sale of its non-core property asset holding company to Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
• The Sellers of a 30% stake in UkFast.net Limited to Inflexion Private Equity, valuing the company at £405 million.
