James is a Partner in our Debt Finance team based in London.
Before joining Capital Law in 2021, James worked as a partner in the finance group at Clifford Chance in London and Paris. He previously practised as a commercial barrister at Fountain Court Chambers in London.
James specialises in corporate debt of various kinds, including leveraged buy-outs, acquisition financing, real estate financing, corporate loans, and restructurings, and works for leading corporates, financial institutions and private equity investors.
He has led transactions in most European jurisdictions, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Nordic region, Poland, Greece and Benelux and regularly works on transactions with a US element. He has extensive experience of complex structured debt, security arrangements and special situations, involving financiers and counterparties located in different jurisdictions.
Expertise
- Banking & Finance
- International
- Acquisition and leveraged finance
- Corporate and syndicated lending/borrowing
- Real estate finance
- Restructuring
- Shareholder and intra-group financing
- Cross-border financing and structuring
Recent work
Leveraged and corporate financing
Advising the underwriters providing the leveraged finance package to the European investment vehicle of Russian investors upon their acquisition of a major UK and European retail operator.
Advising leading European private equity house on the high yield bond and revolving credit facility financing for the acquisition and integration of a European laboratories testing businesses and advising on the group’s incremental facilities and refinancing (integrated in the capital structure with the existing bonds and credit facilities).
Acting for a leading UK private equity house in connection with the financing raised for the acquisition of a UK based equipment and servicing group. The financing comprised an innovative debt structure of a super-senior revolving credit facility in conjunction with first and second lien term facilities.
Advising the Co-ordinating Mandated Lead Arrangers on the large-cap leveraged acquisition loan and bond financing supporting the acquisition of a French-based manufacturing business and the subsequent incremental facilities, PIK capital markets issuance and repricings.
Advising a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund on the revolving credit facility and high yield bonds for the acquisition of the majority shareholding in a major sports car manufacturer.
Acting for a French-based global drinks business on the refinancing and subsequent amend and extend of its multicurrency revolving credit facility.
Real Estate financing
Advising a major international hotel operator on the unwinding of the sale and leaseback of a portfolio of German and Dutch hotels in order to implement its revised corporate strategy to bring the assets back on balance sheet, involving complex JV and shareholder agreements and the refinancing of the portfolio’s debt.
Acting for the lenders on the senior secured financing for the acquisition by a US private equity fund of a significant European hotel portfolio.
Restructuring and distressed debt
Advising the special situations arm of a private credit provider on the structure and legal risks of implementing a “loan to own” strategy in relation to the distressed leveraged debt of a significant private equity investee company.
Advising the Senior Secured Co-Ordination Committee in relation to the insolvency and restructuring of a major manufacturer in the renewables energy sector.
Advising the Private Placement Noteholders in relation to the restructuring of a UK-based consumer credit business.
Advising a global chemical manufacturing business in relation to the European cross-border aspects of the group’s Chapter 11 restructuring.
Languages
- French
- Italian
