James has over 10 years’ experience as an investment funds lawyer acting for both sponsors and investors across a broad range of private investment funds. He regularly represents Gulf-based sovereign wealth funds in connection with their global investment programmes, including blind pool fund investments across a range of strategies, bespoke managed accounts and “funds-of-one”, and co-investments.
In addition to his investor-side practice, James has had extensive experience advising sponsors on the structuring, raising and operation of private equity and credit funds (both in private practice and having worked as an in-house funds lawyer for a leading Dubai-based emerging markets fund manager), "upper tier" fund arrangements including carried interest and co-investment schemes, and implementation of subscription line facilities.
During his career, James has undertaken client secondments to the legal teams of a Gulf-based sovereign wealth fund, the European Investment Fund in Luxembourg, and AlpInvest Partners in Amsterdam.
James is recommended by Legal 500 EMEA 2022 for UAE: Investment Funds.
James' investor-side practice has included advising sovereign wealth fund clients in relation to:
- cornerstone commitments to leading global buyout and secondaries funds
- discretionary, opt-out and opt-in managed accounts and co-investment programmes across a variety of strategies/geographies
- investments in venture capital and technology funds
- single-asset co-investments alongside a variety of U.S., European and Asian sponsors
James' sponsor-side practice has included advising on:
- a number of regional, thematic and global emerging markets private equity and credit funds as an in-house funds lawyer for a Dubai-based private equity firm
- a Luxembourg-domiciled European credit fund with EUR 1 billion total commitments
- UK and U.S. focused single-asset funds
- a Shari’ah-compliant private equity feeder platform designed to provide high net worth individuals the opportunity to participate in co-investment opportunities alongside U.S.-based sponsors
- ongoing fund matters including key person events, fund life extensions, amendments to fund terms and implementation of capital call facilities
- “upper tier” fund arrangements including the structuring, formation and operation of carried interest and employee co-investment schemes
Unit 11, Level 6, Al Sila Tower
Abu Dhabi Global Market Square
Al Maryah Island