James Cooney

Takeovers

Mergers and acquisitions

Private capital

Corporate advisory and governance

Equity capital markets

James is a corporate partner specialising in M&A and capital markets transactions. He advises leading companies and sponsors on their most complex and significant transactions in the New Zealand market.

James advises clients on private acquisitions and disposals, public takeovers and schemes of arrangement, equity capital markets, and listed corporate governance. He has a reputation for providing excellent client service and for being solutions-oriented.

James has particular expertise in takeovers law and strategy (including extensive schemes experience), and is one of New Zealand's leading takeovers lawyers. He has acted on nearly half of the major takeovers in the New Zealand market over the last decade. He brings an international perspective to his takeover practice, having worked on a number of significant takeovers during his four years at Slaughter and May in London. His understanding of Australian and UK takeovers law and practice is particularly valued by international clients.

In addition to his transactional work, James regularly provides listing rule and corporate governance advice to a number of listed companies. He is a member of the executive of the Listed Companies Association. He was also a member of the regulatory working group of Capital Markets 2029 (the NZX and FMA initiated industry-led review of New Zealand's capital markets).

2005-2009

Slaughter and May

London, UK