James specialises in M&A, with a particular focus on private equity. He represents leading global and regional private equity funds, as well as international market players, in complex cross-border buyout / co-control and corporate finance transactions. His practice encompasses both private and public M&A including take-privates, and Hong Kong Stock Exchange-related transactions.
Based in Hong Kong and previously in Australia, James has worked on transactions in the Asia Pacific region for over a decade across Greater China, Australia, India and South East Asia, with a wide sector focus which includes healthcare, consumer, infrastructure, energy and TMT.
Prior to joining KWM, James worked at leading Wall Street and Magic Circle firms.
James has a double degree in law and commerce from the University of Sydney. He is admitted in Hong Kong and Australia.
James is native in English and Mandarin.
Key recent experience includes the representation of*:
Private equity / buyout
- Ascendent Capital Partners on its partial exit from HK-listed SciClone Pharmaceuticals
- CVC on multiple matters, including:
- as joint offeror in the privatization of Razer Inc.
- on the sale of Road King China to China Merchants Bank
- Baring Private Equity Asia (now BPEA EQT) on the acquisition (via auction) of Straive (formerly SPi Global) from Partners Group
- China Investment Corporation (CIC) on the acquisition from GLP of a majority interest in Lightyear One, a real estate and logistics joint venture in Japan
- MBK Partners on multiple matters, including:
- the privatisation of HKEx-listed CAR Inc. by way of a pre-conditional voluntary general offer
- its majority investment into Wendu Education, a leading education provider in China
- TPG on the strategic consolidation of its telecom tower holdings in Myanmar through the merger of Apollo Towers and PAML
Strategic M&A / corporate finance
- Advised Udaan (one of India’s leading B2B platforms) on multiple rounds of capital raising by way of issuing convertible bonds to institutional investors
- Advised Alibaba Group on multiple matters, including:
- the acquisition of a minority stake in A + H share-listed Red Star Macalline
- the acquisition of a 36% interest in HKEx-listed Sun Art Retail Group
- the privatisation of HKEx-listed Intime Retail Group
- its acquisition of Kaola (a leading e-commerce platform in China) from NetEase
- Advised Orient Overseas on multiple matters, including:
- as the target in the pre-conditional voluntary general offer by COSCO Shipping and Shanghai International Port Group
- on the sale of Long Beach terminal (as mandated by CFIUS following the takeover by COSCO Shipping) to Macquarie Infrastructure Fund via auction
- Advised HKSE-listed United Energy Group on the acquisition of Kuwait Energy plc, an oil company operating in Iraq and Egypt, by way of a scheme of arrangement under Jersey law
- Advised Galaxy Entertainment on the subscription of Series D shares in WM Motors, a PRC electric vehicle maker
- Advised HKBN Ltd, a Hong Kong listed telco, as the target in a proposed take-private
- Advised Watchbox Inc on capital raising by way of SAFE notes
- Advised Huanxi Media Group on the strategic investment by Bytedance
*Including matters have been done before joining KWM
