Profile
James Cooney
James specialises in corporate and securities law. His broad practice includes takeovers, private acquisitions and disposals (including competitive sales processes), equity capital markets, listed corporate governance and corporate compliance. His experience includes advising both corporate and private equity clients.
James returned to Bell Gully in February 2010 after four years working in the corporate team of leading London law firm Slaughter and May. While in London, James advised on a variety of significant transactions including:
- Santander's £1.25 billion takeover of Alliance & Leicester;
- GE's €1 billion acquisition of Interbanca from Santander;
- US private equity firm First Reserve's £905 million takeover of Abbot Group;
- Brambles' sale of its UK waste management division, Cleanaway UK, to French waste management company Veolia for £650 million;
- the underwriting, by a syndicate of investment banks, of Intermediate Capital Group's £350 million rights issue;
- investment company European Capital's IPO on the London Stock Exchange; and
- Burberry's demerger from GUS.
Since returning to Bell Gully, James has worked on a number of high profile transactions including acting for Fisher & Paykel Appliances in relation to the $927 million takeover by Haier, the four largest takeovers in New Zealand in 2011 and Crown Fibre Holdings' ultra fast broadband arrangements with Chorus.
Qualifications
LLB (Hons), BCom, University of Auckland
Admitted
2003 New Zealand
2008 England and Wales (non-practising)
International Career
- Slaughter and May, London
2005-2009
