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James Parkes

Partner

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Cannon Place
78 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6AF
United Kingdom
Languages English

James Parkes is a partner in the Corporate Transactions group. He advises UK and international clients on a broad range of transactions, including domestic and cross-border M&A (public and private), joint ventures, restructuring and financing transactions. His clients span a number of industry sectors, including consumer and retail, real estate, TMT, sports, hospitality and leisure, and life sciences. James specialises in advising corporates, financial sponsors and investment banks on transactions undertaken on the UK equity capital markets (both the Main Market and AIM).

James has been recognised as a leading practitioner by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

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“A star of the future… James is very calm under pressure and very to the point”

Chambers & Partners

Relevant experience

  • Pendragon on its GBP 367m sale of its automotive business to, and strategic partnership with, Lithia Motors
  • Finsbury Food on its GBP 144m recommended takeover by Frisbee Bidco, an entity owned by funds managed by DBAY 
  • Galliford Try on its GBP 1.075 bn sale of its Linden Homes and Partnerships & Regeneration businesses to Vistry
  • Big Yellow on over £400m of equity fundraisings and its £145m acquisition of Armadillo Self Storage
  • L&G Capital Investments on the GBP 352m Main Market IPO of Pod Point
  • Hollywood Bowl on its GBP 240m Main Market IPO and subsequent equity fundraisings
  • Strix on its GBP 190m AIM IPO and EUR 31.6m acquisition of Laica
  • LondonMetric Property on its GBP 415m recommended takeover of A&J Mucklow
  • The All England Lawn Tennis Ground on its issuances of various series of Wimbledon Centre Court and No. 1 Court Debentures and its acquisition of Wimbledon Park Golf Club
  • Galliford Try on its GBP 157m ‘cash-box’ rights issue
  • Liberum on the GBP 73m AIM IPO of Aquis Exchange
  • Panmure Gordon on the GBP 20m AIM IPO of Arecor Therapeutics
  • The Royal Bank of Scotland on its GBP 53m public company acquisition of FreeAgent
  • The management of Harvey Nash in relation to its GBP 98m acquisition by The Power of Talent
  • Mayfair Equity Partners on its GBP 79m recommended offer for Nasstar
  • CooperSurgical on its GBP 140m acquisition of the Wallace line of IVF products from Smiths Medical and GBP 47.5m acquisition of Safe Obstetrics Systems
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Education

  • 2000 - LPC (Distinction), College of Law, London
  • 1999 - BA Law & History (Joint Hons), University College London, London
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Feed

09/11/2023
FRC U-turns on proposed changes to the UK Corporate Governance Code
In another surprise move in the normally placid world of corporate governance, the FRC provided an important policy update in response to the King’s Speech on 7 November 2023 – which failed to include...
13/10/2023
CMS advises Big Yellow Group on its oversubscribed £110m fundraise
International law firm CMS has advised Big Yellow Group plc, the UK’s brand leader in self-storage, on its oversubscribed £110m capital raise. Big Yellow, which is listed on the premium segment of...
20/09/2023
CMS advises Finsbury Foods on sale to Frisbee Bidco
International law firm CMS is advising long-standing client, Finsbury Food Group (Finsbury), a leading manufacturer of bakery goods, on its proposed sale to Frisbee Bidco Limited (Bidco) for £143.4 million...
18/09/2023
CMS advises Pendragon on disposal of UK motor and leasing business
International law firm CMS has advised long standing client Pendragon on the proposed disposal of its UK motor business and leasing business, which includes the Evans Halshaw, Stratstone and CarStore...
15/11/2022
Advising the Board Report on Director Duties Risk
Executive and non-executive directors have a wealth of re­spons­ib­il­it­ies, but no matter the nature of a particular role or industry, or the day to day demands of a business, all directors remain subject...
29/07/2022
The future of UK Secondary Fundraisings
The long-anticipated UK Secondary Capital Raising Review has landed. The Review was led by Freshfields partner, Mark Austin, following consultation with numerous market participants. The Review follows...
28/06/2021
CMS advises clients in relation to AIM IPO and reverse acquisition
International law firm CMS has advised on two equity capital market transactions in recent weeks. CMS acted for Panmure Gordon as nominated adviser and sole broker to Arecor Therapeutics plc in relation...
23/04/2020
CMS tops UK ECM transactions legal adviser rankings
CMS has advised on five separate placings for listed companies in the past week, reinforcing the firm’s position as the joint most active legal adviser on ECM transactions in Q1 2020 according to ECM...
03/04/2020
Pre-Emption Group publishes expectations for issuances in the circumstances...
On 1 April 2020, the Financial Reporting Council published a statement on behalf of the Pre-Emption Group (PEG) setting-out the PEG’s expectations for issuances during the economic turbulence caused...
01/04/2020
Guidance on Temporary Measures for AGMs – an update for UK public companies
Further to the UK Government’s enactment of legislation on 23 March 2020 requiring all non-key personnel to “stay at home” (the “Stay At Home Measures”), The Chartered Governance Institute...
26/03/2020
Extensions to deadlines for publishing and filing annual accounts and additional...
In a combined approach, the FCA, London Stock Exchange and Companies House have announced a series of measures extending the deadlines for both the publication of financial results by listed companies...
23/03/2020
Temporary Coronavirus Measures for AIM companies and Nomads
Correct as of 10 am 23 March 2020. This article is not being maintained. We previously published a Law-Now highlighting some of the potential consequences of the spread of Coronavirus for UK public companies...