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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, as well as governance matters. 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 M&A and other transactions undertaken on the UK equity capital markets (both the Main Market and AIM).

James is a member of the Company Law Committee of The City of London Law Society and is co-editor of Hewitt on Joint Ventures, the leading practitioner text on joint ventures. He has been recognised as a leading lawyer by a number of legal directories, including Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    “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

Education

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

Insights by James

New reporting requirements on suppliers’ payment practices and performance

10 Nov 2025 5 min read

Planning ahead for a potential IPO

13 Oct 2025 10 min read

Deals, Doubts & Divergences: CMS European M&A Outlook 2026

12 Sep 2025 2 min read

FCA publishes new Prospectus Rules

18 Jul 2025 8 min read
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