James advises on a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions including takeovers, private acquisitions and disposals, and capital raisings. His experience includes advising both corporate and private equity clients.

James returned to Bell Gully in 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 for GE, Santander, Her Majesty's Treasury, BHP Billiton, Burberry and Brambles.

Since returning to Bell Gully, James has worked on a number of high profile transactions including the four largest takeovers in New Zealand in 2011 and Crown Fibre Holdings' ultra fast broadband arrangements with Telecom.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons), BCom, University of Auckland

Admitted

2003 New Zealand
2008 England and Wales

International Career

  • Slaughter and May, London
    2005-2009

Publications

Contact

Email: James Cooney

DDI: 64 9 916 8620

Mobile: 64 21 190 6145

Download Vcard: Vcard for James Cooney

Areas of Expertise

Recent Work

Turners & Growers takeover
Acting for BayWa in relation to its takeover offer for Turners & Growers.

PGC takeover
Acting for Australasian Equity Partners Fund No. 1 LP in relation to its takeover offer for Pyne Gould Corporation.

Comvita takeover
Acting for Cerebos in relation to its attempted takeover of Comvita.

Charlie's takeover
Acting for Asahi in relation to its NZ$129 million takeover of Charlie's Group.

Ultra-Fast Broadband Initiative
Advising Crown Fibre Holdings Limited, a Government owned investment vehicle, on governance and pre-structural separation aspects of its arrangements with Telecom Corporation of New Zealand (under which Crown Fibre Holdings will provide up to NZ$929 million to Chorus) for New Zealand's ultra-fast broadband initiative.

Pernod Ricard
Advising Pernod Ricard on its sale of Lindauer and other New Zealand wine brands, together with the related inventory and assets, to a consortium comprising Lion Nathan and Indevin.

Santander's takeover of Alliance & Leicester
Advising Santander on its £1.25 billion takeover of Alliance & Leicester.

GE's acquisition of Interbanca
Advising GE on its €1 billion acquisition of Interbanca from Santander.

Takeover of Abbot Group
Advising US private equity firm First Reserve, which specialises in the energy industry, on its £905 million takeover of Abbot Group.

Her Majesty's Treasury
Advising Her Majesty's Treasury on certain proposals concerning a UK bank.