James Cooney

James is a corporate partner specialising in M&A and capital markets transactions. He advises leading companies and sponsors on their most complex and significant transactions in the New Zealand market.

​​​James advises clients on private acquisitions and disposals, public takeovers and schemes of arrangement, equity capital markets, and listed corporate governance. He has a reputation for providing excellent client service and for being solutions-oriented.

Notable recent transactions include acting for, BGH Capital and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board on their NZ$137 million acquisition of NZX-listed Abano by way of scheme of arrangement. The scheme involved an innovative consideration adjustment mechanism. He also acted for BGH Capital and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board when they successfully terminated their first proposed scheme of arrangement in relation to Abano due to a material adverse change.

Fletcher Building on its NZ$750 million fully underwritten accelerated renounceable entitlement offer. This transaction was the largest secondary capital raising ever undertaken in New Zealand.

Nuplex Industries on its acquisition by Allnex by way of scheme of arrangement. The billion-dollar transaction was the largest completed takeover involving a New Zealand target company in a decade and was the first large takeover to be implemented by way of scheme of arrangement under the new regime for schemes, which came into force in 2014. This transaction won the New Zealand Deal of the Year, as well as M&A Deal of the Year, at the 2017 New Zealand Law Awards.

James has particular expertise in takeovers law and strategy (including e​xtensive schemes experience), and is one of New Zealand's leading takeovers lawyers. He has acted on nearly half of the major takeovers in the New Zealand market over the last decade. He brings an international perspective to his takeover practice, having worked on a number of significant takeovers during his four years at Slaughter and May in London. His understanding of Australian and UK takeovers law and practice is particularly valued by international clients.

In addition to his transactional work, James regularly provides listing rule and corporate governance advice to a number of listed companies. He is a member of the executive of the Listed Companies Association. He was also a member of the regulatory working group of Capital Markets 2029 (the NZX and FMA initiated industry-led review of New Zealand's capital markets).

Chambers Asia Pacific 2022 ranks James as a leading corporate lawyer, noting that he is well regarded for his work advising clients in relation to both international and domestic M&A transactions, operating in a number of sectors including healthcare and natural resources. In previous editions, he is described by clients as a "real star", "excellent", and a "sharp operator" who "will always go that extra mile".

The IFLR1000 2022 recognises James as highly regarded for his corporate and M&A work.​ ​James is also recommended for corporate and M&A by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, with previous edition client feedback stating that he “provides insightful and commercial advice" and is “highly recommended".​