James Gibson

James is consistently ranked as one of New Zealand’s top M&A and equity capital markets lawyers. James regularly acts for both bidders and targets in takeovers and issuers and underwriters in securities offerings.

​​​James acts as counsel on international investments into New Zealand for financial sponsors and multi-national corporates and has led major acquisitions and divestment transactions and securities offerings across Australasia.

He has extensive experience in initial public offerings on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, and for New Zealand-based companies in international public offerings and listings, including on the NASDAQ. James regularly advises underwriters and lead managers on their roles in public offerings.

James leads Bell Gully's international team spending time growing the international networks and client base and is a past member of Bell Gully's Board of Management.​

James is ranked as a leading lawyer for corporate and M&A by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022​, and is described in a previous edition as someone who will "always go above and beyond to assist". The IFLR1000 2022 ​ranks James as a market leader in capital markets and merger and acquisitions​. In a previous edition, clients said "he's a high energy, pro-active practitioner who consistently delivers very high quality work." He is also the only New Zealand lawyer named in the IFLR Asia Best Lawyers 2021.

Chambers Asia Pacific 2022 ranks James in the top tier of corporate lawyers. Clients are particularly swift to praise his readiness to "take the big-picture view of things," one noting: "He's very interested in the business and where he can help above and beyond the legal perspective, providing helpful suggestions and connections," while another reports: "He's always willing, not only to provide top legal counsel, but also to listen to the issues and to drive creative solutions."

James has also been described as "one of the foremost private equity transaction specialists in the country" in Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Private Equity Lawyers.​