James Socas

James Socas is a Managing Director in Blackstone’s Tactical Opportunities Group. Mr. Socas has been involved with the firm’s investments in FireEye, Snowflake, Diligent, Episerver, and Titus. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Socas served as General Partner and co-manager of Updata Partners, a boutique growth equity firm focused on the software industry. He earlier served as a Managing Director at Credit Suisse First Boston and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, providing mergers & acquisitions and capital raising advice to companies in the global software industry. He later joined the senior management team of one of his investment banking clients, Symantec, as Head of Corporate Development, leading its strategic acquisitions, alliances and corporate venture investing. He has served on the board of managers of the University of Virginia Alumni Association, the board of trustees of the Potomac School, and was appointed to serve on the Board of Corrections for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is an honors graduate of the University of Virginia and a graduate of Harvard Business School.