James Burnett, a partner in the Corporate Department of Latham & Watkins' London office, advises on equity and debt capital markets, bridge financing, and other aspects of corporate finance.

He represents investment banks, private equity firms, and corporations in public and private equity and debt offerings, bridge loans, acquisition financing, and liability management transactions, with a particular emphasis on issuances of high yield debt securities, leveraged transactions, and initial public offerings. James was previously based in the firm's Los Angeles office and was the Corporate Department Chair of the Hong Kong office. James is Vice Chairman of the firm’s Finance Committee.

He contributed to the Review and Outlook of European Direct Lending report 2021, published by Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

James’ experience includes advising:

  • Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley in bond-to-loan exchange with a side-by-side bond refinancing and loan amendment and extension for Synlab, awarded High Yield Deal of the Year at IFLR's Europe Awards 2021
  • Nordnet and its shareholders in its IPO and listing of shares on the Nasdaq Stockholm
  • Galaxy Pipeline Assets in its issuance of senior notes
  • BoC, HSBC, IMI, and JPM in the issuance of senior notes by Tengizchevroil
  • An ad hoc group of bondholders of Selecta in its recapitalization
  • DBS, J.P. Morgan, and UBS in the issuance of senior notes by Jubilant Pharma
  • Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley in the issuance of senior notes by NagaCorp
  • Barclays, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank , HSBC, J.P. Morgan, and Société Générale in green bond financing for Azure Power
  • Renew Power on its issuance of senior secured notes
  • China Southern Power Grid on its issuance of senior notes
  • Huachen Energy on its issuance of senior notes
  • Shandong Yuhuang Chemical on its issuance of senior notes
  • BNP Paribas, Guotai Junan International, and China Securities International in the issuance of senior notes by Reward International
  • Vedanta Resources on its issuance of senior notes 
  • Citigroup, Credit Suisse, DBS, HSBC, and J.P. Morgan in bond financing for Jubilant Pharma
  • Deutsche Bank in bond financing for Braas Monier Building Group
  • J.P. Morgan Chase in a private placement of senior secured floating rate notes for Synlab
  • J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and various other banks in bond and super senior RCF financing for Cinven’s acquisition of Labco and Synlabs
  • EQT in bond and term loan financing for the acquisition of Siemens Audiology
  • Credit Suisse and J.P. Morgan in bond and super senior RCF financing for Iceland Foods
  • PAI Partners in PIK bond financing for the acquisition of R&R Ice Cream, and R&R Ice Cream in various follow-on bond financings
  • J.P. Morgan in bond and super senior RCF financing for Autodistribution
  • Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and UniCredit in bond and super senior RCF financing for Avanza
  • BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and J.P. Morgan in various bond financings for Millicom
  • Goldman Sachs and a syndicate of banks in fixed and floating rate bond and super senior RCF financing for TMF Group
  • CVC Capital Partners in bridge, term loan, and bond LBO financing for the acquisition of Sunrise Communications and Sunrise Communications in a subsequent senior secured bond and term loan financing
  • Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and a syndicate of banks in senior secured bond and super senior RCF financings for Viridian
  • Sponsors and various banks in numerous auction processes requiring bridge commitment papers

Publications and Presentations

  • “Leveraged Finance: Market Update and Key Trends,” Fifteenth Annual Institute on Securities Regulation in Europe: Practical Implications of US Law on EU Practice, 2016 (panelist)
  • “Documenting Receivables Financings in Leveraged Finance and High Yield Transactions,” The International Comparative Legal Guide to Securitization 2016 (co-author)    

Bar Qualification

  • California
  • England and Wales (Registered Foreign Lawyer)

Education

  • JD, Columbia University School of Law, 2005
    James Kent Scholar
  • BA, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1995