James Gorton represents public and private companies, banks, and private equity firms in mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions, as well as corporate governance matters. He has held a number of leadership roles at the firm, including as former member of the Executive Committee and former Chair of the Strategic Client Committee. In 2021, he was named a M&A Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting Group based on a survey of US corporate counsel and executives.

James brings particular experience in transactions involving the telecommunications, technology, and financial institutions industries, often with a cross-border component.

Prior to joining Latham, James was the founding general counsel of Global Crossing Ltd., a worldwide telecommunications company.

James's experience includes advising:

  • TradeLens, a blockchain-enabled shipping platform, in its joint venture investment by CMA CGM and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
  • Ocean Network Express (“ONE”) in the acquisition of Atlas Corp., a UK-based global asset management company, by Poseidon Acquisition Corp
  • Hyundai Motor Group in its US$4 billion joint venture with Aptiv to form an autonomous driving platform
  • Siemens in connection with its:    
    • US$7.6 billion acquisition of Dresser-Rand Group, suppliers of custom-engineered rotating equipment solutions for the oil and gas industry
    • US$4.5 billion acquisition of Mentor Graphics Corporation, a provider of software and hardware design solutions for the development of electronic products 
    • US$970 million acquisition of CD-adapco, a developer of computer-aided engineering applications, including computational fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and heat transfer
    • US$730 million acquisition of Mendix, a developer of low-code software platforms
    • €636 million sale of its water technologies business unit, a provider of the treatment and processing of water and wastewater, to AEA Investors
  • Siemens Healthineers in its US$16.4 billion acquisition of Varian Medical Systems, a global leader in cancer care
  • T-Mobile US in connection with its:
    • Merger with Sprint, a provider of communications services 
    • Acquisition of Layer3 TV, a next-generation television provider offering subscribers television and online video content streaming services
  • Ares Management in connection with its:
    • US$3.4 billion reverse merger of American Capital, a private equity firm focused on employee and management buyouts, with Ares Capital
    • Acquisition of the asset-based lending portfolio of First Capital Holdings, a commercial finance company
    • Acquisition by Ares Capital of Barclays Private Credit Partners Fund, a middle-market corporate loan portfolio
  • Facebook with respect to its terrestrial and subsea fiber network buildout program
  • Electric Lightwave, formerly known as Integra Telecom, a provider of infrastructure and telecom services, in its US$1.4 billion sale to Zayo Group Holdings
  • Credit Suisse in its joint venture with Palantir Technologies to form Signac, a company focused on identifying unauthorized trading in the financial services industry using Big Data analytic tools
  • Bank of America in the sale by its subsidiary Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, of its fixed income, preferred stock, foreign exchange, commodities, and convertible bond indices and related assets to Intercontinental Exchange
  • US Olympic Committee in connection with bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games
  • US Soccer in its bid to host the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cup™, advising the bid committee on all legal aspects of the bid, including commercial and sponsorship agreements, government guarantees, and FIFA rules

Bar Qualification

  • New York

Education

  • JD, New York University School of Law, 1986
  • BA, Columbia College, 1983