James Burdett
Biography
James leads our Middle East and Africa Funds Group and sits on the Firm's Global Funds Steering Committee. He has experience in the formation of private equity and hedge fund structures, fund reviews and due diligence for investors, investment management and advisory agreements, information memoranda and other offering documents, and in advising on specific investment structures for asset classes. He also has extensive experience in advising both buyers and sellers in secondary transactions private equity and real estate fund interests, end of life portfolios and GP-led buyouts. As well as advising fund managers, he counts many large institutional investors amongst his clients. James co-leads the Firm's Sovereign Investor Group and its relationship with the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds with whom Baker McKenzie has an exclusive partnership for the provision of Legal and Regulatory knowledge services. James is ranked Band 1 in Investment Funds: Investor Representation by Chambers.
Representative Legal Matters
Middle East
- Aldar Properties on its AED 400 million investment in two European private real estate credit platforms alongside an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and Ares Management Corp.
- ADQ in relation to its co-investments alongside funds managed by Further Global into a number of portfolio companies.
- ADQ in relation to private equity fund investments.
- Olayan on numerous private equity, real estate and venture capital investments and co-investments globally.
- Sovereign wealth fund on the establishment of The Egypt Fund, Egypt's sovereign development fund.
Europe and Global
- Institutional investor on its participation in a co-investment alongside Brookfield-managed funds in relation to a take-private transaction led by Brookfield (target company is listed on London Stock Exchange and takeover is being effected by scheme of arrangement).
- Institutional investor on its participation in a co-investment alongside EQT-managed funds in a take-private transaction led by EQT (target company is listed on the London Stock Exchange).
- GIC on a number of co-investment transactions alongside private equity and infrastructure fund sponsors.
- Earth Capital Partners in relation to the formation of a UK fund advisor and Guernsey fund structures.
- Ardian on establishment of private equity secondary fund of funds.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Law Society of England and Wales
- City of London Law Society
Admissions
- England & Wales~United Kingdom (1995)
- Dubai - Registered Legal Consultant~United Arab Emirates
Education
- London Guildhall University (Law Society Finals) (1993)
- London Guildhall University (CPE) (1991)
- University of Edinburgh (MA Hons, Honors) (1990)
Languages
- English
Previous Offices
- London