James Funder
Image of James Funder

James Funder

Counsel

Email

james.funder@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 3088 1868

Offices

London

V-CARD
James advises financial sponsors focussed on private equity and real estate transactions on a full range of corporate matters, including leveraged buyouts, joint venture arrangements and minority investments (including preferred and structured equity transactions), bolt-ons, sales processes and management equity plans.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • Apollo on its investment into, and subsequent exit from, CPI Property Group.
  • Apollo on its joint venture with LeadCrest for the acquisition of a 49% stake in Groupement Mousquetaire’s Portuguese real estate arm, Alcapredial.
  • Apollo on its co-investment arrangements with Avant Capital Partners in relation to the acquisition of a portfolio of 44 rental housing properties from Kojamo.
  • Apollo on its co-investment arrangements with Griffin Capital Partners in relation to the financing of Spravia, one of Poland’s leading residential developers.
  • Apollo on its financing to KME to support KME’s buyback of Cunova from Paragon.
  • Ardian on its acquisition of Audiotonix from Astorg.
  • Ares and Farallon on their joint venture arrangements in connection with their GBP200m debt-for-equity swap in respect of Independent Builders Merchants Group.
  • Avenue Capital Group and Robus Capital Management on the sale of Schletter Group to Enstall.
  • Blackstone on its acquisition of a majority stake in Luminor Bank and related joint venture with Nordea and DNB.
  • Bridgepoint on its acquisition of Qualitest from Marlin Partners.
  • Bridgepoint on its acquisition of Inspired Thinking Group from Equistone.
  • Bridgepoint on its acquisition, together with Astorg, of Fenergo from Insight Capital and its founder.
  • Bridgepoint on the bolt-on acquisition of Vuzion to its existing portfolio company, Infinigate.
  • Bridgepoint on the acquisition by Inspired Thinking Group of PureRed.
  • Brookfield on the sale of Greenergy's European business and North American supply business to Trafigura.
  • Brookfield on its long-term strategic partnership with Barclays in relation to Barclays’ payments acceptance business.
  • Brookfield Wealth Solutions on its acquisition of Just Group plc.
  • Eurazeo on its EUR1.8bn disposal of 50% of Planet to Advent International and related joint venture arrangements.
  • Exponent Private Equity on its acquisition of Natara from International Flavors & Fraagrances, Inc.
  • Lone Star in connection with the GBP755m preferred equity investment, together with Ares Management, into Quintain, the owner and manager of the Wembley Park estate.
  • A global private equity firm on its acquisition of Charles Street Buildings, a 40-asset real estate portfolio.
  • Management of Regina Maria and MediGroup in relation the acquisition of Regina Maria and MediGroup by Mehiläinen and the related investment in Mehiläinen by CVC and Hellman & Friedman.
  • OMERS Private Equity on its acquisition of Network Plus.
  • PAI Partners on the simultaneous acquisitions of Addo Food Group and Winterbotham Darby from LDC and Equistone, respectively, to create the Compleat Food Group.
  • Partners Group on the establishment of their Pest Control Partnership platform.
  • Telemos Capital on its acquisition of Helios Global Group Limited.
  • A European asset manager on its joint venture with True North Management to establish a platform for investing in the UK co-living sector.
  • Virgin Atlantic on its 2020 recapitalisation plan.
  • Virgin Media O2, Liberty Global and Telefónica on the combination of Virgin Media O2 Business and Daisy Group.

Qualifications

Admissions

Solicitor, Queensland, Australia, 2013

Academic

Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Queensland, 2011

Bachelor of Economics, University of Queensland, 2011

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.