James Campbell
Qualified in New York, James advises on complex cross-border M&A and corporate transactions, with experience across a range of industries and market sectors.
James advises Japanese clients on outbound acquisitions, investments and divestitures in the US, Europe and Asia.
He is skilled in both public and private investments and divestments, and in guiding Japanese clients, local counsel and investors through every aspect of an international transaction.
James' US experience and understanding is particularly valued by clients navigating complex transactions in that country, including managing access to the full range of US legal services provided by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- Itochu Corporation on its sale of shares in Paidy, Inc., a Japanese online payment provider, to PayPal Holdings, Inc.
- Japanese clients on numerous US renewable energy investments
- Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure Co. Ltd. on its acquisition of a stake in Moray East OFTO, an offshore wind power transmission owner (OFTO) in the United Kingdom
- Japanese clients on numerous US real estate joint venture development projects and similar investments
- Sanoh Industrial Co., Ltd., on the execution of an equity transfer agreement to acquire 100% of Winkelmann Powertrain México S. de R.L. de C.V. from Winkelmann Motortechnik Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH and Winkelmann Group North-America GmbH & Co. KG
- JTEKT CORPORATION on the restructuring of its needle roller bearing business in Europe (Germany, France, Czech Republic and other countries)
- Hokuriku Electric Power Co. on its investment in a new biocarbon production facility to be built in California by Aymium, a leading producer of renewable biocarbon products
- KDDI Corporation, a major telecommunications provider, on its capital and business alliance with Skydio, Inc., a US drone producer
- GIC Pte. Ltd., Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, on its joint investment in WHI Holdings Co., Ltd., a Japan-based human resources software provider, with global investment firm Bain Capital Private Equity, LP
- Cognex Corporation, a leader in industrial machine vision headquartered in the US, on its acquisition of Moritex Corporation, an optical components provider headquartered in Japan
- Pattern Energy Group LP, a US-based renewable energy company, on the sale and transfer of all shares in its Japanese affiliate Green Power Investment Corporation to NTT Anode Energy Corporation and JERA Co., Inc.
- Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure Co., Ltd. on its investment in Aurora Infrastructure Oy, a Finland-based operator of strategic electricity networks
Background
James worked at legacy Kramer Levin in New York before moving to Japan in 2019. He joined Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in 2026. James was admitted in New York in 2012, and is licensed to advise in Japan as a Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi.
