James Butler

Promoted to Partner in 2021, James plays a key role in our Corporate and Commercial department specialising in the franchise sector.

Having specialised as a member of our Corporate and Commercial team in 2014 after gaining an extensive range of knowledge and experience during his two year training contract with the firm, James now deals with both transactional and non-transactional work, advising businesses and business owners on all matters of company law and commercial arrangements. He also heads the firms company secretarial  service.

James frequently advises on acquisitions and disposals, management buyouts, and a range of corporate restructuring – including share buybacks, share-for-share exchanges and hive-downs. He has recently, for example, acted in relation to the de-merger and sale of a prestige motor vehicle franchise, acquisitions of large corporate groups in the hospitality sector, and the merger of two training and further education institutions. Further to this, James has acted  on behalf of banks, investors, and businesses in relation to financing and investment, of late having acted in relation to significant investment in a UK emerging technologies company.

He frequently drafts bespoke contractual agreements and advises on a multitude of arrangements and trading relationships, acting across a wide variety of sectors, ranging from offshore industry, renewables, retail, and technology to education, healthcare, and charities.  He has also advised on a wide range of intellectual property matters, including international patent sales, licensing, and cross-border trademark protection,  and dealt with joint venture arrangements for patent exploitation in the UK.