Kain Lawyers

Mergers and Acquisitions

Director Head of M&A (Public) and Capital Markets (Public)

James is the leader of our M&A (Public) and Capital Markets (Public) practice. He is a current member of the Australian Takeovers Panel and has extensive experience working in top-tier corporate law firms in Australia and London, on complex public and private M&A and capital raising transactions. James’ experience includes leading the Kain teams advising:

• SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on its acquisition by Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) (a subsidiary of Wesfarmers (ASX:WES)) by way of scheme of arrangement for approximately $180 million;

• Symphony Infrastructure Partners on its $488 million Series-A financing round, and on its acquisitions of RJE Global, Catalpa Group, Energy3 and Clutch;

• Kelsian Group (ASX:KLS) on its US$325 million (~A$487 million) acquisition of All Aboard America! Holdings Inc. and the associated A$281 million capital raising;

• Waveconn on its acquisition of AT Australia from American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT) and the acquisition of a significant portfolio of mobile tower and rooftop sites from Optus;

• Kelsian Group (ASX:KLS) on its $698 million (including up to $63 million contingent consideration) acquisition of Transit Systems Group, together with a $154 million capital raise by accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer and placement;

• ROC Partners on its $350 million+ competitive takeover bid for Vitalharvest (ASX:VTH);

• Kelsian Group (ASX:KLS) on its $125 million acquisition of Transit Systems Marine, and the associated capital raising of $51 million, and on Kelsian’s acquisition of the Kingfisher Bay Resort Group for $43 million;

• Ellex Medical Lasers Limited (ASX:ELX) on its capital raising of $23.2 million from US and Australian institutional and sophisticated investors;

• Alcidion Group Limited (ASX:ALC) on its acquisition of MKM Health and UK-based Patientrack; and

• Stilmark Group on its bid for the Optus tower portfolio and on the sale of Stilmark to OMERS Infrastructure.

James is recognised as a leading M&A and Equity Capital Markets lawyer. He has been named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ by The Best Lawyers in Australia™ in the areas of Equity Capital Markets (2027, 2024 and 2022), M&A (2025 and 2019) and Venture Capital (2026, 2023 and 2021), was named as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in the Legal 500 2026 Asia Pacific Edition in the area of Corporate M&A and is listed in the 2026 Doyle’s Guide as a ‘Leading Lawyer’ in the Corporate M&A category.  

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