James Watson

Based in our London office, James Watson is a Partner in the Firm’s European Restructuring Practice. Recognised by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 UK, James has extensive experience in domestic and cross-border restructurings and formal insolvency situations. He advises the full spectrum of stakeholders, regularly representing debtors and creditors as well as sponsors and insolvency practitioners. James also advises clients on investments in special situations involving stressed or distressed companies.

Select experience (including experience prior to Simpson Thacher) includes representing:

• Certain funds advised by KKR Credit as second lien lenders to the Wittur group in relation to its financial restructuring
• The ad hoc group of lenders to the Praesidiad group in relation to its financial restructuring implemented through an English scheme of arrangement
• Takko Fashion in relation to its financial restructuring implemented through an exchange offer
• Hurtigruten in connection with the group’s recapitalisation
• The administrators of the Avanti Communications group in relation to a pre-packaged sale of the group to its secured creditors
• The Arvos group in relation to the amendment and extension of its debt facilities
  Certain lenders to the Getronics and Pomeroy group in relation to its financial restructuring and sale
• The Galapagos group in connection with its financial restructuring
• LetterOne and Distribuidora Internacional de Alimentación (DIA) in relation to DIA’s multi-phase financial restructuring
• Permira Debt Managers in relation to the company voluntary arrangement and related financing of Paperchase
• Centerbridge and KKR, and subsequently Hospital Topco Limited, in connection with the restructuring and sale of BMI Healthcare and the GHG Group
• Toys ‘R’ Us in connection with its company voluntary arrangement
• Interpipe Limited in connection to its financial restructuring
• E-Commodities Holdings Limited (f/k/a Winsway Enterprises Holdings Limited) in connection with its financial restructuring implemented through parallel Hong Kong and BVI schemes of arrangement
• Alchemy Partners in relation to the financial restructuring of the Incisive Media group
• The first lien lenders to the PHS group in its financial restructuring implemented through an English scheme of arrangement
• The lenders to Johnston Press PLC in connection with its stressed recapitalisation
• The operator of the M6 Toll Road in relation to its financial restructuring implemented through an English scheme of arrangement
• The Stemcor group in relation to its financial restructuring implemented through an English scheme of arrangement
• Kodak Limited in relation to the restructuring of its pension liabilities
• Certain lenders to the Travelodge group in relation to its financial and operational restructuring, implemented through English schemes of arrangement and a company voluntary arrangement
• The administrators of Clinton Cards plc in connection to the sale of the majority of the group’s business
• National Car Parks Limited (NCP) in relation to its multi-stakeholder restructuring implemented through an English scheme of arrangement
• British Midland Limited in the period leading to its sale to British Airways
• The administrators of Heritable Bank plc, the U.K. subsidiary of Landsbank Islands h.f., in relation to the wind-down of its £1.1bn estate following the 2008 financial crisis

James was recently the contributing editor to the “Restructuring & Insolvency Comparative Guide,” published by Mondaq. He has also written articles for Global Restructuring Review and Eurofenix, as well as a chapter of a leading textbook on company voluntary arrangements.

James’ experience is bolstered by his work on client secondments with the restructuring team of a U.K. bank and at a leading credit fund.

He received his LPC from Oxford Institute of Legal Practice in 2004, and his B.A. from Magdalen College, University of Oxford in 2003. James is admitted to practice in England and Wales.