James Crooks

James Crooks has been featured in the inaugural edition of The Tech Capital’s 2025 “Legal 50.” The feature highlights leading lawyers in digital infrastructure and the “crucial role that legal expertise plays in driving growth” across the digital economy, celebrating the lawyers whose work is shaping the future of digital infrastructure. James, a partner in Sidley’s London office, focuses his practice on leveraged finance and general debt financing transactions, advising private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, credit funds, and other financial institutions across an extensive range of debt products including mid and large-cap leveraged financings, public takeover financings, asset-backed financings, stressed and distressed situations, and complex financings into regulated sectors with particular depth of experience in the financial services, insurance, healthcare, pharma, tech, and sports industries in which he has delivered innovative, first-in-kind solutions on some of the most high-profile transactions in the market.~~James Crooks has been featured in the inaugural edition of The Tech Capital’s 2025 “Legal 50.” The feature highlights leading lawyers in digital infrastructure and the “crucial role that legal expertise plays in driving growth” across the digital economy, celebrating the lawyers whose work is shaping the future of digital infrastructure. James, a partner in Sidley’s London office, focuses his practice on leveraged finance and general debt financing transactions, advising private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, credit funds, and other financial institutions across an extensive range of debt products including mid and large-cap leveraged financings, public takeover financings, asset-backed financings, stressed and distressed situations, and complex financings into regulated sectors with particular depth of experience in the financial services, insurance, healthcare, pharma, tech, and sports industries in which he has delivered innovative, first-in-kind solutions on some of the most high-profile transactions in the market.

Dec 1

1 min

Sidley represented Bilkul Football WBA, owned by Florida-based entrepreneur Shilen Patel and his father Dr. Kiran C. Patel, in its agreement to acquire West Bromwich Albion Football Club. The takeover has been approved by the EFL, with Bilkul Football WBA acquiring an 87.8% shareholding in the football club’s parent company, West Bromwich Albion Group Limited. Shilen Patel has also been named Chairman of the football club. Shilen Patel commented: “It’s been wonderful to work with a solutions-driven team at Sidley. The team worked ceaselessly to navigate a complex and time sensitive process with parties across the US, Europe and Asia. They were instrumental in getting the right deal done on time.” The Sidley team was led by partners Adam Runcorn, Irwin Raij (M&A and Private Equity), and James Crooks (Global Finance). They were supported by a cross-border team including Andrew Cebula, Cyril Cutinha, Samuel Tee, Andrew Lecky, and Ling Chen (M&A and Private Equity); Pietro Fontana, James Snyder, Joe Patterson, Nils Gravenhorst, James Akinleye, and Esther Crang (Global Finance); Jason Menzies and Pranith Mehta (Tax); Jade Williams-Adedeji, Jo Bainton, and Yanaisha Sydamah (Real Estate); Andrew Fox (Litigation); Peter McCorkell and Alex Down (Employment); Francesca Blythe and Eleanor Dodding (Privacy); Patrick Harrison (Antitrust/Competition); Christopher Lock (Arbitration); Rachpal Thind, Tanaan Quek, Noel Li, and Chloe Francis (Banking); and E. Kyle Barnett and Tomide Owolabi (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions).~~Sidley represented Bilkul Football WBA, owned by Florida-based entrepreneur Shilen Patel and his father Dr. Kiran C. Patel, in its agreement to acquire West Bromwich Albion Football Club. The takeover has been approved by the EFL, with Bilkul Football WBA acquiring an 87.8% shareholding in the football club’s parent company, West Bromwich Albion Group Limited. Shilen Patel has also been named Chairman of the football club. Shilen Patel commented: “It’s been wonderful to work with a solutions-driven team at Sidley. The team worked ceaselessly to navigate a complex and time sensitive process with parties across the US, Europe and Asia. They were instrumental in getting the right deal done on time.” The Sidley team was led by partners Adam Runcorn, Irwin Raij (M&A and Private Equity), and James Crooks (Global Finance). They were supported by a cross-border team including Andrew Cebula, Cyril Cutinha, Samuel Tee, Andrew Lecky, and Ling Chen (M&A and Private Equity); Pietro Fontana, James Snyder, Joe Patterson, Nils Gravenhorst, James Akinleye, and Esther Crang (Global Finance); Jason Menzies and Pranith Mehta (Tax); Jade Williams-Adedeji, Jo Bainton, and Yanaisha Sydamah (Real Estate); Andrew Fox (Litigation); Peter McCorkell and Alex Down (Employment); Francesca Blythe and Eleanor Dodding (Privacy); Patrick Harrison (Antitrust/Competition); Christopher Lock (Arbitration); Rachpal Thind, Tanaan Quek, Noel Li, and Chloe Francis (Banking); and E. Kyle Barnett and Tomide Owolabi (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions).

Feb 28

2 min

Sidley is representing Great Hill Partners on its pending strategic majority investment in a newly formed organization comprising Vivup, a leading provider of world-class health and well-being benefits, and Perkbox, an award-winning global benefits and rewards platform, which will combine to offer a market-leading solution for the UK’s public and private employee benefits sectors. Great Hill Partners’ investment will help the newly strengthened organization scale its “go-to-market” capabilities, innovate product offerings, and accelerate organic and inorganic growth opportunities. The agreed transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approval. The Sidley team was led by partner Adam Runcorn and senior managing associate Andrew Cebula (Private Equity). They were supported by a cross-border team, including Alex Temel, Bill Schwab, Cindy Yuan, Tom Johnson, and Jessica Edwards (Private Equity & M&A); James Crooks, Iram Tariq, Esther Crang (Global Finance); Jason Menzies, Avi Kaye, and Fraser Tudor (Tax); Jade Williams-Adedeji, Jack Mayall, Jo Bainton, and Yanaisha Sydamah (Real Estate); Sven De Knop, Christopher Lock, Carys Golesworthy, Maryanne W. Kamau, Alessandra Moroni, and Nina Spieler (Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy); Patrick Harrison and Laurenz Bové (Antitrust & Competition); Rachpal Thind, Max Savoie, Martin Dowdall, Paida Manhambara, Chloe Francis, and Noel Li (Banking and Financial Services); Andrew Fox, Jonathan Lafferty, and Victor Pianowski (Commercial Litigation and Disputes); James Phythian-Adams, Scott J.F. Goldstein, Andrea M. Hynes, and Julie Rodriguez (Insurance); Peter McCorkell, Emily Wajert, and Alex Down (Labor & Employment); Francesca Blythe and Denise Kara (Privacy and Cybersecurity); and Kyle Barnett (Technology Transactions).~~Sidley is representing Great Hill Partners on its pending strategic majority investment in a newly formed organization comprising Vivup, a leading provider of world-class health and well-being benefits, and Perkbox, an award-winning global benefits and rewards platform, which will combine to offer a market-leading solution for the UK’s public and private employee benefits sectors. Great Hill Partners’ investment will help the newly strengthened organization scale its “go-to-market” capabilities, innovate product offerings, and accelerate organic and inorganic growth opportunities. The agreed transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approval. The Sidley team was led by partner Adam Runcorn and senior managing associate Andrew Cebula (Private Equity). They were supported by a cross-border team, including Alex Temel, Bill Schwab, Cindy Yuan, Tom Johnson, and Jessica Edwards (Private Equity & M&A); James Crooks, Iram Tariq, Esther Crang (Global Finance); Jason Menzies, Avi Kaye, and Fraser Tudor (Tax); Jade Williams-Adedeji, Jack Mayall, Jo Bainton, and Yanaisha Sydamah (Real Estate); Sven De Knop, Christopher Lock, Carys Golesworthy, Maryanne W. Kamau, Alessandra Moroni, and Nina Spieler (Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy); Patrick Harrison and Laurenz Bové (Antitrust & Competition); Rachpal Thind, Max Savoie, Martin Dowdall, Paida Manhambara, Chloe Francis, and Noel Li (Banking and Financial Services); Andrew Fox, Jonathan Lafferty, and Victor Pianowski (Commercial Litigation and Disputes); James Phythian-Adams, Scott J.F. Goldstein, Andrea M. Hynes, and Julie Rodriguez (Insurance); Peter McCorkell, Emily Wajert, and Alex Down (Labor & Employment); Francesca Blythe and Denise Kara (Privacy and Cybersecurity); and Kyle Barnett (Technology Transactions).

Mar 15

2 min

Sidley has represented funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (“Apollo Funds”) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) in their sale of 100% shareholding in SLS HOLDCO, holdinška družba, d.o.o., the parent company of Summit Leasing Slovenija d.o.o., and its subsidiaries (“Summit Leasing”), to Nova Ljubljanska Banka, d.d. Ljubljana. Summit Leasing is a leading provider of auto finance with a vast network of over 750 dealers across Slovenia and Croatia, as well as over 550 points-of-sale in consumer finance in Slovenia. In September 2017, Summit Leasing was acquired by Nova KBM, the second largest bank in Slovenia, which was then owned by Apollo Funds and EBRD. Apollo Funds and EBRD retained their shareholding in Summit Leasing after the sale of Nova KBM in February 2022. The completion of sale of Summit Leasing took place in September 2024 following seven successful years of Summit Leasing ownership by the Apollo Funds and EBRD. The Sidley team is led by partners Ramy Wahbeh and Kaisa Kuusk, counsel Florian Kamp and managing associate Ying Liu (M&A and Private Equity), supported by partner James Crooks and senior managing associate Nils Gravenhorst (Global Finance), partner Jason Menzies, and managing associate Avi Kaye (Tax), partners Matthew Shankland and Andrew Fox and senior managing associate Jonathan Lafferty (Commercial Litigation and Disputes), and associate Dominique J. Vletter (Antitrust and Competition).~~Sidley has represented funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (“Apollo Funds”) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) in their sale of 100% shareholding in SLS HOLDCO, holdinška družba, d.o.o., the parent company of Summit Leasing Slovenija d.o.o., and its subsidiaries (“Summit Leasing”), to Nova Ljubljanska Banka, d.d. Ljubljana. Summit Leasing is a leading provider of auto finance with a vast network of over 750 dealers across Slovenia and Croatia, as well as over 550 points-of-sale in consumer finance in Slovenia. In September 2017, Summit Leasing was acquired by Nova KBM, the second largest bank in Slovenia, which was then owned by Apollo Funds and EBRD. Apollo Funds and EBRD retained their shareholding in Summit Leasing after the sale of Nova KBM in February 2022. The completion of sale of Summit Leasing took place in September 2024 following seven successful years of Summit Leasing ownership by the Apollo Funds and EBRD. The Sidley team is led by partners Ramy Wahbeh and Kaisa Kuusk, counsel Florian Kamp and managing associate Ying Liu (M&A and Private Equity), supported by partner James Crooks and senior managing associate Nils Gravenhorst (Global Finance), partner Jason Menzies, and managing associate Avi Kaye (Tax), partners Matthew Shankland and Andrew Fox and senior managing associate Jonathan Lafferty (Commercial Litigation and Disputes), and associate Dominique J. Vletter (Antitrust and Competition).

Sep 13

2 min

Sidley is representing nCino, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCNO), a SaaS cloud service provider for banks and other financial institutions, in its acquisition of FullCircl, a UK-based SaaS platform which offers consolidated automation, compliance, client onboarding, and client lifecycle management solutions to financial institutions and highly regulated industries. The acquisition follows a formal partnership for compliant client onboarding between the two companies and the acquisition will enable further efficient onboarding, enhance data transparency, and provide frontline teams access to extensive business development data. The Sidley team is being led by Adam Runcorn, Martin A. Wellington, and Genevieve C. Edye (M&A and Private Equity); and includes Danielle N. Sismour, Jessica Edwards, and Yeonjoo Ban (M&A and Private Equity); Jason Menzies and Avi Kaye (Tax); and James Crooks and Isabel A. Neelands (Global Finance).~~Sidley is representing nCino, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCNO), a SaaS cloud service provider for banks and other financial institutions, in its acquisition of FullCircl, a UK-based SaaS platform which offers consolidated automation, compliance, client onboarding, and client lifecycle management solutions to financial institutions and highly regulated industries. The acquisition follows a formal partnership for compliant client onboarding between the two companies and the acquisition will enable further efficient onboarding, enhance data transparency, and provide frontline teams access to extensive business development data. The Sidley team is being led by Adam Runcorn, Martin A. Wellington, and Genevieve C. Edye (M&A and Private Equity); and includes Danielle N. Sismour, Jessica Edwards, and Yeonjoo Ban (M&A and Private Equity); Jason Menzies and Avi Kaye (Tax); and James Crooks and Isabel A. Neelands (Global Finance).

Nov 5

1 min