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James advises entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and investors across all stages of the corporate lifecycle, with a particular focus on venture and growth capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and university spinouts. He is widely recognized for his work with life sciences, climate innovation, fintech and other high-growth technology businesses.
With more than 20 years of experience, James serves as trusted counsel to founders and investors, frequently acting as outside general counsel to science-based and innovative companies. He has extensive experience advising on venture capital financings, strategic investments, acquisitions, divestitures and other complex corporate transactions.
James is particularly known for his work in the European fintech sector and has advised on numerous venture capital and M&A transactions involving fast-growing technology companies. In addition, he is deeply involved in the commercialization of academic research and emerging technologies, working closely with universities and research institutions to support the formation, growth and financing of spinout companies.
Before joining Sullivan, James was a partner at a leading European law firm.
Sullivan partners Carole Bass and Douglas Schneidman have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Doyle’s Guide among New York City’s Leading Wealth, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers. Carole, who leads the firm’s Private Clients/Trusts & Estates practice, was named a leading lawyer, and Doug was named a recommended lawyer. Carole advises high-net-worth individuals, multigenerational families, family offices and fiduciaries on estate, wealth transfer and trust planning. She designs sophisticated, tax-efficient
Alexandra (Ali) Wannop, counsel in Sullivan’s Real Estate Practice Group, was featured in the New England Real Estate Journal’s “2026 Women in CRE: CREW Boston Member Spotlight.” In the feature, Ali reflects on how advice from an early mentor shaped her approach to resolving complex title issues. She emphasizes the value of looking beyond conventional interpretations and questioning assumptions to find solutions in challenging transactions. “I’ve learned that what looks like a dead
On September 16, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued two proposals that, if adopted, would represent significant changes to the federal proxy rules for U.S. public companies. The first proposal would eliminate Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Rule 14a-8 currently requires companies to include qualifying shareholder proposals in their proxy materials and has been part of the federal proxy rules for more than
Molly Depew will co-present “Estate Tax and the Gross Estate,” a webinar hosted by the American Bar Association’s Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, on October 8, alongside Preston Channing Demouchet. The first session in the ABA’s “Basics of Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax” webinar series will review the application of the federal estate tax. Topics will include the tax rate and unified credit for residents and non-residents,
Partner Geoffrey Wynne will participate in The Trade Finance Compliance Conference hosted by leading global consultancy HKA and IIBLP (the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice) in London on October 6, the theme of which is “Inside Real-World Trade Finance Compliance Decision-Making.” Geoff will join the panel discussing “Fraud, TBML (Trade-Based Money Laundering) and credit risk - one fact pattern, three silos” which will be moderated by Lorna Strong (Associate
First, a crucial clarification. While The Princess Bride (the wonderful movie) has the frame narrative of a grandfather who reads the book to his grandson, The Princess Bride (the wonderful book) has the frame narrative of a man whose father read it to him, and who wants to share it with his own son. The book is out of print, and the man sends his lawyer to a used bookstore
The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently issued a useful reminder that aggressive discovery positions risk negative consequences far beyond facing motions to compel. In Old Ironsides Energy LLC v. Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC[1], the court affirmed summary judgment against a plaintiff seeking approximately $20 million in damages after concluding that the plaintiff lacked admissible expert testimony necessary to prove its claimed damages. The $20 million kicker? Expert testimony would have been admissible
Richard Jones will speak on a panel discussion titled "Practitioner Feedback" on October 8, 2026, at the 46th Annual National Conference of State Tax Judges at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Conference meets annually to review recent state tax decisions, consider methods of dealing with complex tax and valuation disputes, and share experiences in case management. Rich's practitioner-focused panel will explore practical strategies and best practices
On Friday, September 18, 2026, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the “SJC”) affirmed the dismissal of the Town of Marshfield’s challenge to the MBTA Communities Act (the “Act” or “Section 3A”).[1] The decision confirms that covered municipalities must adopt and maintain zoning that permits multifamily housing as of right in at least one district. It also rejects Marshfield’s four principal theories for avoiding that obligation, which are explored in more
Sullivan partners Carole Bass and Douglas Schneidman have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Doyle’s Guide among New York City’s Leading Wealth, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers. Carole, who leads the firm’s Private Clients/Trusts & Estates practice, was named a leading lawyer, and Doug was named a recommended lawyer. Carole advises high-net-worth individuals, multigenerational families, family offices and fiduciaries on estate, wealth transfer and trust planning. She designs sophisticated, tax-efficient
Alexandra (Ali) Wannop, counsel in Sullivan’s Real Estate Practice Group, was featured in the New England Real Estate Journal’s “2026 Women in CRE: CREW Boston Member Spotlight.” In the feature, Ali reflects on how advice from an early mentor shaped her approach to resolving complex title issues. She emphasizes the value of looking beyond conventional interpretations and questioning assumptions to find solutions in challenging transactions. “I’ve learned that what looks like a dead
On September 16, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued two proposals that, if adopted, would represent significant changes to the federal proxy rules for U.S. public companies. The first proposal would eliminate Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Rule 14a-8 currently requires companies to include qualifying shareholder proposals in their proxy materials and has been part of the federal proxy rules for more than
Molly Depew will co-present “Estate Tax and the Gross Estate,” a webinar hosted by the American Bar Association’s Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, on October 8, alongside Preston Channing Demouchet. The first session in the ABA’s “Basics of Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax” webinar series will review the application of the federal estate tax. Topics will include the tax rate and unified credit for residents and non-residents,
Partner Geoffrey Wynne will participate in The Trade Finance Compliance Conference hosted by leading global consultancy HKA and IIBLP (the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice) in London on October 6, the theme of which is “Inside Real-World Trade Finance Compliance Decision-Making.” Geoff will join the panel discussing “Fraud, TBML (Trade-Based Money Laundering) and credit risk - one fact pattern, three silos” which will be moderated by Lorna Strong (Associate
First, a crucial clarification. While The Princess Bride (the wonderful movie) has the frame narrative of a grandfather who reads the book to his grandson, The Princess Bride (the wonderful book) has the frame narrative of a man whose father read it to him, and who wants to share it with his own son. The book is out of print, and the man sends his lawyer to a used bookstore
