Jim McNally focuses on fundraising, corporate and transactional matters for private equity and other alternative investment funds, as well as transactional matters for internationally active corporate clients. Jim’s experience includes structuring private equity and venture capital funds; and structuring acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures with respect to interests in a wide range of asset classes including acquiring, divesting and demerging investment management businesses and interests therein, as well as advising activists on strategy and execution of European campaigns.

Jim is listed in The Legal 500 UK as a “Recommended” lawyer in Investment Fund Formation and Management: Private Funds. An interviewee stated that “Jim McNally is highly experienced, highly intelligent, and responsive, and manifestly values us as a client. We have a complicated business, but we have not been able to come up with a concept that he can’t readily draft for!”

Representations

Advised Bybrook Capital on the acquisition and merger of its business with that of Cairn Capital.

Advised Infinity Investment Partners as regards the acquisition and sale of a number of private investments and fund interests.

Advised Tufton Oceanic on the transition of its investment management business with a new financial partner under which the management team acquired a substantially increased stake in the business.

Advised an activist investor as regards its campaign against Wirecard AG.

Advised in connection with the spin out of Rothschild & Co’s trust business and the financing thereof, the interim restructuring of that business and on the ultimate sale by the financial investor of its interests thereof.

Advised on the creation and establishment of a number of segregated portfolio products for private equity investments for Kingsway Capital and others.

Advised AKAZ Investment Partners on the establishment of its Flagship and Opportunistic hedge fund products, as well as on the establishment of its management company structures.

Advised Emso Asset Management in connection with the establishment of bespoke carried interest arrangements over a number of funds products.

Advised Samena Capital as regards the establishment of its third special situations fund, and various other matters.

Representing a Canadian asset management firm on its ongoing activist campaign against First Group, and subsequently advising a US activist on its separate campaign against First Group.

Advising a private equity firm on its activist approaches to Mears Group.

Advised Cantab Capital Partners on the sale of its business to GAM for upfront cash consideration of $217 million and deferred consideration based on future revenues, with Cantab retaining a 40-percent interest in future performance fees.

Advised Chenavari on the sale of a revenue share to Dyal Capital.

Advised Chorus Capital on the establishment of its credit opportunities fund, Chorus Capital Credit Fund I.

Advised TriSpan on the establishment of its management group and its 'Rising Stars' and 'Opportunities' private equity funds.

Advised Systematica and its management on its spin out from BlueCrest Capital Management and on the creation of its investment management business, and in connection with AMG’s acquisition of a minority stake from BlueCrest Capital Management.

Advised Pelham Capital on the sale of a minority stake to Petershill, and on a subsequent reorganisation of its business following changes in UK legislation.

Advised Kingsway Capital on the establishment of its asset management business and the launch of its 'Frontier Consumer Internet' private equity fund.

Advised Pacific View Asset Management on the acquisition of microcap investor Perlus Investment Management.

Advised Arrowgrass on its acquisitions of interests in two P2P lenders.

Advised Aquila Capital on the establishment of hedge and private equity products, the latter specialising in European real estate and renewable energy investments.

Advised State Street (and previously General Electric Asset Management) on its international investment programme, encompassing real estate and private equity investments over multiple geographies and sectors.

Advised Brook Bay on the launch of a dedicated hedge fund secondaries product.

Advised Westport Capital Partners on the establishment of its UK operations and business.

Advised Eton Park on the monetisation of UK portfolio company investments.

Advised multiple funds advised by ARCIS Capital on a number of secondary funds transactions.

Advised the shareholders of New Finance Capital, a fund of hedge funds business, on the sale of its shares to Schroders for $141 million.

Publications

“UK Directors’ Duties – What Are You Owed as a Creditor, and When?,” SRZ Alert, 12 Oct. 2022

“Mind Who You Are Talking To: The UK Takeover Code & Limits on Shareholder Conversations,” SRZ Alert, 6 Oct. 2022

The Activist Investing Annual Review 2022, March 2022

Fall 2020 Shareholder Activism Insight (Activist Insight in association with SRZ), November 2020

Contributor, 2020 Shareholder Activism Insight (Activist Insight in association with SRZ)

Contributor, The Activist Investing Annual Review 2019 (Activist Insight in association with SRZ)

Contributor, Shareholder Activism Insight (SRZ in association with Activist Insight and Okapi Partners), 2018

Contributor, The Activist Investing Annual Review 2018 (Activist Insight in association with SRZ)

“Elliott Makes Its $33 Billion Presence Felt in Europe,” Bloomberg, 16 Aug. 2017 (quoted)

“Changes to the UK’s ‘People with Significant Control’ Regime,” SRZ Alert, 29 June 2017 (co-author)

“Activist Investors in Europe are Getting Bolder,” Financial News, 8 Feb. 2017 (quoted)

Contributor, The Activist Investing Annual Review 2017 (Activist Insight in association with SRZ)

Contributor, Shareholder Activism Insight (SRZ in association with Activist Insight and FTI Consulting), 2016

“Q&A: Jim McNally, SRZ,” The Hedge Fund Journal, September 2016 (featured)

“UK Companies and LLPs Affected by New Provisions of the ‘People with Significant Control’ Regime,” SRZ Alert, 24 March 2016 (co-author); republished in Bloomberg BNA – Tax Planning International European Tax Service, April 2016

“Writing the Activism Playbook,” The Hedge Fund Journal, February 2016 (interview)

Contributor, The Activist Investing Annual Review 2016 (Activist Insight in association with SRZ)

“SRZ Advises Activist Funds — Diplomacy and Discretion Apt in Europe,” The Hedge Fund Journal, 1 Sept. 2015 (quoted)

“77% European Companies Expect Activism Spike,” IFLR, 4 Nov. 2014 (quoted)

Contributor, Shareholder Activism Insight (SRZ in association with Mergermarket), 2014

SRZ UK Shareholder Activism Briefings, August 2014 (author)

“Shareholder Activists — Keeping a Low Profile,” Lexis® PSL Corporate, 14 July 2014

Speaking Engagements

“Activism: Avoiding Foot Faults,” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, May 2023

SRZ Shareholder Activism Breakfast Briefing, London, September 2019

“Managing the Team (in Good Times and in Bad),” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, London, June 2019

“How Activists Prevent Buyouts in the EU: Squeeze Outs and Hold Outs,” Skytop Strategies Shareholder Engagement & Communication, London, March 2019

Moderator, “Effective Communications and Campaigning,” SRZ Shareholder Activism in Europe Seminar, London, November 2018

“Co-Investment Vehicles,” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, London, July 2018

Moderator, “Current Issues in Activism,” SRZ Shareholder Activism in the UK, London, May 2017

“MAR — Nine Months On,” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, London, March 2017

“Stay Current: How Brexit Will Alter Legal and Regulatory Realities in Europe and the UK,” The Deal & ArrowCon Partners Corporate Governance & Activist Investing in Europe, London, September 2016 

Wilson Willis Management Hedge Fund Business Forum, London, May 2016

“Co-Investments: Structure, Terms and Considerations,” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, London, London, March 2016

Moderator, “Institutional Investors and Activism,” SRZ and Activist Insight Shareholder Activism in the UK Conference, London, November 2015

Moderator, “Activism: Unlocking Value Through Activist Investing,” ICBI GAIM International 2015 Conference, Monaco, June 2015

Moderator, “Legal and Regulatory Issues: Dealing with Multiple Jurisdictions, Operating Environments and Shareholder Structures in Europe,” ArrowCon Events Activist Investing in Europe, London, May 2015

“Current Issues for Managers,” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, London, March 2015

“Activist Strategies, Myths and Realities,” ALFI European Alternative Investment Funds Conference, Luxembourg, November 2014

“How Much is Your Hedge Fund Company Worth? Valuing Hedge Fund Businesses?,” Deutsche Bank London Hedge Fund Symposium, London, November 2014

“2014 Shareholder Activism Insights Report — US and UK Perspectives,” SRZ 5th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference, October 2014

“Shareholder Campaigns in the UK,” SRZ Shareholder Activism in the UK Conference, New York, October 2014

“Legal & Regulatory Issues,” ArrowCon Events The Growth of Activist Investing in Europe, London, June 2014

“Management Company Structuring and Operations,” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, London, March 2014

“AIFMD for EU and US Private Equity Fund Managers,” SRZ AIFM Directive: Requirements for Private Fund Managers Webinar Series, April 2013

“Capital Raising in 2013,” SRZ London Investment Management Hot Topics, London, March 2013

Memberships

  • Alternative Investment Management Association

Distinctions

  • The Legal 500 UK