James Iremonger is the head of the Middle East’s Projects, Finance, and Restructuring teams, bringing extensive expertise across sectors including distressed retail, healthcare, real estate, and leisure. He regularly acts for a wide range of local and international banks, hedge funds, and financial institutions.

James’s experience spans complex restructurings, insolvencies, and financial advisory matters. He has acted for the creditors’ committee in the high-profile restructuring of Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers, addressing approximately SAR 27.8 billion of approved claims under the FRP process. He represented the joint trustees of the KBBO Group in its multi-billion AED restructuring under the UAE onshore Bankruptcy Law and advised a UAE-based bank on completing the first debt-to-equity swap in Abu Dhabi. He also led a multi-partner team on the restructuring of the Lagoon City sukuk, which involved a first-of-its-kind asset-for-asset swap in a listed Kuwaiti sukuk.

James has advised a GCC government on the tax-driven restructuring and divestment of assets in the US and Germany and acted for the joint liquidators of Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Limited in one of the largest pan-GCC construction-related insolvencies. He represented A'ayan Leasing & Investments Company in restructuring numerous Shariah-compliant bank facilities and capital markets issues, including debt-for-asset, debt-for-equity, and debt-for-receivables swaps, structured in a tax-efficient manner. He also advised an International Investment Company on the restructuring of its Shariah-compliant facilities with multiple banks and credit institutions.

James has worked on the preparation and finalization of new derivatives products for banks in the UAE and Africa on both Shariah and non-Shariah-compliant bases. He acted for a large pension fund in the recovery of €3 billion in assets from the insolvent estate of Lehman Brothers London and has been involved in high-profile restructurings such as JJB Sports Group and a UK-based energy company, including all regulatory and insolvency matters.

James is a qualified solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, speaks English, and holds a Law LLB with 2.1 Hons from the University of Birmingham and completed the Legal Practice Course with Distinction at Nottingham Law School.