James Westgate

James Westgate is a Partner in the Corporate Department at Bowmans' Johannesburg office, focusing on private equity, cross-border M&A, acquisition and structured finance, and general corporate advisory.

He has acted for a wide range of clients on complex transactions across sectors. Notable matters include advising Convergence Partners on strategic investments into FibreCo, DarkFibre and Vumatel, and its portfolio company on the acquisition of Vodacom Business Africa's operations in Nigeria, Zambia and Cote d'Ivoire; advising Standard Chartered Private Equity on the disposal of a 72% stake in KAMOSO Distribution (shortlisted for Private Equity Deal of the Year 2018); advising a group of private equity purchasers on the acquisition of iNova Pharmaceuticals from Valeant Pharmaceuticals in a transaction valued at USD 930 million; and advising Inspired Evolution Investment Management on its USD 25 million primary and USD 15 million secondary investment into d.light design Inc.

James holds an LL.M. from the University of Johannesburg and BA and LL.B degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is an Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa and was seconded to Maitland & Co in London for six months.

He is recognised by IFLR1000 for M&A.