James Gaden
Partner
Hong Kong
James has over 20 years' experience advising the investment funds industry.
He specialises in advising private equity and hedge fund managers on a broad spectrum of legal issues including fund formation and structuring, acquisitions and disposals, fund restructuring and fund financing
In addition, James has an active corporate practice which includes providing general corporate advice on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. He also advises companies, LLCs, partnerships and their investors in relation to a variety of different financing transactions. James advises clients from across the region including in Hong Kong, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Australia. James is a respected practitioner in the investment funds industry and is a regular speaker at industry events.
James is a member of our Global Corporate & Investment Funds Group.
In addition, James has an active corporate practice which includes providing general corporate advice on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. He also advises companies, LLCs, partnerships and their investors in relation to a variety of different financing transactions. James advises clients from across the region including in Hong Kong, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Australia. James is a respected practitioner in the investment funds industry and is a regular speaker at industry events.
James is a member of our Global Corporate & Investment Funds Group.
He knows the Japanese market better than any other Cayman lawyers
Experience and recent work
Before joining Walkers in 2018, James was a partner at another leading offshore law firm in Hong Kong, where he worked from 2010 to 2018. He also worked in the Investment Funds team of the Hong Kong office of Sidley Austin and before that, at Gilbert & Tobin in Sydney.
Qualifications
Admitted in:
- Hong Kong (not practising)
- Supreme Court of New South Wales (not practising)
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney
- Master of Laws, University of Sydney
2025 Chambers Asia Pacific - Offshore - Notable Practitioner - "James Gaden is a Hong Kong-based lawyer who has an established corporate and investment funds practice. He has extensive experience advising private equity and hedge fund managers on various fund formation, structuring and investment matters." "James is a stellar attorney and we greatly appreciate working with him. His client service level, his legal expertise and market knowledge are top-tier."
2025 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Partner - "James Gaden primarily assists hedge and private equity fund managers."
2024 Chambers Asia Pacific - Offshore - Notable Practitioner - "He is an excellent legal counsel with a very client-oriented approach and timely responses."
2024 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Individual - "Well-versed in hedge and private equity fund formation matters and pursuant transactional work."
2023 Chambers Asia Pacific - Offshore - Notable Practitioner - "James Gaden is a Hong Kong-based lawyer who has an established corporate and investment funds practice. He has extensive experience advising private equity and hedge fund managers on various fund formation, structuring and investment matters."
2023 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Individual - "James Gaden is a partner in the Corporate and Investment Funds Group, with over twenty years of experience advising the investment funds industry."
2022 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star
2022 Who's Who Legal: "James Gaden stands out as a top name in the region and regularly advises an array of financial institutions on fund financing and acquisitions." – Mainland China & Hong Kong 2022 (Private Funds)
2022 Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders - Mainland China & Hong Kong 2022 (Private Funds)
2022 Asia Business Law Journal’s A-List of Top 50 Offshore Lawyers
2022 Chambers Global - Offshore - Notable Practitioner
2022 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Individual - James Gaden is recommended for corporate and investment work; he advises private equity and hedge fund managers on fund formation, structuring, acquisitions and disposals.
2022 Chambers Asia Pacific - Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds - Recommended - "He knows the Japanese market better than any other Cayman lawyers."
2021 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star Partner
2021 Chambers Asia Pacific - Notable Practitioner -"James Gaden has extensive experience advising private equity and hedge fund managers on various fund formation, structuring and investment matters. He wins much acclaim from market sources, one noting: 'He is the complete package - he has excellent technical skills, superb client skills and is easy to work with. He knows the market very well and always finds good, practical solutions to the problems.' "
2021 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Individual - "Appreciated for his 'responsiveness, experience and commerciality', James Gaden is...a key member of the funds team."
2020 Who's Who Legal - Private Funds (Recommended Lawyer)
2020 Chambers Asia Pacific - 'James Gaden is praised by one client as an "extremely respected lawyer" with a "stellar reputation in the Japanese financial community." He has extensive experience of advising the investment funds industry on fund formation and structuring as well as investment work.'
2020 Legal 500 Asia Pacific
2020 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star
2019 Chambers Asia-Pacific - Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds
2019 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star
2019 Who's Who Legal - Private Funds
2018 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star
2018 Legal 500 Asia Pacific – "Charismatic, articulate and efficient" James Gaden specialises in private equity and hedge fund formation matters.'
2018 Chambers Asia Pacific - "He frequently acts for major fund managers and private equity houses on formation and investment mandates."
2017 Chambers Asia Pacific - 'James Gaden advises on contentious and non-contentious investment fund matters as well as M&A transactions and fund financing mandates. He is establishing a reputation as a highly skilled Cayman Islands fund practitioner who is well regarded by clients and onshore investment fund practitioners.'
2016 Chambers Asia Pacific - 'James Gaden is a private equity and investment fund specialist who comes recommended by clients, who describe him as "knowledgeable and user-friendly." He does major work for Hong Kong, PRC and Japan-based investment funds.'
Team Members
