James Taylor

James has worked closely with global financial institution and state-owned and privately owned company clients in recent years on innovative sustainable finance transactions, including green, social and sustainability-linked notes, and has considerable experience representing banks on their regulatory capital issues and related liability management transactions in alignment with relevant prudential regulatory frameworks.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown, James was seconded to the emerging markets group of a major international bank. In addition to his native English, James is fluent in Russian.

• Garanti Bank's $6 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme
• Barclays Bank's $30 billion Global Collateralised Medium Term Note Programme
• CPPIB's CAD75 billion Debt Issuance Programme
• Hamburg Commercial Bank €15 billion Debt Issuance Programme for the Issue of Notes and Pfandbriefe
• Ziraat Bank's $7 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme
• Isbank's $7 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme
• PSPIB's CAD20 billion Debt Issuance Program

•  Islandsbanki USD$2.5billion Euro Medium Term Note Programme

Covered Bond Programmes

• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, London Branch as Arranger and the Dealers on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's CAD60 billion Global Covered Bond Programme
• Islandsbanki €2.5billion Covered Bond Programme

   

• Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec on its CAD26 billion Global Covered Bond Programme
• Garanti Bank on its €5 billion Global Covered Bond Programme
• Royal Bank of Canada on its €75 billion Global Covered Bond Programme
• Isbank on its $2 billion Global Covered Bond Programme
• Barclays as Arranger and the Dealers on Bank of Nova Scotia's CAD100 billion Global Registered Covered Bond Program
• TD Securities as Arranger and the Dealers on The Toronto-Dominion Bank's CAD80 billion Global Legislative Covered Bond Programme
• Barclays as Arranger and the Dealers on Bank of Montreal's USD$40 billion Global Registered Covered Bond Program
• HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. as Arranger and the Dealers on HSBC Bank Canada's CAD10 billion Global Legislative Covered Bond Programme

Commercial Paper Programmes

• Fincantieri S.p.A. on its €500 million Euro-commercial Paper Programme
• HSH Nordbank on its $10 billion Euro-commercial Paper and Euro-certificate of Deposit Programme
• PSPIB's CAD12 billion Euro-commercial Paper Programme
• Whirlpool Corporation and Whirlpool Europe B.V. on its $1 billion Euro-commercial Paper Programme
• CPPIB's CAD15 billion Euro-commercial Paper Programme
• CIMC Fortune Holdings Limited on its $450 million Euro-commercial Paper Programme supported by a Direct-pay Letter of Credit
• Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec on its €3 billion Euro-commercial Paper Programme
• The Dow Chemical Company on its $1 billion Euro-commercial Paper Programme
• OMERS CAD5 billion Euro-commercial Paper Programme

SENIOR NOTE OFFERINGS

Represented issuers and underwriting banks on a variety of standalone bond offerings, including:

• Chubb Limited on the issue by Chubb INA Holdings Inc. of $600 million 2.85% senior notes due 2051 and $1.0 billion 3.05% Senior Notes due 2061
• Citigroup Global Markets Limited and BBVA on the issue by Colgate-Palmolive Company of €500 million 0.300% Senior Notes due 2029
• Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Morgan Stanley on the issue of €500,000,000 1.800% Senior Notes due 2022 by BorgWarner Inc.
• Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited and the other managers on the issue of €575 million 2.625% Notes due 2015 by Ecolab Inc.
• Prologis, LP and Prologis, Inc. on its offering of €700 million 3.000% Notes due 2022
• Global healthcare company on a €1.2 billion offering of 7-year and 12-year Eurobonds
• Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) on the issuance of US$626,799,000 Fixed Rate Guaranteed Notes due 2025

LIABILITY MANAGEMENT

Represented issuers and dealer managers/solicitation agents on a variety of liability management transactions including, amongst others:

• HSBC Bank plc on the GBP Sterling LIBOR to SONIA consent solicitation in respect of £400 million Floating Rate Covered Bonds of Bank of Montreal due 15 April 2023
• Vakifbank on its exchange offer for US$900,000,000 6% Subordinated Notes due 2022 and its consent solicitation to approve a modification to the terms of the Notes to remove certain restrictions on their purchase
• Hamburg Commercial Bank in relation to its consent solicitation relating to the modification of the terms and conditions of its USD Subordinated Floating Rate Notes for transition from USD LIBOR to SOFR and the inclusion of contractual recognition of bail-in clauses therein
• Islandsbanki on its cash tender offer for its €300million Senior Callable Fixed to Floating Rate Notes due 19 January 2024

   

• Caixa Económica Montepio Geral on its €65 million cash tender offer, by unmodified Dutch auction, to the holders of certain series of its mortgage-backed securities
• Sise ve Cam on an offer to purchase up to $200.08 million 4.25% Notes due 2020
• Hamburg Commercial Bank cash tender offer for its outstanding EUR 500,000,000 Fixed Rate Senior Non-Preferred Notes due 2023, both of which involved advice rendered through London and Frankfurt teams to the client
• Isbank on the consent solicitation to modify the terms of its $400,000,000 of 10-year Tier 2 subordinated bonds
• Helical Bar on an offer to redeem Helical Bar's £80 million 6% retail bonds and the delisting of the bonds

ESG TRANSACTIONS

Represented issuers and underwriting banks on a variety of ESG transactions including, amongst others:

• Novartis AG on its offering of €1.85 billion sustainability-linked bonds by Novartis Finance S.A., guaranteed by Novartis AG
• Vakifbank on its issue of €750,000,000 of Sustainability Notes, the first-ever offering of a sustainability bond by a Turkish commercial bank, and US$500,000,000 5.500% Senior Unsecured Sustainability Notes due 2026
• CPPIB $1.2 billion green bonds (the first green bond sold by a pension fund globally)
• Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec on the preparation of Desjardins Sustainable Bond Framework and related prospectus disclosure in preparation for future issues of sustainable notes by the Fédération
• Ziraat on the issue of its US$600,000,000 5.375% Sustainable Notes due 2026
• OMERS on its inaugural sustainable finance issuance of OMERS Finance Trust of a $1.1 billion, two-tranche Regulation S/Rule 144A offering of Senior Notes

REGULATORY CAPITAL

Represented issuers and underwriting banks on a variety of bank and insurance capital transactions including:

• Beazley Insurance Designated Activity Company on its issue of USD$250,000,000 5.875 per cent subordinated Notes due 2026 and USD$300,000,000 5.500 per cent subordinated Tier 2 Notes due 2029
• Banco Santander and Citigroup Global Markets on the issue of €500 million 0.125% Senior Preferred Notes due 14 April 2026 by Santander Consumer Bank AS
• Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec on its USD$700 million Senior Bail-inable Notes due 2024 and USD$500 million Floating Rate Senior Bail-inable Notes due 2024
• Islandsbanki on its issue of SEK750 million Floating Rate Perpetual Temporary Write Down Securities, its inaugural issue of Additional Tier 1 as part of its plan to optimise its capital structure
• BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan in connection with the inaugural registered offering by The Bank of Nova Scotia of USD$600 million 3.625% Fixed Rate Resetting Limited Recourse Capital Notes
• Vakifbank on the issue of its USD$500,000,000 Fixed Rate Resettable Tier II Notes due 2025, which were structured in accordance with the new Turkish Regulation on the Equity of the Banks implementing the Basel III Guidelines and listed on the Irish Stock Exchange's regulated market
• Isbank in its placement of $400,000,000 of 10-year Tier II Subordinated Bonds
• Sovereign wealth fund on its purchase of $1.7 billion and CHF2.5 billion Tier 1 contingent convertible bonds from Credit Suisse Group, structured with a view to their compliance with the Basel III recommendations
• International Greek bank in connection with its rights offering for the issuance of new shares and its innovative issue and placement of €1.8 billion short-dated Convertible Equity Notes
• Sovereign wealth fund on its £3.5 billion investment in Barclays plc in the form of Mandatory Convertible Notes and Warrants

EQUITY-LINKED CAPITAL MARKETS/STRUCTURED PRODUCTS

Represented issuers and underwriting banks on a variety of equity-linked capital markets transactions including:

• Helical Bar plc on its £100 million cash box placement of Convertible Bonds
• UK oil and gas exploration company on the offering of £141.5 million convertible bonds, issued indirectly by a Jersey cash box company and convertible into preference shares of the Jersey cash box company which are mandatorily exchangeable into the UK company's ordinary shares
• Joint lead managers on the offering by GBL of €400.8 million Exchangeable Bonds, exchangeable for existing ordinary shares of Suez Environment
• Lead manager on the offering by Sea Trucks Group of $200 million Secured pre-IPO Convertible Guaranteed Bonds
• Sole bookrunner on the offering by Grand City Properties of €100 million Guaranteed Secured Convertible Bonds
• Lead managers on the offering by BES Finance of €500 million Guaranteed Exchangeable Bonds, exchangeable into the ordinary shares of Banco Bradesco
• St Modwen Properties PLC on its £100 million cash box placement of Convertible Bonds
• International telecommunications company on the structuring, as part of a group demerger, of an offering of £230 million Convertible Bonds which automatically reset their conversion ratio and credit provisions to operate in the pre and post-demerger group structure
• Swedish investment company on a rare Scandinavian public offering of €500 million convertible bonds to European institutional investors
• Portuguese state-owned management company on the offering of €886 million Exchangeable Bonds, exchangeable into shares of Galp Energia
• Lead managers on the offerings of Convertible Bonds by Spanish companies Abengoa, FCC and Sol Melia
• UK water utility on the cash box offering of £125 million Convertible Bonds
• Lead managers on convertible bond offerings of Anglo America and J Sainsbury and the placing and open offer of subordinated convertible bonds by Electra Private Equity plc
• Underwriting banks on the offering by Tabreed of AED1.7 billion Mandatory Exchangeable Sukuk
• Greek international games company on the first-ever Luxembourg listed debt securities exchangeable into Greek listed shares

• “’He’s an excellent technical lawyer.’ ‘James is professional, efficient and patient.’” – Chambers UK
• “’James Taylor is our main contact in London. James is a very experienced, knowledgeable and diligent capital markets lawyer and is well versed in advising underwriters on pertinent debt capital markets issues, including covered bond offerings and related matters. James is personable, enthusiastic and responsive. James consistently delivers timely, high-quality advice and is a persuasive negotiator. I would highly recommend him.’ ‘James tends to be very hands-on and leads deals for Mayer Brown, so most of our engagements would be with him at partner level and he would be the voice of Mayer Brown on these deals, coordinating with other specialists as required.’ (Debt Capital Markets). ‘Technically very skilled lawyer with a very high client focus.’” (Bank Lending) – The Legal 500 UK
• A "Leading Individual." "'He is a fantastic lawyer,' comments one client, explaining that 'he has strong knowledge of capital markets and he delves into everything in great detail.' Another describes him as 'a technically very skilled lawyer.'" – Chambers UKA "key lawyer." "Clients recommend James Taylor for debt capital markets. He 'specialises in European debt and equity-linked capital markets, including commercial paper, MTN, Eurobonds, convertible and exchangeable bonds and other structured equity issuances.' He 'is a true expert in his field and a top-notch professional. He is responsive, enthusiastic and highly experienced. He and his team always deliver the highest quality of service.'" – Legal 500"'
• James's pragmatic and sensible approach is invaluable.'" – Chambers UK
• "One of the best for Canadian covered bond issuance; he is knowledgeable, practical and transaction-oriented, and he adds real value." – The Legal 500 UK
• "Demonstrates a comprehensive approach and gives to the point advice" – Chambers UK
• "Has in-depth knowledge of local securities legislation and is always responsive" – The Legal 500 UK
• One of the "40 under 40 Rising Stars in Legal Services" and "one of the brightest up-and-coming lawyers in European capital markets" – Financial News
• "Highly Rated" – IFLR1000
• "Up and Coming" – Chambers UK
• "Very knowledgeable of his area of expertise, and knowledgeable about the market as well" - Acritas Stars – independently rated lawyer