Overview
James Leyden is “definitely one of the best attorneys on limited liability corporation matters” (Chambers USA).
Jim focuses on a wide variety of transactional matters involving Delaware limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, statutory trusts, and corporations. Praised as “incredibly knowledgeable, practical, solutions oriented, and always available” (The Legal 500), he is actively involved in the organization, structuring, and operation of Delaware LLCs and partnerships.
Jim’s expertise includes structured finance transactions; private equity investment fund matters; hedge fund transactions; merger, conversion, acquisition, and dissolution and winding-up transactions; joint venture transactions; strategic alliance transactions; and financing transactions.
Praised for his “very deep understanding” (Chambers USA), Jim routinely renders legal opinion letters on limited liability company and limited partnership matters. He is a co-reporter for the ABA TriBar Opinion Committee reports on limited liability companies and limited partnerships.
PRACTICES
Limited Liability Company & Partnership Advisory
Structured Finance
- Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1987
- Villanova University, B.S.A, magna cum laude, 1982
Education
Publications
- Co-reporter, “Third-Party Closing Opinions: Limited Liability Companies,” the TriBar Opinion Committee, 77 Bus. Law. 201 (2021)
- Co-reporter, “Third-Party Closing Opinions: Limited Partnerships,” the TriBar Opinion Committee, 73 Bus. Law. 1107 (2018)
- Co-reporter, “Supplemental TriBar LLC Opinion Report: Opinions on LLC Membership Interests,” the TriBar Opinion Committee, 66 Bus. Law. 1065 (2011)
- Co-reporter, “Third-Party Closing Opinions: Limited Liability Companies,” the TriBar Opinion Committee, 61 Bus. Law. 679 (2006)
Leadership
- Delaware State Bar Association, Corporation Law Section, Past Chair and Current Member of the Limited Liability Company and Partnership Subcommittee responsible for drafting amendments to Delaware’s LLC and partnership statutes
- American Bar Association, TriBar Opinion Committee
- American Bar Association, Legal Opinion Committee
Recognition
- Chambers USA (Corporate/M&A: Alternative Entities)
- The Best Lawyers in America (Business Organizations, Corporate Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law)
- Best Lawyers’ Wilmington, DE Business Organizations Lawyer of the Year and Wilmington, DE Securitization & Structured Finance Law Lawyer of the Year
- Super Lawyers
- Delaware Today Top Lawyer
- The International Who’s Who of Private Funds Lawyers
Bar Admissions
- Delaware