Cleary Gottlieb announced today that James Hu has joined the firm as a partner in the New York office, focusing on public company M&A and private equity transactions.
“We are thrilled to welcome James to our firm,” said Cleary Managing Partner Michael Gerstenzang. “As clients continue to pursue unique strategies and navigate complex M&A transactions, James brings significant transactional experience across key industries to augment our strong offerings in New York and around the world.”
James advises investors, boards of directors, and senior executives on a variety of M&A transactions, including leveraged buyouts, public company mergers, corporate carve-outs, minority investments, and distressed situations. His work spans a wide range of industries, with a substantial focus on life sciences and healthcare, technology, and the consumer space.
“James is an extremely strong M&A lawyer whose talents and experience are an excellent fit with the full spectrum of public company and private equity M&A capabilities we currently offer,” said David Leinwand, partner in the New York office. “His arrival bolsters our domestic and cross-border transactional footprint and complements our robust portfolio of work across the life sciences, technology, and other key sectors.”
“I am excited to join Cleary’s preeminent corporate practice and stellar platform, which is known for its high-performing attorneys across all levels and delivering exceptional client experience,” said James. “I will be working as part of the Cleary team to serve as clients’ trusted advisors, offering creative solutions and providing impeccable execution.”
Prior to joining Cleary, James was a partner at another international law firm in New York. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School and Cornell Tech, where he teaches an upper-class course on M&A. James received his J.D. from Cornell Law School and his L.L.B. from Nanjing University.
James’ arrival continues Cleary’s expansion in New York and underscores its deep bench of seasoned transactional practitioners. It also complements additional partner hires across the firm’s global offices, which collectively have seen 12 lateral hires since January 2023. These additions enhance the firm’s domestic and cross-border offering in antitrust, public M&A, private equity, finance, restructuring, and investigations.