News & Events

BOURNE PARTNERS EXPANDS EUROPEAN OPERATION

New Managing Director James West to Lead the London Office

CHARLOTTE, NC – July 14, 2025 — Bourne Partners, a leading full-service Healthcare-focused investment banking firm, is expanding its operation in Europe, welcoming a new Managing Director to the team, James West. This growth marks a significant milestone in the firm’s history and trajectory. The appointment of James West and additional European-based execution professionals will enhance the firm’s ability to serve clients located throughout the UK and Europe.

With over a decade and a half of experience, James is a seasoned M&A adviser to life science sponsor backed corporates and independent companies. James complements Bourne’s established industry expertise, with a particularly deep experience in Pharma Services, notably across drug discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Bourne has been one of the most active Pharma and Pharma Services M&A firms in the past three years.

With deep sector relationships across transatlantic and globally focused private equity firms, James also brings a unique ability to enhance connectivity between European and U.S. markets, thereby accelerating the expansion of Bourne’s international platform.

Prior to joining Bourne, James was a Managing Director at Lincoln International. He has spent his career in both London and New York. James holds a Master of Pharmacy from Bath University and is a qualified Associate Chartered Accountant.

“More than ever, I hear from clients how important it is to have a deep sector specialist M&A advisor with seamless transatlantic capabilities,” said West. “Joining Bourne is an exciting opportunity especially given the firm’s volume of activity in Europe and specifically in cross border transactions spanning several decades. I look forward to leveraging and integrating my Pan-European sector knowledge with the Bourne platform, building on their differentiated presence in the global Healthcare arena.” 

“We’re thrilled to welcome James to the Bourne banking team,” said Jeremy Johnson, Head of Investment Banking. “His experience and caliber of work are a perfect fit for the level of expertise we bring to our clients. Expanding our efforts in Europe allows us to be better positioned to support our European and UK partners’ strategic goals. As part of this expansion, we will be relocating select senior Bourne professionals as well as hiring additional European M&A bankers. Given his and our firm’s track record involving European-domiciled Healthcare companies, we believe James will be a strong addition to our global origination and execution teams.”

“We have been executing cross-border and domestic transactions in Europe for a very long time. This was an easy investment decision for the firm, especially under the leadership of James and commitment from other tenured members of our team,” said Banks Bourne, Founder and CEO of Bourne Partners. “As one of the leading financial advisors in Healthcare, with particular emphasis on Pharma and Pharma Services, our business ecosystem has and always will be global. Europe has been and will continue to be a major part of our firm’s future.”

The UK office will focus primarily on Pharma and Pharma Services, aligning with Bourne’s core strengths and long track record in these silos. The firm’s European presence will also support its growing base of strategic and financial sponsor clientele seeking both domestic and transatlantic execution capabilities.

About Bourne Partners

Bourne Partners is one of the leading advisors on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and related strategic matters in the Healthcare sector. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the advisory business partners with public and private Healthcare companies to deliver world-class financial and strategic advice on M&A transactions as well as helping design strategies to grow their businesses. The firm also will invest directly, solely, or with other capital providers where the resources and experience of the franchise can make a meaningful impact on shareholder value. Established in 2001, Bourne Partners strives to enrich the lives and improve the health and well-being of their partners and patients by facilitating the efficient movement of capital through the global Healthcare sector. For more information, please visit here.