The legal and corporate landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by rising expectations around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, increasing regulatory complexity, and a wave of strategic litigation targeting companies, boards, and investors.
Nowhere is this more evident than in mergers and acquisitions, where ESG and human rights risks are shaping deal structure, valuation, compliance, and post-transaction integration.
This advisory practice exists to help clients navigate that change with clarity and strategic insight.
In today’s world, it’s no longer enough for companies to deliver financial performance; they must also show how they make a positive contribution to society.
James holds an LLM in Human Rights Law and is currently completing a second LLM at King’s College London in International Corporate and Commercial Law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions.
This dual expertise is rare and it allows James to connect evolving ESG and human rights standards with real-world legal and financial risk in cross-border M&A. His background enables a nuanced understanding of regulatory expectations, stakeholder demands, and the practicalities of deal-making in a shifting legal landscape.
James Cronin is a UK-based legal consultant advising on ESG risk, human rights compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. With a foundation in corporate law and a master’s degree in Human Rights Law, he works with legal teams, acquirers, and private equity professionals to identify legal exposure and governance challenges in complex transactions.
His advisory work is focused on helping clients understand and respond to the fast-moving regulatory landscape — particularly around the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the UK Modern Slavery Act, and wider investor expectations relating to ethical supply chains, climate strategy, and board-level accountability.
James is currently undertaking specialist training in M&A law through a joint UCL/LSE programme, further sharpening his focus on legal and reputational risk in cross-border deals. His approach is grounded in legal rigour, shaped by emerging case law, and designed to support clients who take governance, transparency, and long-term value seriously.
Work is concentrated at the intersection of ESG risk, corporate accountability, and M&A due diligence. This includes:
