

James Bamford is a Senior Managing Director and Global Leader of Ankura’s Joint Ventures & Partnerships Practice at Ankura based in Washington, DC. He joined Ankura with the firm’s 2020 acquisition of Water Street Partners, which he co-founded in 2008. Water Street Partners has been independently ranked as the number one global advisor on joint ventures since 2017. Prior to Water Street, he was global co-lead of the Joint Venture & Alliance Practice at McKinsey & Company.
View Full ProfileJV transactions have complexities not found in traditional M&A – yet they’re often executed without the help of investment bankers. That can create pitfalls in the deal process.
Why JV negotiations are uniquely challenging
Where JV committees go bad, and how JV Boards and CEOs must actively manage such groups to ensure they contribute to venture performance
Joint ventures are a critical tool for companies to access or commercialize new technologies and capabilities, share risk, meet local regulatory requirements, gain scale, and pursue capital-light growth.
Where JV committees go bad, and how JV Boards and CEOs can ensure their committees contribute productively to venture performance
Why charting a Capabilities Map of the venture landscape is critical for JV Boards, management, and shareholder governance teams
Why cultural differences are often more acutely felt on joint venture boards – and what it means for companies and executives.