Jamie Benson

Practice Areas

• Capital Markets

• Securities Law

• Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions Transactions

• Corporate Law

• Commercial Law

• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

• Venture Capital/Emerging Companies

Career

Jamie A. Benson is the head of Duane Morris and Selvam's U.S. Capital Markets, U.S. Venture Capital and India Practices. He has more than 25 years of experience and has advised on more than 100 securities offerings throughout the world with total proceeds of approximately US$25 billion. Having worked on more than 70 offerings by Indian issuers since 2004, Jamie is one of the leading international legal counsels advising on securities offerings by Indian issuers. He is currently based in Singapore and has previously worked in New York, Sydney and London.

Jamie's experience includes advising on: equity offerings (public offerings and private placements); high-yield, convertible and investment-grade bond offerings; debt private placements; SEC-registered equity and debt offerings; mergers and acquisitions of both U.S. and non-U.S. public companies; going private transactions; SEC reporting obligations; compliance with U.S. broker-dealer laws; general corporate and commercial law matters; and FCPA matters. Jamie has a wide range of industry experience, including working on deals involving companies in the following industries: aviation; banking; beer and wine; business process outsourcing; cable television; construction; electricity transmission and distribution; film production; gambling; healthcare, infrastructure; jewelry; insurance; mining; non-banking financial companies (NBFCs); oil and gas; print media; property; telecommunications; television broadcasting; and toll roads.

Jamie has represented almost every major international and Indian investment bank. He has also acted on the biggest IPO in Indian history and advised on the very first listing on the Yangon Stock Exchange by First Myanmar Investment Public Co., Ltd.

Jamie is ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific for Capital Markets (International Firms) – India 2020-2022, Capital Markets International - Singapore, 2021-2022 and in Chambers Global for Capital Markets (Foreign Expertise in India) – Singapore 2022-2022 . The 2022 edition clients’ testimonials state "he is very practical and solution-oriented," whilst another regards "his understanding of financials as par excellence.". One client praises his "attention to detail and knowledge of nuances". The 2021 edition notes that "Jamie Benson is recognised for his expertise in this space, especially handling equity issuances focused on India."

He is listed as a Leading Lawyer/Highly Regarded for Capital Markets by IFLR1000, 2016-2021 and praised for being "deeply committed and involved" and "extremely thorough in his diligence, review and drafting. Rarely does he miss a deal issue, or fail to highlight potential red flags and with optimum lead time."

Jamie is also listed as a Recommended Lawyer for Capital Markets in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2016-2022 and as Recommended for Capital Markets in Who’s Who Legal 2021. He is also listed in the "International A List: the top 100 India-focused legal experts outside the country" since 2019 by India Business Law Journal and the "A-list: Singapore’s top 100 lawyers 2019" by Asian Business Law Journal.

Jamie has been recently recognized for his Capital Markets expertise in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers (Singapore) and listed as a leading Cross Border Lawyer (India Desk) by LegalEra Global Achievers Awards 2022.

Jamie studied law at the University of Cambridge (Trinity College), where he was awarded a B.A. and an M.A. He received his Master of Laws from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice law in New York, USA and Tasmania, Australia.

Publications

• Co-author, "Proposed Amendments to the Exempt Offering Framework under the Securities Act Relevant to Asian Companies," Duane Morris Alert, April 20, 2020

• Co-author, "COVID-19: Bond Buybacks and Liability Management in Asia," Duane Morris Alert, April 6, 2020

• U.S. SEC Adopts Amendments to Update and Simplify Disclosure Requirements," Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, January 28, 2019

• Featured in, "Fine Organics goes public," Indiana Business Law Journal, September 17, 2018

• U.S. President Trump Begins Cutting 'Red Tape'," Duane Morris LLP, March 28, 2017

• Featured in the video series "Doing Business in Myanmar - The Yangon Stock Exchange," Conventus Law, July 3, 2016