James Alexander, Jr.

(Rev.) James A. Alexander, Jr., Esq is a Senior Associate at Reed Smith LLP, whose practice spans complex M&A, private equity, growth equity, corporate governance, and payments transactions across a wide range of industries. Active on both domestic and cross-border matters, James has helped clients close more than $14 billion in transactions, including over $2.5 billion in healthcare M&A and over $2 billion in payments M&A and commercial contracts.

He also counsels CEOs, founders, and boards of directors on corporate governance, compliance, and emerging issues in data privacy and cybersecurity.
James has earned repeated recognition for his practice, including being a four-time Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch honoree in Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, as well as a seven-time National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 honoree in his jurisdiction. He is also a sought-after panelist on M&A, corporate governance, AI ethics, and financial services innovation, including blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

Additionally, James brings a distinctive perspective to his corporate, governance, and AI practices due to his background in ethics and ministry. As an ordained Christian clergy, he earned a J.D./M.Div. dual degree at Vanderbilt University, where he was both a Cal Turner Moral Leadership Fellow and a Branstetter Litigation & Dispute Resolution Fellow. James was also a recipient of the Law & Business Certificate.

A Georgia native, James began cultivating leadership and analytical skills early, including while earning his B.S. in Psychology at Howard University. Some of James’s leadership roles include Executive Board service on two non-profit boards, a for-profit Advisory Board, and former BLSA President. James combines legal acumen and business pragmatism to help clients navigate risk and actualize their strategic objectives. James is admitted to practice law in Georgia and Washington, D.C.