James P. Gerkis is a partner in the Corporate Department of Proskauer Rose, LLP with extensive experience in sophisticated U.S. and global corporate transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, capital markets, venture capital, media, real estate and restructuring transactions.  He has represented a wide variety of financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies and growth companies.  James currently focuses on matters for clients in the technology, media and real estate industries and in the restructuring space. 

Among other clients, James has represented iHeartMedia, Preferred Apartment Communities, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company, Oxford Analytica, Duff & Phelps , Global Asset Capital, Olshan Properties, Murray Metallurgical Coal Holdings, Eataly, Cleveland Gear, the Creditors Committee in the chapter 11 cases of Westinghouse Electric Company, Lightstone Group, Neuberger Berman and Suburban Propane Partners.

James received his law degree from Columbia University School of Law in 1983, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Teaching Fellow.  He did his undergraduate work at Columbia College, where (having been admitted without finishing high school) he received a BA degree in Political Science in 1980.

James has made presentations at numerous industry and bar association conferences and has authored many articles on different legal topics.

James is the President of the Columbia University Club of New York, is active in other Columbia University alumni affairs and received the Columbia University Alumni Medal in 2018. 

James is on the Board of Directors of HABA-Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance. James received the 2017 Attorney of the Year Award from The Hellenic Lawyers Association.