Overview
James was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2016. He acts in a wide variety complex and big money cases at all levels, specialising in financial provision cases of all kinds. James frequently advises and represents clients in proceedings in the High Court and Family Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, at the Central Family Court, and in other courts around the country. James has significant experience in the Court of Appeal. He also represents clients at private FDRs, round-table meetings and in arbitrations. He is also qualified to accept Public Access work.
James is a well-respected and highly sought after ‘evaluator’ in family-finance private FDRs. He qualified as an IFLA accredited arbitrator in 2017 and regularly undertakes matrimonial finance arbitrations. In 2023, James was appointed as a s.9(4) Deputy High Court Judge, assigned to the Family Division.
Expertise
James has over 25 years’ experience of family finance cases, including:
- complex assets including domestic and offshore personal and commercial wealth and trust structures;
- complex income structure, deferred/conditional incentives, private equity co-investments and carried interest;
- representing onshore and offshore trusts and trust companies in matrimonial litigation;
- obtaining and challenging expert business valuations;
- protecting and seeking claims against inherited wealth;
- farming cases, including development land;
- complex pension arrangements;
- international and domestic enforcement issues, including bankruptcy-related issues;
- international forum shopping;
- variation/termination of maintenance cases;
- setting aside applications and appeals;
- drafting, enforcing and challenging pre- and post-nuptial agreements; and
- Schedule 1 cases.
James has been consistently ranked in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. To quote these directories:
- “Really does have everything you require from a leading QC. He is intelligent, supremely diligent in his preparation and a fabulous advocate both on paper and orally.”
- “His advocacy is excellent and his cross-examination skills are terrific.”
- “Hugely intelligent and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the case law and issues. He is an excellent private FDR judge and has a nice, measured manner which clients respond to.”
- “James is sharp and focused advocate who is excellent on his feet and has the ability to cut across various issues at the same time but remain on point. He gave clear and thoughtful advice and instilled utter confidence in the client.”
- “There is excellent strategic thinking going on underneath his calm and measured delivery. He is forceful on his feet and very persuasive but wins many of his arguments through his written submissions, which are some of the most eloquent and well-researched I’ve come across.”
- “James can cut through a brief to identify the magic number for settlement in lightning-quick time. Happily, his extraordinary intelligence combines with a down-to-earth nature and clients feel very safe in his hands.”
- “James has been described as a superb advocate who is thorough, careful and efficient, whose first-rate advocacy is received well in court and who is equally charming as an advocate and opponent.”
