James has a broad practice encompassing all areas of commercial litigation, including conflicts of laws, energy and natural resources, product liability, banking and finance, international trade, and confidentiality and privilege.
He has a particularly prominent reputation in the areas of professional negligence, insurance and reinsurance, and commercial arbitration (often with an international element). He has wide experience of advising and acting in relation to all manner of contractual and tortious disputes.
In the professional negligence context, James regularly acts in cases involving a range of professionals, including accountants, financial advisers, insurance brokers, Lloyd’s members’ agents, bankers, company directors, and solicitors. Much of his work in this area, and in the field of insurance and reinsurance, is concerned with the financial services sector. His clients include major accountancy firms, prominent banks, and financial institutions.
James also has experience across a range of general commercial disputes, including in the energy and financial sectors. He regularly advises and acts in cases with an international flavour, often involving conflicts of laws issues and matters of international commerce.
Arbitration is a significant element of James’ practice, including regular involvement in substantial international commercial litigation. James has also appeared on behalf of clients in a number of professional disciplinary tribunals.
James has extensive experience of substantial litigation and is familiar with the particular demands of large-scale court and arbitration proceedings. His appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 2018 reflected his reputation and expertise as a leader and an advocate.
As well as appearing regularly in the Courts of England and Wales and in arbitration in London and elsewhere, James is a registered advocate in the Dubai International Financial Centre Court.
If you are interested in instructing James, please contact our clerks for further information as to his expertise and availability.
James has experience of banking and finance both from the perspective of related professional negligence and insurance cases and from advising specifically in respect of banking disputes.
The backbone of James’ practice is commercial dispute resolution, covering the whole spectrum of general commercial litigation. James is recognised by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for his expertise in this area.
Work connected with the energy and natural resources sector forms an important part of James’ case load, both in the insurance context and other energy-related contractual and tortious disputes. James is recognised for his experience of energy work in the Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 rankings.
James has a recognised expertise in the areas of insurance and reinsurance. He is ranked highly by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in this field. James was awarded Insurance Junior of the Year at the 2015 Chambers Bar Awards.
Arbitration, and specifically international arbitration, is a significant element of James’ practice, covering all areas of commercial disputes. He is recognised by Chambers & Partners as an expert in the field of international arbitration.
James regularly advises on issues of jurisdiction and applicable law, both in conjunction with and as a preliminary to litigation in the Commercial Court or arbitration.
James regularly advises and acts on behalf of several major accountancy firms, together with a number of other categories of professionals, including financial advisers, insurance brokers, Lloyd’s members’ agents, bankers, company directors and solicitors. He is recognised by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a leader in the field.
James is recommended in Chambers & Partners in the following categories: Commercial Dispute Resolution; Professional Negligence and Insurance. In previous years he has been recommended in International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance and Energy & Natural Resources.
James is recommended in Legal 500 in the following categories: Professional negligence; Commercial Litigation; Insurance and Reinsurance and Energy.
The Lawyer features 9 members in their Top 20 Cases of 2022
Carillion v KPMG: 7KBW teams act in pre-action disclosure application
Five members of 7KBW instructed in Carillion/KPMG litigation
Early strike out of £39 million fraud and conspiracy claim achieved for Ernst & Young
7KBW teams act in major preliminary issues trial
Combar; BILA.
James is a registered practitioner at the Dubai International Financial Centre Court.
Pembroke College, Cambridge:
MA in History, first class (1997)
Hadley History Prize, Thornton Scholarship, Foundation Scholarship.
Inns of Court School of Law, London:
Bar Vocational Course, distinction (1999) (first in year)
Senior Scarman Scholar; Bar Council Certificate of Honour; Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry Prize; prizes awarded by the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.
Queen Mother Scholar; Astbury Scholar (Middle Temple)
"Extraordinarily bright, very hard-working, and thorough."
Chambers & Partners