James has a busy practice across all of Chambers’ main practice areas, with a particular interest in shipping (including shipbuilding), international trade, and commodities disputes. He is currently instructed as junior counsel in several high-value shipping disputes.
After pupillage, James spent three months at Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP working on a range of civil fraud disputes.
Before joining Chambers, James read politics, philosophy and economics at Exeter College, Oxford, receiving the Gibbs (Proxime Accessit) Prize in politics. He received a distinction in the GDL, winning the Monckton Chambers Prize for EU Law, and in the Bar Course at City University, London.
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Arbitration
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Josephine Davies) in an LCIA arbitration.
Civil fraud
- Whilst on secondment at Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP, James spent the majority of his time assisting on Isbilen v Turk and others [2024] EWHC 505 (Ch) acting for the successful applicant in an 11-day contempt trial.
- Assisted (as a pupil) in preparing skeleton argument seeking a Norwich Pharmacal/Bankers Trust order in relation to misappropriation of cryptocurrencies in LMN v Bitflyer Holdings Inc [2022] EWHC 2954.
Shipping and commodities
James has a busy shipping and commodities practice. Recent instructions include:
- Acting for shipowners in an LMAA shipbuilding arbitration (led by Tim Young KC).
- Acting for salvors in a claim for salvage at common law (led by Tim Hill KC), including application for permission to serve out of the jurisdiction and a defence to a jurisdiction challenge.
- Acting for Owners in application for s.69 permission to appeal concerning provision of anti-technicality notices (led by Tim Hill KC).
- Acting for owners in an LMAA arbitration concerning damages for late redelivery (led by Julian Kenny KC).
- Acting for Charterers in a c.US$90m bareboat charterparty dispute concerning wrongful termination, insurance and sanctions (led by Sara Masters KC).
James is regularly instructed as sole counsel in relation to charterparty disputes and to provide advice to P&I clubs. Recent instructions include:
- Acting for charterers in an LMAA arbitration disputing liability for stevedore damage.
- Acting for Owners in a c.US$3m LMAA arbitration concerning off-hire, quarantine, and suspension of the Vessel.
- Acting for Charterers in an LMAA arbitration concerning deviation, misrepresentation, and bunkers.
- Acting for Owners in an LMAA arbitration concerning hire, alleged fraud, and apparent authority.
- Advising a P&I club on the proper measure of damages for breach of obligation to redeliver vessel in like condition.
- Advising owners on proper measure of damages in respect of a claim for damaged cargo.
