Partner

Dispute Resolution

“Net promoter Score (NPS) is a system used to measure the quality of service given to a client from their feedback. The score ranges from -100 to +100, a “positive” score or NPS above 0 is considered “good”, +50 is “Excellent,” and above 70 is considered “world class”.
Accolades

Expertise

James’s team enables businesses and business leaders to manage risk and achieve commercial objectives by taking control of their disputes. Implementing creative solutions to avoid litigation is central to the approach.

He specialises in complex commercial and corporate disputes including breach of warranty claims and other claims arising out of corporate transactions, director and shareholder disputes, security enforcement and major commercial project/supplier disputes.

James is skilled in using a wide variety of dispute resolution processes including mediation, arbitration (ad hoc and under institutional rules) and expert determination to achieve his clients’ goals.

James also has an excellent reputation for sports regulatory cases with particular expertise in anti-doping. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners for his work in Equestrian and Horseracing.

James Advises

James’s clients span across a range of sectors including Hotel & Hospitality, Technology, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing and Sport.  His clients are typically:

  • SMEs
  • Entrepreneurs and other business leaders
  • Directors and Shareholders
  • Athletes, riders, trainers and owners

Experience Highlights

Commercial Experience

  • Conducted Defence of Cardiff Bus in £55M damages claim in Competition Appeal Tribunal following adverse OFT infringement finding ⸺ first s 47A damages claim to reach trial.
  • Defence of European subsidiary of global defence company in €450M ad hoc international arbitration proceedings.
  • Conducted claim on behalf of UK subsidiary of global aerospace company involving urgent injunctive relief in respect of fraudulent misappropriation of company assets.
  • Representing international manufacturing group in relation to complex proceedings for breach of warranty and post-acquisition consideration dispute involving parallel proceedings in England and abroad.
  • Represented business owners in the hotel and leisure sector in relation to agency dispute arising out of completion of £multi-million disposal of part of the business.
  • Acted for company and its shareholders in dispute with an English City Council in relation to non-payment of monies due under the terms of a Deed of Compensation following Compulsory Purchase Order.
  • Represented global news agency in £multi-million bandwidth dispute with global IT provider.

Sports Experience

  • Represented trainer, Marco Botti, in proceedings before Disciplinary Committee of the British Horseracing Authority in relation to an Adverse Analytical Finding ⸺ No sanctions imposed.
  • Represented various elite equestrian athletes including GB Endurance rider Christine Yeoman and Burghley and Badminton winner Jonathan Paget in defences against doping sanctions brought by Federation Equestrian Internationale ⸺ No Fault decisions obtained in both cases.
  • Represented Saudi Equestrian Olympic athletes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge bans imposed by Federation Equestrian Internationale successfully.
  • Represented The Football League in arbitration proceedings against leading Football Championship club and its previous owner for breach of rules on prohibition of Third Party Investment.
  • Acted for the Jockey Club and the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (now the British Horseracing Authority) in Bradley v Jockey Club [2005] EWCA Civ 1056 and Fallon v Horseracing Regulatory Authority.
  • Represented 2005 French Open tennis finalist, Mariano Puerta in anti-doping proceedings before ITF Tribunal and the Court of Arbitration for Sport ⸺ ITF v Puerta.

Career History

Previous Law Firms

  • Stephenson Law, Head of Dispute Resolution
  • Carbon Law Partners, Partner
  • Burges Salmon, Senior Associate
  • Charles Russell LLP, Solicitor

Memberships

  • British Association of Sport and Law

Education

  • Universite Robert Schuman, Strasbourg ⸺ Diploma European Legal Studies
  • King’s College London ⸺ LLM
  • King’s College London ⸺ LLB

Expertise

Back to top

James’s team enables businesses and business leaders to manage risk and achieve commercial objectives by taking control of their disputes. Implementing creative solutions to avoid litigation is central to the approach.

He specialises in complex commercial and corporate disputes including breach of warranty claims and other claims arising out of corporate transactions, director and shareholder disputes, security enforcement and major commercial project/supplier disputes.

James is skilled in using a wide variety of dispute resolution processes including mediation, arbitration (ad hoc and under institutional rules) and expert determination to achieve his clients’ goals.

James also has an excellent reputation for sports regulatory cases with particular expertise in anti-doping. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners for his work in Equestrian and Horseracing.

James Advises

Back to top

James’s clients span across a range of sectors including Hotel & Hospitality, Technology, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing and Sport.  His clients are typically:

  • SMEs
  • Entrepreneurs and other business leaders
  • Directors and Shareholders
  • Athletes, riders, trainers and owners

Experience Highlights

Back to top

Commercial Experience

  • Conducted Defence of Cardiff Bus in £55M damages claim in Competition Appeal Tribunal following adverse OFT infringement finding ⸺ first s 47A damages claim to reach trial.
  • Defence of European subsidiary of global defence company in €450M ad hoc international arbitration proceedings.
  • Conducted claim on behalf of UK subsidiary of global aerospace company involving urgent injunctive relief in respect of fraudulent misappropriation of company assets.
  • Representing international manufacturing group in relation to complex proceedings for breach of warranty and post-acquisition consideration dispute involving parallel proceedings in England and abroad.
  • Represented business owners in the hotel and leisure sector in relation to agency dispute arising out of completion of £multi-million disposal of part of the business.
  • Acted for company and its shareholders in dispute with an English City Council in relation to non-payment of monies due under the terms of a Deed of Compensation following Compulsory Purchase Order.
  • Represented global news agency in £multi-million bandwidth dispute with global IT provider.

Sports Experience

  • Represented trainer, Marco Botti, in proceedings before Disciplinary Committee of the British Horseracing Authority in relation to an Adverse Analytical Finding ⸺ No sanctions imposed.
  • Represented various elite equestrian athletes including GB Endurance rider Christine Yeoman and Burghley and Badminton winner Jonathan Paget in defences against doping sanctions brought by Federation Equestrian Internationale ⸺ No Fault decisions obtained in both cases.
  • Represented Saudi Equestrian Olympic athletes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge bans imposed by Federation Equestrian Internationale successfully.
  • Represented The Football League in arbitration proceedings against leading Football Championship club and its previous owner for breach of rules on prohibition of Third Party Investment.
  • Acted for the Jockey Club and the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (now the British Horseracing Authority) in Bradley v Jockey Club [2005] EWCA Civ 1056 and Fallon v Horseracing Regulatory Authority.
  • Represented 2005 French Open tennis finalist, Mariano Puerta in anti-doping proceedings before ITF Tribunal and the Court of Arbitration for Sport ⸺ ITF v Puerta.

Career History

Back to top

Previous Law Firms

  • Stephenson Law, Head of Dispute Resolution
  • Carbon Law Partners, Partner
  • Burges Salmon, Senior Associate
  • Charles Russell LLP, Solicitor

Memberships

  • British Association of Sport and Law

Education

  • Universite Robert Schuman, Strasbourg ⸺ Diploma European Legal Studies
  • King’s College London ⸺ LLM
  • King’s College London ⸺ LLB