Barrister Profile

Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings

James has been regularly instructed on behalf of Local Authorities, parents, children, extended family members and interveners in public law children matters. In particular, he has experience of acting in the following circumstances:

• Emergency contested applications where a Local Authority seeks the removal of a child.
• Applications under s34(4) and s38(6) Children Act 1989.
• Fact finding hearings where sexual, physical or emotional abuse is alleged.
• Cases concerning alleged neglect.
• Placement Order and Adoption Proceedings.
• Special Guardianship and Wardship applications.
• Cases concerning parents or children with Special Educational Needs, cognitive impairment or capacity issues
• Cases where drug and alcohol abuse or mental health concerns are a significant issue.
• Secure Accommodation Orders.

Private Law Children: Contact and Residence disputes under the Children Act 1989

James has an extensive private law practice and covers the spectrum of child law matters involving Child Arrangement Order, Specific Issue Order and Prohibited Steps Orders and Enforcement proceeding.  He is particularly experienced in matters of relationship breakdowns involving intractable contact and residence  disputes.

James has acted in cases involving allegations of domestic and sexual abuse, psychiatric disorders and issues of alcoholism and drug misuse; she deals with complex medical evidence and has conducted lengthy fact finding and final hearings. 

Domestic violence & injunctions

James acts for both applicants and respondents in relation to ex-parte and on notice applications for non-molestation orders and has experience of prosecuting those in breach of such orders on behalf of the CPS.

James has accepted instructions to appear in all stages of proceedings for financial remedies including at final hearings. He also takes instruction in other ancillary applications relating to divorce and financial relief. James is comfortable with enforcement of financial orders for both respondents and applicants. James civil background provides him with the experience of cross-over work including insolvency, commercial or familial intervening within proceedings. James enjoys advising and representing former marital partners in financial order proceedings and cohabitants in disputes under TLATA and also has experience of advising family members, dependants, former marital partners and cohabitants in actions concerning the administration of estates.

James has a busy employment practice, covering both paperwork and representation.

James is frequently instructed to represent both claimants and respondents, in single- and multi-day hearings in the Employment Tribunals, and in case management discussions, pre-hearing reviews, and preliminary hearings under the current Rules.

He has advised and represented clients across a range of issues, including claims relating to unfair dismissal; redundancy, including; disability discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments; TUPE , contracts of employment and application of the Working Time Regulations.

His drafting experience includes all manner of pleadings, schedules of loss, applications to amend statements of case, applications to strike out, applications for review, and responses.

Commercial Chancery

Contractual disputes

James has an extensive private law practice and covers the spectrum of child law matters involving Child Arrangement Order, Specific Issue Order and Prohibited Steps Orders and Enforcement proceeding.  He is particularly experienced in matters of relationship breakdowns involving intractable contact and residence  disputes.

James has acted in cases involving allegations of domestic and sexual abuse, psychiatric disorders and issues of alcoholism and drug misuse; she deals with complex medical evidence and has conducted lengthy fact finding and final hearings. 

James has over 9 years experience in personal injury (road traffic accidents, public and employers’ liability claims), fatal accidents, product liability and clinical negligence claims.

James has a broad range of experience extending from whiplash injuries and cases of alleged Low Velocity Impact to allegations of fraud and catastrophic injury claims and in particular cases involving the Animals

Act 1971 which often lead to serious and life changing injuries.

James is well versed in the Pre-Action Protocol Low Value Personal Injury Claims in Road Traffic Accidents, Employers’ Liability and Public Liability Claims and the operation of the on-line portals.

James is happy to advise as litigation is considered and progressed on complex issues in respect of liability, quantum and causation and the evidential hurdles which need to be overcome.

In addition, he has experience of inquests.

Real property

James has experience of advising in relation to nuisance and trespass, easements and boundary and title disputes.

Landlord and tenant

James will represent both landlords and tenants at all stages in relation to allegations concerning disrepair; surrender and breach of tenancy agreements.