James is all over the details; he thinks of every single angle. Chambers UK Bar 2024
James is extremely personable and there is almost nobody in the market with more knowledge of shareholder disputes than he has. Legal 500 UK Bar 2024
Litigation
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Joint venture disputes
  • LLP/partnership disputes
  • Professional negligence
  • Breach of fiduciary duty/misfeasance
  • Breach of warranty claims
  • Civil fraud and asset recovery
  • Interim remedies
  • Mediation and expert determination
  • Registered Societies

Significant recent cases and transactions include:

Saxby v UDG Healthcare (UK) Holdings Ltd [2021] EWHC 144 (Ch) Acted at trial for defendant successfully resisting fraudulent misrepresentation claim relating to missed earn-out target on a share sale.

Organic Grape Spirit Ltd v Nueva IQT SL [2020] EWCA Civ 999 Review by Court of Appeal of authorities on when a fledgling business will be permitted by the ‘ordinary and proper course of business’ exception to develop a new business in the context of a freezing order.

Re Profile Partners Ltd [2020] EWHC 1473 (Ch) Acted for successful Petitioner (leading Andrew Blake) obtaining injunction to restrain use of company monies to fund defence and counterclaim in context of unfair prejudice petition.

Re Sturgeon Central Asia Balanced Fund Ltd (in liquidation) [2020] EWHC 123 (Ch) Acted for successful applicant terminating recognition order made under Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 in favour of Joint Provisional Liquidators of Bermuda company in context of just and equitable winding-up.

Re Inmarsat Plc [2019] EWHC 3470 (Ch) Acted for the successful bidder in contested members’ scheme of arrangement relating to takeover of UK mobile satellite company.

Stobart Group Ltd v William Stobart & Or [2019] EWCA Civ 1376
Acted for successful Defendant resisting claims under SPA based on failure to serve compliant notice.

Burnden Holdings (UK) Ltd v Fielding & Or [2019] EWHC 1566 (Ch)
Acted for successful Defendants resisting claims based on alleged unlawful distribution and grant of security.

PJSC Commercial Bank Privatbank v Kolomoisky & Ors (2018)
Acted for successful applicant resisting attempts to stay disclosure orders under worldwide freezing order.

Cool Seas (Seafoods) Ltd v Interfish & Ors [2018] EWHC 2038 (Ch)
Acted for successful Respondents in opposing unfair prejudice petition and obtaining (by counterclaim) order for sale of Petitioners’ shareholding with compensation for breaches of duty.

Autonomy Corporation Ltd v Lynch and Hussain
Acting for HP entities in relation to a claim against former directors of Autonomy in a £3bn breach of fiduciary duty and deceit claim.

Restructuring & Insolvency
  • Winding up
  • Administration
  • CVAs
  • Receivership
  • Contentious insolvency
  • Cross-border issues
  • Directors’ disqualification
  • Misfeasance
  • Company charges

Significant cases include:

Recently advising HMRC on insolvency and commercial issues arising out of a very high value dispute and also advising directors on challenge to recognition of Bermuda winding-up order under UNCITRAL Model law.

Re Sturgeon Central Asia Balanced Fund Ltd (in liquidation) [2020] EWHC 123 (Ch) Acted for successful applicant terminating recognition order made under Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 in favour of Joint Provisional Liquidators of Bermuda company in context of just and equitable winding-up.

Burnden Holdings (UK) Ltd v Fielding & Or [2019] EWHC 1566 (Ch)
Acted for successful Defendants resisting claims by liquidator based on alleged unlawful distribution and grant of security. Consideration of duty to consider interests of creditors, Eurosail insolvency test and scope of transactions defrauding creditors.

Carillion
Ongoing representation of former Finance Director of Carillion plc – Directors Disqualification Proceedings

 

 

Corporate
  • Reductions of capital
  • Conduct of meetings
  • Cross-border M&A
  • Company advisory
  • Schemes of arrangement
  • Takeovers
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Joint venture dispute

Significant cases and transactions include:

Re Inmarsat Plc [2019] EWHC 3470 (Ch) Acted for the successful bidder in contested members’ scheme of arrangement relating to takeover of UK mobile satellite company.

Re Dee Valley [2017] EWHC 184 (Ch)
High profile contested scheme of arrangement – acted for seven individual shareholders opposing the sanction of the scheme.

 

 

International & Offshore

James frequently acts or advises in overseas matters, including in relation to the Dubai International Financial Centre, Hong Kong, Turks & Caicos Islands, Antigua, Cayman, BVI, Bermuda, Jersey and Guernsey, Gibraltar and he has provided expert evidence on English law for foreign courts.

Arbitration

Counsel in Fulham Football Club (1987) Ltd v Richards [2011] EWCA Civ 85, leading case on arbitrability of shareholder disputes.

Examples of cases as lead advocate:

Acted for successful minority shareholder in DIFC-LCIA arbitration in claims for breaches of a shareholders’ agreement, articles of association and the DIFC Companies Law, and for relief from unfair prejudice, in connection with management of a MENA-based technology company.

LCIA arbitration (Dubai Seat) shareholder dispute (unfair prejudice) in relation to very high value tech company.

Arbitrations of partnership (including LLP) disputes (ad hoc and LCIA) in respect of various firms of solicitors.

LCIA arbitration (Singapore Seat) in relation to validity of drag rights.

UNCITRAL arbitration (London Seat) joint venture Caribbean oil company dispute.

LCIA (London Seat) investor dispute relating to Cayman registered fund including application for emergency formation.

Memberships & Publications

Member of the Bar of the BVI. Called ad hoc to bar of Gibraltar and TCI.

COMBAR

Chancery Bar Association

ILA

INSOL

Contributor to Buckley on the Companies Acts, Practice and Procedure of the Companies Court; Company Directors: Law and Liability; podcasts for CPDCast; Contributor to FromCounsel

Recognition

Ranked in Legal 500 (Commercial Litigation, Company & Partnership and Insolvency), Who’s Who Legal (Global Leader in Restructuring and Insolvency, National Leader at UK Bar in Civil Fraud, Company and Partnership and Restructuring and Insolvency) and Chambers & Partners (Company, Restructuring & Insolvency, Chancery: Commercial and Commercial Disputes Resolution)

“I don’t like to be against him – he’s that good. Chambers UK Bar 2023.”

“He is a really effective advocate – incredibly careful, thoughtful and eminently sensible.”

“He is fantastic, always accessible and brilliant at anything last-minute.”

“James always provides a first-class service.”

“An extremely confident and relaxed advocate who is highly persuasive.”

“A fine operator in court, who is very effective in all he does.”

“An impressive advocate committed to achieving the best outcome for the client and very good at delivering tough messages.”

“Excellent. A go-to barrister for all corporate or shareholder disputes. James is excellent – incredibly bright, easy to work with, hugely committed and a great cross-examiner.”

“First-class brain coupled with empathy for clients in distress.”

“James is strategic in his thinking and creative in trying to think outside of the box and come up with solutions.”

“He’s detail-oriented and a very clever strategist.”

“He’s very commercial and a real detail lawyer; clients love him.”

“People get swept up in the tsunami of his brilliance. He’s a very serious opponent.”

“He does not shrink from providing tough advice.”

“Calm under pressure and a clear thinker, he is not afraid to reach a view and to give clients definitive guidance.”

“Has huge expertise in relation to corporate governance disputes.” “Decisive, charismatic, persuasive and someone who can process huge amounts of information quickly.”

“A go-to QC for company law disputes – a lovely chap, easy to work with, and frighteningly clever. ”

“He has great technical ability and won’t run away from a fight.”

“His legal analysis is insightful and fearless.”

“He has encyclopaedic knowledge of corporate law, and is spot-on in his judgement calls.”

“He has a fantastic grasp of accountancy detail and is always accessible. He’s an excellent team player.”

 

Ranked in

Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2024 –
Company, Restructuring & Insolvency, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Chancery: Commercial

Legal 500 2024 –
Company, Commercial Litigation

Who's Who Legal –
Global Leader in Restructuring and Insolvency, National Leader at UK Bar in Civil Fraud, Company and Partnership and Restructuring and Insolvency.

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