James is an English Chancery barrister (called in 2008) and Jersey Advocate.  He currently has a busy litigation based practice in Jersey, specialising in both contentious and non-contentious trust work.

Experience

James advises, undertakes drafting work, and acts for beneficiaries, trustees and other power-holders in relation to:

• Breach of trust claims, asset tracing/recovery and claims for secondary liability (dishonest assistance, knowing receipt and constructive trusteeship) against accessories.
• Issues concerning trust administration, the appointment and removal of trustees and the exercise of powers.
• Applications to court for directions, the variation and rectification of trusts and the disclosure of information to beneficiaries and third parties.
• Jurisdiction disputes and the enforcement of foreign judgments against trustees and beneficiaries.
• Issues concerning trustees’ rights of indemnity, fees and legal costs

He also advises in relation to a broad range of contentious commercial and company law disputes.

James is described in Legal 500 2020 as a ‘Rising Star’ in Tier 1 for dispute resolution in Jersey and as “diligent and very thorough”. A client has described him to Chambers & Partners 2018 as “a trust law Google” and has been named Chambers & Partners in 2018, 2019 and 2020 as an ‘Associate to Watch’. EPrivateClient names James in their Channel Islands Top 35 under 35.

Before qualifying at the English Bar, James worked in legal publishing.  James continues to contribute to articles in the legal press within his sphere of expertise and is the author of the leading legal practitioner text on trust litigation in Jersey.

He is a Hardwicke, Sir Thomas More and Levitt Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn.

Books:

Litigating Trust Disputes in Jersey: Law Procedure & Remedies, Bloomsbury Professional, 2017

Articles:

• ‘Families, Fortunes and Fiduciaries in Dispute’ CampdenFB
• ‘Count Your Blessings’ Trusts & Estates Law & Tax Journal July 2019
• ‘Bust Trusts – Navigating Indemnities, Insolvency & Liability’ Jersey & Guernsey Law Review Vol 19 Issue 3
• ‘Who Owns A Bribe: UK Supreme Court Follows Where Jersey Leads’ Jersey & Guernsey Law Review Vol 18 Issue 3
• ‘A House of Cards: Generational Change in the Strict Settlement’ Trust Quarterly Review Vol 8 Issue 4

James is a member of the following professional organisations:

• Chancery Bar Association
• ConTrA (Contentious Trust Association)
• ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust & Probate Specialists)
• Denning Society (Lincoln’s Inn)
• International Bar Association