James is a Partner at specialist construction and energy law firm Fenwick Elliott LLP. Fenwick Elliott is in alliance with Hammad & Al-Mehdar, which together form a collaboration operating out of Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, with support from Fenwick Elliott's London and Dubai offices, and focus specifically on construction and energy law matters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

James has experience in a broad range of dispute resolution procedures and industries, including aviation, infrastructure, oil & gas, electrical power distribution and telecommunications. James has acted for a range of different contractors, with particular focus on those operating in Africa and the Middle East, and has particular experience in ICC arbitrations involving complex claims on major infrastructure projects, often applying foreign substantive law. James has experience dealing with and managing both foreign law experts and technical engineering experts across a range of disciplines.

James trained in Australia, qualifying in 2009. Whilst in Australia, James worked as a disputes lawyer for one of the largest firms in the country and held the position of Senior Associate to the Honourable Justice T Forrest of the Supreme Court of Victoria.