James is a partner in the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Group. He is an arbitration lawyer with more than 14 years’ experience, and his practice centres on complex disputes and international arbitrations, largely within the construction, offshore oil and gas, and other energy industries.

He represents clients in arbitration proceedings under the major international and regional arbitration rules, including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB, and DIFC.

In addition to his arbitration experience, James is recognised for his asset tracing and recovery litigation work, which is frequently cross-jurisdictional in nature and involves worldwide freezing orders being issued before international courts throughout the world.

James also advises on a range of contentious and non-contentious sanctions issues, advising on all major sanctions regimes (U.S., EU, UK and UN). He provides project advice to clients navigating international sanctions across a range of sectors, notably within the energy, financial services, and maritime industries.

James is listed in the The Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist – Middle East Region, and as one of the leading UAE practitioners for dispute resolution and corporate compliance and investigations in Chambers Global. Clients have commented that “James is one of the most commercially aware lawyers” who is “astute, knowledgeable, practical and very solutions-oriented” and that “he is able to quickly understand and assess the most complex of situations”.