James practises in a broad range of commercial matters (including those involving corporations law, insolvency, equity and trusts, contract, franchising, and building and construction), common law (damages claims and professional negligence), proceeds of crime applications, and prosecuting and defending regulatory matters (such as WorkSafe and the EPA prosecutions).
In mid-2019, James left the Bar to re-join Herbert Smith Freehills where he acted for ANZ Banking Group in relation to ASIC's close and coninutous monitoring program. He later practised as a Senior Associate in the Commercial Disputes & Insolvency team at Mills Oakley where he worked on a broad range of commercial disputes, appeals, inquiries, and regulatory matters, across several jurisdictions (including Victorian, NSW, Queensland, and Federal courts and tribunals) as well as personal injury and product liablity claims (ACL and negligence), class actions, royal commissions and shareholder schemes of arrangement. James returned to the Bar in January 2023.
James earlier practised as a solicitor in the commercial disputes team at Herbert Smith Freehills (where he mainly acted for clients defending class actions or who were being investigated by ASIC) and as a criminal defence lawyer at Galbally & O'Bryan (where he mainly defended clients charged with contravening the Corporations Act 2001 or other regulatory offences).
Before practising law, James was a Sydney-based investment banker specialising in corporate finance (mergers & acquistions, IPOs and other forms of capital raising).
James holds a Bachelor of Civil Law with Distinction from the University of Oxford.
James read with Judge Andrew Palmer KC and Carl Möller S.C. His senior mentor is Anthony Young KC.
Recent matters in which James is or was briefed include:
- Brown & Ors v Moore & Ors S ECI 2021 03506 (representing plaintiffs in an oppression claim; led by Hamish Austin KC)
- Gaynor v Nearest Nominees Pty Ltd & Ors S ECI 2020 04775 (representing defendants defending claims that the trustee breached its duties; led by Peter Fary S.C)
- Shume Pty Ltd (as trustee) v van Aahnholt & Ors S ECI 2021 01859 (representing the second and third defendants defending claims that they breached trustee and fiduciary duties and are in receipt of trust property; led by Richard J Harris S.C)
- Terrain Constructions Pty Ltd v Arminder VID 531/2022 (representing the applicants in claims involving alleged breaches of directors' and fiduciary duties, and accessorial liability; unled)
- Australis Pty Ltd v Nucleus Wealth Management Pty Ltd VID 837/2023 (representing the plaintiff in an oppression claim; unled)
- Villella v Bata (building defects claim in VCAT; unled)
- Zorg Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd v Myenergi APAC Pty Ltd S ECI 2023 06158 (representing defendants in an oppression claim; unled)
- Raine & Horne v Beleura Solutions & Anor (representing defendants, including former franchisee, in franchise dispute, unled)
- Briefed in applications to set aside statutory demands and winding-up applications
- Briefed to advise a company in responding to a preliminary view formed by the QBCC regarding non-conforming building products
- Briefed to advise WorkSafe
- Briefed to advise the senior next of kin in a coronial investigation
- Briefs to provide advice, to prepare for and appear in contested applications, and to draft pleadings and attend mediation
