James has a busy practice across all of Chambers’ main practice areas, with a particular interest in shipping (including shipbuilding), international trade & commodities, and sanctions disputes. He is also regularly instructed as sole counsel in High Court proceedings concerning underlying arbitration proceedings.
Recent instructions include:
A&N Seaways and Projects PVT Ltd v Allianz Bulk Carriers DMCC [2025] EWHC 2126 (Comm) – James appeared for the respondent to a s.67/s.72 challenge (against a silk), successfully striking out the claimant’s allegation that the underlying charterparty had been procured by fraud.
African Distribution Company v AAstar Trading Pte Ltd [2025] EWHC 2428 (Comm) – James appeared for the respondent to a s.67/s.68/s.72 challenge, successfully resisting the claimant’s application for a retrospective extension of a time in which to bring its s.67 and s.68 challenges. His submissions were praised as “very high quality”. The final hearing of the s.72 challenge is due to be heard in July 2026.
The Skyros and The Agios Minas [2025] EWCA Civ 1529 – James appeared (led by Julian Kenny KC) for the successful appellant owners in establishing that substantial damages for redelivery are available (at the market/charter differential rate) even where owners would not have chartered the vessel out.
A v B – James acted for Owners in procuring an asset disclosure order (pursuant to s.37 Senior Courts Act 1981) in support of an c.US$5m LMAA arbitration award in respect of a “pay now, argue later” clause. The application settled on favourable terms very shortly before the hearing.
A v B (led by Julian Kenny KC) – James appeared for a trading house in a c.US$60m LCIA arbitration for alleged non-delivery of coal in a 1-week LCIA arbitration.
A v B – James appeared for bareboat charterers (led by Sara Masters KC and Alex Carless) in a c.US$100m finance bareboat charterparty dispute concerning UK, US & EU sanctions, termination, and insurance in a 2-week LMAA hearing.
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Shipping & shipbuilding
James has a busy shipping (both wet and dry) and shipbuilding practice both in the court and in arbitration. Recent instructions include:
- A&N Seaways and Projects PVT Ltd v Allianz Bulk Carriers DMCC [2025] EWHC 2126 (Comm) – James appeared for the respondent to a s.67/s.72 challenge (against a silk), successfully striking out the claimant’s allegation that the underlying charterparty had been procured by fraud.
- Acting for Owners in procuring an asset disclosure order in support of an c.US$5m LMAA arbitration award pursuant to a “pay now, argue later” clause.
- Acting for Disponent Owners in both head and sub-reference proceedings in a c.US$1m LMAA arbitration concerning misrepresentation and breach of warranty.
- Acting for Owners in a c.US$4m LMAA arbitration concerning unseaworthiness, vessel breakdown, and mitigation
- Acting for Owners in a c.US$3m LMAA arbitration concerning off-hire, quarantine, and suspension of the vessel.
- Providing expert evidence in Singaporean arrest proceedings in respect of the proper measure of damages for breach of charterparty.
James is also regularly instructed as junior counsel. Recent instructions include:
- Acting for successful Owners in an LMAA arbitration and subsequent s.69 challenge concerning damages for late redelivery: Hapag-Lloyd AG v Skyros Maritime Corporation [2024] EWHC 3139 (Comm); [2025] EWCA Civ 1529 (led by Julian Kenny KC)
- Acting for Buyers in an c.US$150m LMAA shipbuilding arbitration (led by Tim Young KC).
- Acting for Owners in a c.US$40m LMAA shipbuilding arbitration concerning the construction and deficient fitting of a scrubber (led by Julian Kenny KC).
- Acting for Salvors in a c.US$5m claim for salvage at common law (led by Tim Hill KC), including application for permission to serve out of the jurisdiction and a defence to a jurisdiction challenge.
- Acting for Chinese shipyard in c.US$200m dispute concerning construction and damage to FPSO (led by Simon Milnes KC and Alex Carless).
- Acting for Charterers in a c.US$100m finance bareboat charterparty dispute concerning UK, US & EU sanctions, termination, and insurance (led by Sara Masters KC and Alex Carless).
Commodities
James is regularly instructed in commodities disputes concerning contracts on all major INCOTERMS or bespoke terms. Recent instructions include:
- African Distribution Company v AAstar Trading Pte Ltd [2025] EWHC 2428 (Comm) – James appeared for the respondent to a s.67/s.68/s.72 challenge, successfully resisting the claimant’s application for a retrospective extension of a time in which to bring its s.67 and s.68 challenges to a GAFTA award. His submissions were praised as “very high quality”. The final hearing of the s.72 challenge is due to be heard in July 2026
- Acting for a trading house in a c.US$60m LCIA arbitration for alleged non-delivery of coal (led by Julian Kenny KC).
- Acting for Owners in a c.US$2m LMAA arbitration for a crude oil shortage claim.
Sanctions
James is increasingly instructed in disputes with a sanctions element to them. Recent instructions include:
- Acting for Charterers in a c.US$100m finance bareboat charterparty dispute concerning UK, US & EU sanctions, termination, and insurance (led by Sara Masters KC and Alex Carless).
- Acting for Charterers in a dispute over the proper application of EU sanctions for bunkering at an EU port whilst carrying Russian coal in the context of a BIMCO sanctions clause.
Arbitration & related proceedings
The majority of James’ work occurs in confidential arbitration, or in related court proceedings pursuant to the Arbitration Act 1996.
- A&N Seaways and Projects PVT Ltd v Allianz Bulk Carriers DMCC [2025] EWHC 2126 (Comm): successfully resisting a s.67/s.72 challenge
- African Distribution Company v AAstar Trading Pte Ltd [2025] EWHC 2428 (Comm): successfully resisting an application for an extension of time in which to bring s.67/s.68 challenges.
- A v B –procuring an asset disclosure order (pursuant to s.37 Senior Courts Act 1981) in support of an c.US$5m LMAA arbitration award.
- A v B – Acting for Defendant in a c.US400m TV joint venture dispute in 7-day LCIA arbitration (led by Luke Pearce KC) and resisting a subsequent s.68 challenge.
- The Skyros and The Agios Minas [2025] EWCA Civ 1529: successfully resisting a s.69 challenge.
- Acting for an individual in respect of UK and DIAC proceedings concerning an alleged arbitration agreement and the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
General commercial & civil fraud
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Philip Riches KC and Andrew Dinsmore) for the Claimant in ongoing Polish Real Estate Investment Ltd proceedings (c.US$100m). The claims concern wide-ranging allegations of fraud by five defendants.
- Acting as sole counsel for the Defendant in £10m Commercial Court proceedings in respect of claim brought by liquidators for alleged breach of a settlement agreement.
- Acting for Defendant in a c.US$200m TV joint venture dispute in 7-day LCIA arbitration (led by Luke Pearce KC).
- Advising a wine importer on the proper construction of a distribution agreement.
- Whilst on secondment at Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP, James spent the majority of his time assisting on Isbilen v Turk and others [2024] EWHC 505 (Ch) acting for the successful applicant in an 11-day contempt trial.
