James is an Associate in the Construction and Engineering Disputes & Risk team, having qualified into the team in September 2020. James trained with the firm, gaining experience in Osborne Clarke's Disputes, Real Estate, Projects and Commercial teams and undertaking a broad spectrum of work ranging from the negotiation of commercial leases and construction team appointments, to assistance on a £200 million student accommodation deal.

James advises on a wide range of construction and engineering disputes across multiple sectors, with expertise advising developers and employers on defects and payment disputes in the Real Estate and Infrastructure and Energy and Utilities Sector.

James' experience includes litigation in the Court of Appeal, Technology and Construction Court and County Court, as well as adjudication, expert determination and mediation. He has also provided live contract management and dispute avoidance advice to a tier 1 contractor on a power station project.

James' primary experience of standard from construction contract forms is with the JCT and NEC forms.

Helping you succeed in tomorrow's world

I am committed to providing commercially driven, pragmatic advice to clients in order to help them navigate their construction and engineering risk and disputes (both crystallised and potential) in a proportionate, cost-effective way.

I regularly contribute to the firm's legal update publications, having co-authored articles concerning the rights of insolvent parties to refer disputes to adjudication.

With a keen interest in construction technology and the unlocked potential of drones, blockchain and modular construction to improve industry efficiency and profitability, I have also contributed to the following opinion pieces written in collaboration with Practical Law: COVID-19 and the construction industry; and The future of the construction industry: offsite construction, next-generation connectivity and artificial intelligence.

Developer

Acting for a real estate developer in bringing multiple high value claims for structural defects on projects throughout the UK.

Distribution network operator

Acting for a distribution network operator on a number of disputes across a range of projects, including a final account dispute with a main contractor and a defects / wrongful termination dispute with a cable jointing contractor.

Tier 1 contractor

Providing live contract management and dispute avoidance advice on a power station project.

Global Investment manager

Advising an SPV in relation to defects claims at a PFI hospital project.

Insights