TESTIMONIALS
"James mediated a case for me recently which I really didn't think would settle. However, thanks in large part to James' mediation and personal skills the parties were able to arrive at a solution thus bringing long standing litigation to an end with consequent massive cost savings. I cannot thank or commend him enough"
Ian Ashley-Smith - Legal Advisor and Deputy District Judge
"I would like to thank James for assisting us in achieving a successful settlement in the space of 4 hours’ mediation.
I was impressed by his calm but firm approach and his clear explanations to my client.
I would have no hesitation in using his services again and in recommending him"
Gillian Wilkinson - Solicitor, Ware & Kay
EXPERIENCE
James has worked in commercial dispute resolution for over 10 years and in that time he has become increasingly convinced that mediation is the best and most cost effective way to resolve commercial disputes.
James had been described as a “first-class litigator” (The Legal 500) and by clients as"fantastic lawyer, who was immensely responsive, always prompt and always responded thoroughly to all the requests we made." (Chambers & Partners)
James has dealt with alternative dispute resolution in many types of commercial dispute, for example:
Insolvency
Sports
Agency & distributions contracts
Contracts for services
Defamation
Negligence (both general negligence and professional negligence)
Fraud
Media and entertainment
Partnership and shareholder disputes
After graduating with First Class Honours from St.Andrews University, James completed his legal training at the College of Law, Birmingham, before going on to work for large regional firms Addleshaw Goddard and Halliwells. James then moved to McCormicks in Harrogate, where he became partner and Head of Commercial Litigation, before founding Towers Legal in 2012. Outside of work, James loves to get out into the Yorkshire countryside, especially on his mountain bike.
James also works as a visiting lecturer teaching Contract Law and and Advanced Commercial Litigation to postgraduates at BPP Law School. He is co-author of BPP's Textbook on Contract Law.
James has worked on a number of high profile and reported cases including:
HMRC v The Football League [2012]
Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. -v- Belmont Park Investments Pty Ltd. & BN[Y] Corporate Trustee Services Limited [2011] UKSC 38 (Supreme Court case)
Proactive Sports Management Ltd v Wayne Rooney, Coleen Rooney and others [2010] EWHC 1807 (QB)
Proform Sports Management Limited v (1) Proactive Sports Management Ltd (2) Paul Stretford - [2007] 1 All E.R. 542
Paul Stretford v Football Association Limited - [2006] EWHC 479
Green Corns Limited v Claverley Group Limited – [2005] EMLR 31