James has extensive experience of substantial commercial disputes in the High Court and Appellate Courts, as well as arbitrations, mediations and in particular expert determinations. He has broad experience in advising clients in the energy (oil and gas, and electricity), media, financial services (accountancy and investment banking) sectors and in completion accounts disputes.
Credentials
- the TXU administrators on the valuation and settlement/workout of TXU’s long term structured power purchase, gas and tolling agreements
- commodities dispute arbitration under the Regulations of the London Metal Exchange
- National Power v. United Gas - dispute concerning the shortfall provisions of a take-or-pay gas sales agreement
- international and domestic energy companies on pricing disputes arising out of indexation and price-reopener clauses in long term gas sales agreements
- a UK accountancy firm on issues arising out of audit related disputes and investigations brought by the ICAEW
- BP Gas Marketing v. Corby Power - dispute concerning the transportation requirements for gas sold to a power station under a long term gas sales agreement
- Arthur Gillatt v. Sky Television (Court of Appeal) - contractual dispute concerning an earn-out agreement on sale of a business
- a major investment bank in a contractual High Court dispute relating to an interest rate swaption
- various UK plcs in a completion accounts expert determination arising out if the sale of joint venture companies
- United Utilities in defending injunction proceedings arising out of the sale of Welsh Water to WPD
- PGA European Tour v. British Sky Broadcasting - defending injunction proceedings relating to the broadcasting of the Ryder Cup
- expert determination concerning non-payment of milestone payments under a pharmaceutical drug licensing agreement
Accolades
"part of an excellent contentious [energy] team"
Legal 500, 2004
"an experienced industry litigator"
Legal 500, 2002