Mr James Montado > ISOLAS LLP > Gibraltar, Gibraltar > Lawyer Profile
ISOLAS LLP Offices

PORTLAND HOUSE, GLACIS ROAD
Gibraltar
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Mr James Montado

Work Department
Litigation
Position
Partner
Career
Overview
James is a Partner within the ISOLAS litigation team and is recognised by the leading legal directories for his work in complex civil litigation matters with an emphasis on insolvency, trusts, fraud and distributed ledger technology disputes. His clients include multi jurisdictional financial services entities, Banks, liquidators, administrators, regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies and Government departments.
James’ practice also extends to non-contentious financial services matters where he regularly advises retail and investment Banks as well as other financial institutions on regulatory and contractual matters.
James leads the Firm’s Data Protection and Privacy team where his knowledge and experience on contentious matters assists clients when dealing with regulatory intervention and investigations.
Commercial and Civil Litigation
James contentious practice encompasses a wide range of matters within the disputes context which typically have an international slant. He has been involved in disputes across various sectors and industries with clients including financial services and other regulated entities, global gaming companies and multinational corporate entities. Within this context James is regularly instructed to advise and appear as Counsel on matters relating to jurisdiction challenges, enforcement of foreign judgments, injunctive relief and other interim applications as well as full trials.
James has taken a leading role within the firm in advising clients on contentious matters and disputes arising as a result of the use of cryptocurrency/Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) and has represented various well-known global clients in disputes relating to regulatory matters, ICO’s (and other capital raising mechanisms) and fraud / asset tracing claims.
Insolvency & Bankruptcy
James is recognised as one of the ‘go to’ lawyers within the jurisdiction for insolvency and Bankruptcy matters. He is regularly instructed to act for liquidators/ administrators in large multi-jurisdictional insolvencies of regulated entities. Within this context he acts for appointed officeholders advising on general aspects of insolvency law (including recognition of appointments and information gathering) as well as advising on potential claims against former directors, auditors and third parties.
He is also instructed to advise corporate entities on insolvency matters prior to the onset of insolvency including advising directors on their duties, responsibilities and potential liability as well as reviewable transactions. Within this context, James also advises on wider insolvency touchpoints which arise as a result of non-contentious corporate/commercial matters and transactions.
James has also advised foreign public bodies and compensation schemes in respect of Gibraltar insolvency law matters as well as advising officeholders on the application of foreign compensation scheme rules to Gibraltar insolvencies.
In 2018, James advised on Gibraltar’s first crypto/ DLT related insolvency on a wide range of matters including how to treat creditors whose claims were in various cryptocurrencies/tokens.
Banking & Regulatory
James also has an extensive practice in non-contentious financial services matters where he regularly advises banking and other financial institutions on regulatory and contractual matters. In addition, he is also instructed by public bodies in various non-contentious matters with an emphasis on GDPR compliance.
James has advised banking and e-money entities in relation to PSDII, MiFID, CRD, Consumer Credit and other technical regulations emanating from the EU and more recently how Brexit may impact clients’ ability to continue with established business lines due to the potential loss of ‘passporting’.
Data Protection & Privacy
In addition to his Dispute Resolution work, James also has an extensive practice in non-contentious financial services matters where he regularly advises banking and other financial institutions on regulatory and contractual matters. In addition, he has also been instructed by Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar (HMGoG), and other public bodies in various non-contentious matters with an emphasis on Gibraltar GDPR and EU GDPR compliance. James has also advised private individuals and regulatory bodies on Information Rights law and defamation claims.
Languages
English, Spanish
Memberships
The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
The Gibraltar Legal Council.
Education
King’s College London – LLB
Leisure
A techie at heart, James enjoys all things IT related. He enjoys reading historical texts and has a particular interest in Gibraltar’s naval history.
Lawyer Rankings
Gibraltar > Dispute resolution
(Leading partners)Praised as ‘client focused, combining legal expertise with a focus on business objectives’, ISOLAS LLP‘s recent caseload encompasses contentious public sector, cryptocurrency, and employment matters. The practice is jointly headed by Neil Costa, Samantha Grimes, Mark Isola, and James Montado, and Grimes is notably experienced in Employment Tribunal claims, Isola is a key port of call for the Gibraltar Health Authority, while Montado often handles civil litigation. Costa is lauded as a ‘highly intelligent and professional individual’, Danielle Victor is proficient in insolvency disputes, and Nicholas Isola is a key support. Other notable practitioners include David Garcia and Kyle Bautista.
Gibraltar > Banking and finance
ISOLAS LLP is renowned for a strong advisory practice, spanning corporate and structured finance, real estate finance and regulatory issues. The team is also well-regarded for legislative drafting, acting for His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar. Christian Hernandez
advises leading international banks in a range of corporate finance matters, Christian Caetano specialises in insurance and financial services and James Montado ‘delivers high quality representation’ in regulatory and contract matters. In October 2023, Albert J Isola CBE
returned to the firm as senior partner, following a sabbatical as Minister from 2013 to 2023.
Lawyer Rankings
- Banking and finance Gibraltar
- Dispute resolution Gibraltar
- Leading partners Gibraltar > Dispute resolution