James Libson > Mishcon de Reya LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Mishcon de Reya LLP Offices
AFRICA HOUSE
70 KINGSWAY
LONDON
WC2B 6AH
England
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James Libson

Work Department
Mishcon Private
Position
James is the Managing Partner of Mishcon de Reya. He is a litigator who acts mainly for individuals and families in global commercial disputes, and employment and reputation matters. He has been involved in a number of the highest profile cases of the last 20 years, including acting for Deborah Lipstadt in her defence of the claim brought against her by the holocaust denier, David Irving (which case was made into a film, Denial); for Gina Miller in both her recent Supreme Court challenges relating to Article 50 and, in 2019, prorogation; for the Jewish Labour Movement in its referral of the Labour Party to the EHRC; and for several other politicians of all hues over the last 15 years or so.
He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Law in 2018.
James was appointed Managing Partner in 2020, with responsibility for the overall operational management of the law firm.
James has sat as a trustee and chaired several charities, particularly in the refugee space and currently chairs Prism, the Gift Fund, a charity that seeks to increase the flow of funds to the philanthropic sector.
Career
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Articled, Mishcon de Reya
Languages
Arabic.
Lawyer Rankings
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
(Leading individuals)Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s ‘premier reputation management team’ specialises in crisis management and reputation protection, working with the firm’s broad network of practitioners to provide a discreet service. Acting for both claimants and defendants, the practice advises international UHNWIs, multinational businesses, and media production companies. Media litigator Emma Woollcott leads the practice with particular expertise handling crisis situations and hostile media campaigns, particularly against minority women. Managing partner James Libson has substantial experience acting for a variety of high-profile clients and charities, and Alexandra Whiston-Dew expertly deals with reputational crises and complex multijurisdictional disputes. Michael Frost is also recommended for his ‘forensic attention to detail.’
London > Public sector > Administrative and public law
(Leading individuals)Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s core specialism lies in handling judicial review claims involving a wide range of matters engaging human rights issues. The firm regularly engages in defending politically motivated persecutions, including extradition claims. The group also has a strong track record of holding companies and governments to account. Managing partner James Libson has built a very strong reputation for high profile clients, including charities and corporations. Maria Patsalos has experience acting on claims relating to political asylum. Managing associate Katy Colton ‘has the business and political awareness that few lawyers of her seniority have‘.
London > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
(Firms to watch)Andrew Goldstone, Alexander Rhodes and James Libson lead the offering at Mishcon de Reya LLP that is particularly well-placed to advise individuals on charitable vehicles and governance structures as part of their estate and succession planning objectives.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading individuals - London > Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Leading individuals - London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Administrative and public law - London > Public sector
- Reputation management - London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- Firms to watch - London > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Art and cultural property
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Employment > Employers
- Private client > Family
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Gaming and betting
- Transport > Travel
- Employment > Immigration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- Employment > Health and safety
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Real estate > Residential property
- Employment > Senior executives
Firm Rankings
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Public sector > Education: individuals
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- Insurance > Insurance litigation: for policyholders
- Corporate and commercial > Partnership
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Private prosecutions
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Franchising
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys
- Real estate > Planning
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Industry focus > TMT
- Public sector > Civil liberties and human rights
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: lower mid-market deals, £50m-£500m
- Real estate > Property finance
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment (including media finance)
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £250m)
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit