James McClelland KC > Brick Court Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Brick Court Chambers Offices
7-8 ESSEX STREET
LONDON
WC2R 3LD
England
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James McClelland KC
Work Department
Member of Chambers
Position
James has a wide-ranging practice specialising in commercial, public and regulatory law. He is ranked as a leading practitioner in 6 practice areas: (i) Administrative and Public Law; (ii) Banking & Finance; (iii) Commercial Disputes; (iv) Energy; (v) Financial Services Regulation; and (vi), Professional Discipline & Regulation.
James’s cases frequently straddle more than one of these practice areas and he has been recognised as “particularly strong at the intersection of commercial law and public law” (Legal 500) and “one of the few people that has cross-over between banking, regulatory and public law” (Chambers and Partners). He is often sought out for cases raising complex points of law (in particular statutory construction) including in fields previously outside his core areas of practice (such as insolvency, pensions, tax and agriculture).
Career
Call: 2004
Silk: 2021
Languages
French
Education
- MA, Cambridge University (Eng. Lit) – Starred Double First (double first, including top starred first in the University)
- CPE, City University – Distinction (second highest in the University)
- BCL, Oxford University – Distinction
- BVC, Inns of Court School of Law – Outstanding
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > International human rights and criminal law
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3James McClelland KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘A brilliant mind: one of the deepest thinkers at the Bar.’
London Bar > Energy
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3James McClelland KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘James has an incredible ability to pick apart the most complex cases and find all the strengths and weaknesses, so there is no stone left unturned.’
London Bar > Administrative law and human rights
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4James McClelland KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘His advocacy is a brilliant blend of measured and persuasive.’
‘Very strong set‘ Brick Court Chambers is home to ‘a full range of highly talented counsel‘ in the public law arena. The ‘tenacious‘ Paul Bowen KC has ‘impressive knowledge of the law of human rights‘, and James McClelland KC‘s ‘tactical advice is spot on‘. Victoria Wakefield KC represented the Church Commissioners for England before the Privy Council in All Saints Spring Park Parochial Church Council v Church Commissioners for England, an appeal concerning the issue of whether the Church could be considered as a public authority for Human Rights Act matters. Malcolm Birdling is ‘a star of the administrative Bar‘; he and Jagoda Klimowicz successfully represented the claimants in R (L J Fairburn & Son and others) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a challenge to the legality of the policy of compensation payable to farmers for the cull of poultry to curb avian influenza, which was alleged to be in violation of Article 1 Protocol 1 rights. Yaaser Vanderman joined the team in July 2024.
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 6James McClelland KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Razor sharp intellect and gets to the heart of a case in a nano-second.’
London Bar > Financial services and fintech regulation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3James McClelland KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘James is a star barrister whose judgment is superb; his written advocacy is of the highest standard and he can identify the argument that wins the case.’
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4James McClelland KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘James is ferociously bright and really dedicated to getting the right outcome for clients under pressure.’
Brick Court Chambers‘ members have an excellent reputation in acting for and against regulators in a wide range of matters. Tom Adam KC is ‘a top-class advocate‘, with a solid track record in handling complex disciplinary matters for major regulatory bodies, including the FRC and the SRA. James McClelland KC is ‘a star barrister in every respect‘, and is sought after for his expertise in advising on cases in the legal, financial and healthcare sectors. Sarah Bousfield‘s workload includes a wide range of professional disciplinary proceedings.