James McWilliams > Chambers of Ewan McQuater KC and David Quest KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
3 Verulam Buildings Offices
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James McWilliams
Work Department
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Fraud: Civil
Insolvency
Position
James is a leading commercial junior with a practice that spans a broad range of commercial disputes, both in litigation in arbitration. A confident advocate and a team player, he is equally happy acting as sole counsel as he is as part of a larger legal team. Much of James’ work has an international element. He has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the BVI and is a registered practitioner with rights of audience at the AIFC in Kazakhstan.
James’ experience includes contractual disputes of all kinds, civil fraud and asset tracing, banking and financial services related litigation, insolvency and restructuring, company and partnership disputes, energy and professional negligence.
Memberships
COMBAR
Chancery Bar Association
Insolvency Lawyers’ Association
Commercial Fraud Lawyers’ Association
Education
Peterhouse, University of Cambridge – MA (Hons) History: First Class Honours
City, University of London – Graduate Diploma in Law
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3James McWilliams –3 Verulam Buildings ‘James is a confident advocate, who shows good judgement. He is also good on his legal analysis and a pleasure to work with.’
‘A very good, go-to set, with true bench strength at all levels‘, 3 Verulam Buildings routinely acts in large-value, multi-jurisdictional, complex cases, both at all levels of the English court system and globally. In the leading 2023 COVID-19 business interruption test case London International Exhibition Centre v RSA and others, Adam Kramer KC and rising star William Day acted for the lead claimants. In Argentum Exploration Ltd v The Republic of South Africa, Liisa Lahti was part of the legal team that successfully represented treasure hunters, who resisted South Africa’s state immunity claims in relation to 2,391 bars of silver salvaged from the wreck of the SS Tilawa, which was sunk during World War II. Elsewhere in chambers, Christopher Harris KC and James McWilliams, in Labrador Marine Corporation v Petroserv Marine Inc, are acting for Petroserv in major Commercial Court proceedings concerning Labrador’s entitlement to substantial sums under a promissory note.
London Bar > Fraud: civil
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3James McWilliams –3 Verulam Buildings ‘James shows great judgement and has strong advocacy skills. He is also very analytical.’
London Bar > Insolvency
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 5James McWilliams –3 Verulam Buildings ‘James is particularly good for claims where there is a cross-over with insolvency and fraud because of his experience with both. He has good judgement, is good on the law and is a fine advocate.’