Agriculture; Property & Estates
James is a member of Guildhall Chambers’ Property & Estates team and is a specialist in agricultural law.
James enjoys a busy court and advisory practice. He regularly appears in the High Court, County Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), and First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). He also represents clients at mediations and arbitrations.
James has a keen interest in agricultural matters and, alongside his practice at the Bar, actively farms an arable farm in partnership. =
James has a particular specialism in cases concerning restrictive covenants and is often able to assist in resolving disputes before proceedings are issued. When resolution is not possible, James appears in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) in applications to discharge and/or modify restrictive covenants, and in the High Court in applications for declarations as to the nature and extent of restrictive covenants and whether they are enforceable.
Notable recent cases include: Hughes Family Property Co Ltd v Cotton [2025] EWHC 1636 (Ch) [restrictive covenants]; Robertson v Pace [2024] UKUT 123 (LC), [2025] R.V.R. 35 [restrictive covenants]; Medley v Mackenzie [2024] UKUT 112 (LC) [restrictive covenants]; Re Fisher [2023] EWHC 979 (Ch), [2023] 1 W.L.R. 2294 [missing persons]
Prior to being called to the Bar in 2020, James practised as a solicitor specialising in agriculture and landed estates.
Agricultural Law Association; Chancery Bar Association; Property Bar Association; The Contentious Trusts Association (ConTrA)
M.St. in History, The University of Cambridge; PgDip in International Legal Practice (Distinction), The University of Law; LL.M. in Commercial Law (Distinction), The University of Bristol; LL.B. (Hons) in Law, The University of Surrey