11KBW

James Cornwell is a barrister specialising in public, information, education and local government law. His public law practice sees him appear regularly in the Administrative Court and Court of Appeal in judicial reviews on a wide range of issues, principally for central government and a variety of public authorities, and in the Upper Tribunal on administrative appeals. In his information law practice, he has appeared in the FTT (Information Rights), Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal in appeals under the Freedom of Information Act and also in data protection proceedings in the High Court, county court and FTT. His education practice has involved appearances in the Court of Appeal, High Court, Upper Tribunal, county court, and FTT (SEND) on issues including disability discrimination, special educational needs, school exclusions and admissions, discrimination, negligence and breach of contract claims against private schools and higher education institutions. James’s recent cases include: Fertré v Vale of White Horse District Council [2026] KB 153, CA, and [2024] 1 WLR 5453, KBD; DA v United Kingdom (App No.46692/19, ECtHR, 17 March 2026); Ashley v HM Revenue and Customs  [2025] 4 WLR 29, KBD; R (Charnwood Borough Council) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 33 (Admin); R (JSH) v Westmorland & Furness Council [2024] EWHC 3362 (Admin); Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Versnick [2024] EWCA Civ 1454 and [2023] UKUT 112 (AAC); Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v AT [2024] KB 633, CA, and [2023] 1 WLR 2669, UT.  

Called 2002 - Middle Temple

Member of Attorney General’s A Panel of Civil Counsel (London) since 2016

Member of Attorney General’s B Panel of Civil Counsel 2012-2016

Member of Attorney General’s C Panel of Civil Counsel 2008-2012

Former contributor to ‘Halsbury’s Laws of England’ (5th ed.), ‘Information Law Reports’, ‘Tolley’s Employment Handbook’ and ‘Local Government Law’

Administrative Law Bar Association

Education Law Association
Employment Law Bar Association

Employment Lawyers Association

Inns of Court School of Law (2002 Bar Vocational Course – Middle Temple Queen Mother Major Scholar)

City University (2001 Diploma in Law – Middle Temple Benefactors CPE Scholar)

Brasenose College, Oxford (2000 DPhil Philosophy)

University College, London (1995 MPhil Philosophy)

University College, Oxford (1993 BA Hons Philosophy, Politics and Economics)

Mountain walking, climbing, golf, literature, film, politics