4PB

Public Children Law; International Children Law; Private Children Law; Finance

Overview

James joined chambers as a tenant in October 2024 following the successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Nicholas Fairbank, Mani Singh Basi, Sally Bradley and Lucy Cheetham. He is seeking to build a broad family law practice and accepts instructions in all areas of family law.

In the year before he started pupillage, James was the judicial assistant to Lord Justice Peter Jackson and Lord Justice Baker at the Court of Appeal. He was then selected to stay on at the Court of Appeal as one of two vacation judicial assistants, undertaking more work for those Lord Justices of Appeal, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Moylan, among others. In his time at the Court of Appeal, he wrote bench memos and conducted legal research across the whole breadth of family law, as well as helping with speeches and lectures.

Before turning to the law, James qualified as a social worker through the graduate programme Frontline. He then practised as a child protection social worker over five years for two London local authorities.

Awards

Gray’s Inn: Ann Goddard Scholarship (2024) Gray’s Inn: Prince of Wales Scholarship (2021) The Inns of Court College of Advocacy: Guildhall Chambers Bristol Drafting Prize (joint award) (2023) The Inns of Court College of Advocacy: Guildhall Chambers Bristol Drafting Prize (joint award) (2023) The Inns of Court College of Advocacy: Silver Award for BSB Criminal Litigation Assessment (second in the cohort) (2021)

Professional Memberships

The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn Family Law Bar Association Association of Lawyers for Children

Education & Qualifications

The Inns of Court College of Advocacy: Bar Course (Merit) (2023) City, University of London: GDL (Distinction) (2021) Frontline Academy/University of Bedfordshire: PGDip Social Work (Commendation) (2016) University of Oxford: BA History & Politics (2:1) (2013)