James Poole

Private Client - non contentious and contentious; Property litigation; Partnership; Commercial Chancery; Court of Protection

James is well-known for the quality of his legal analysis, his persuasive advocacy in court, the practicality of his advice, and his sensitive and responsive interaction with clients. Chambers UK Bar says that “James is incredibly good with clients, and gives very clear and straightforward advice. He is incredibly easy to work with”. In 2023 he was nominated for the Star Associate/Junior Under 10 Years Call Award by Chambers HNW.

He is ranked by the legal directories for his work in probate, trusts, traditional chancery and property litigation. His inter-disciplinary expertise means that much of his work concerns disputes involving multiple areas of law. This is reflected in some of his recent reported decisions, which include: Patel v Patel [2025] EWHC 560 (Ch) and [2025] EWHC 620 (Ch), Irwin Mitchell Trust Corporation v KS [2025] EWCOP 7 (T2), Gohil v Kumara [2023] EWHC 1809 (Ch) and Abdelnoor v Barker [2022] EWHC 1468 (Ch).

James’ busy practice particularly focuses on:

• Probate, inheritance, estate and trust disputes, including claims under the 1975 Act and claims for the removal of executors or trustees;
• Court of Protection applications
• Landlord and Tenant issues, both residential and commercial;
• Property, including covenants, easements, nuisance and boundary disputes;
• Commercial and contractual disputes, including partnerships, arbitrations and interim applications such as freezing injunctions.

James is a skilled and highly effective advocate.  He also has significant experience of offshore litigation, particularly in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

James is (with Sidney Ross) one of the authors of the Fifth Edition of Ross on Inheritance Act Claims.

Before coming to the Bar, James taught at secondary and tertiary level in England and Vanuatu, and is equally comfortable being instructed in both English and Bislama.

James is also a qualified and experienced mediator, and welcomes instructions as a mediator in any of the areas in which he practices.

James was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in August 2025.

Publications:

• “Persons Unknown”, New Law Journal, 21 November 2014 (with Tim Lawson-Cruttenden)

Bislama

James is a committee member of the Court of Protection Bar Association (CPBA), and is also member of the Chancery Bar Association (ChBA), the Contentious Trusts Association (ConTrA), the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and the Court of Protection Practitioners Association (CoPPA).

• Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding), City Law School (2016)
• Buchanan Prize, Lincoln’s Inn (2016)
• Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn (2016)
• Graduate Diploma in Law (Commendation), City Law School (2015)
• Hardwicke Award, Lincoln’s Inn (2015)
• Lord Bowen Scholarship, Lincoln’s In (2015)
• MA Modern History, University of Oxford (2009)