Profile
Work Department
Position
James is a commercial litigator with a focus on the sports sector. He is a key advisor to many household names in sport, including The FA, the British Horseracing Authority and Premiership Rugby, on a range of contentious and regulatory matters. In addition, he advises teams and individuals such as Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden, regularly appearing before disciplinary panels, the High Court and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. James has particular experience in sporting investigations.
His recent highlights include advising Premiership Rugby on a wide range of matters, including the creation and implementation of the Financial Monitoring Panel and the co-creation of a new Men’s Professional Game Partnership, as well as acting for Newcastle United FC on proceedings commenced in the Competition Appeal Tribunal by Sports Direct.
Career
2017 – Present: Founding Partner, Northridge Law LLP
2016 – 2017: Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys
2013 – 2016: Senior Associate, Charles Russell Speechlys
2008 – 2013: Associate, Charles Russell Speechlys
2006 – 2008: Trainee, Charles Russell Speechlys
Languages
Memberships
Education
College of Law LPC (2005)
Nottingham University, Law (2004)
Content supplied by Northridge Law LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Boutique law firm with specialist sports knowledge but offering services of a magic circle firm.’
‘Northridge Law is in the very top drawer of sport law practices in the UK. Their work in both the contentious and non-contentious fields is of the highest quality and for the biggest names in the sector.’
‘Jon Ellis is extremely well-respected in the sector: he is one of the very best partners in the field practising in the UK. His impressive client list has been earned from a combination of very deep sector expertise and exceptionally good judgment.'
'Ian Lynam's knowledge of commercial deal-making, especially in football, is second-to-none. Will Moir is a rising star. He is already operating at levels of maturity and strategic vision that one would associate with a partner.'
‘The fact that Northridge is a specialist sport law firm, covering the full range from commercial and transactional work to regulatory matters, means that the firm's whole team is expert in the advice and representation that they provide, and have sufficient experience of the sector to make sure that that expertise is efficiently and effectively deployed. That expertise and experience provides top notch representation in the field, which has its own specific characteristics which must be understood and managed.’
‘I have worked most with Jon Ellis, Ian Lynam, James Eighteen and Sarah Boulton amongst the partners, Oliver Harland and Will Moir amongst the associates. All are excellent, with particular individuals having particular sub-specialisms, such as Jon Ellis' regulatory expertise, Ian Lynam's transactional expertise.'
‘Paul Shapiro is a joy to work with and at the top of his game.’
‘I think Northridge are the pre-eminent legal firm for big-ticket sports matters. They work with big sporting bodies and clubs on deals and other major legal projects. On the player side, they provide support to a number of the top players.'
Key clients
- The FA Chelsea FC The Premier League Newcastle United FC Blue Heaven Holdings Limited (previous owner of 94.1% of Everton FC) Women’s Professional Leagues Limited Betway / Super Group RedBird StatsBomb LIV Golf Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) Premiership Rugby (PRL) Michele Kang (women’s football investor) / YMK Holdings Queens Park Rangers FC The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Reliance Industries Limited Yorkshire CC Red Bull GmbH Two Circles Mercury 13 Thierry Henry Bukayo Saka Middlesbrough FC Nottingham Forest FC