Stewarts Law LLP

Trusts ahd Probate Litigation

Partner and Head of the Trusts and Probate Litigation department.

James set up and heads Stewarts’ Trust and Probate Litigation Department, which The Legal 500 recently described as “combining all the savvy of a top-flight niche litigation firm with the suave sophistication private clients have come to expect. The team is involved in the largest trust disputes, and the depth of knowledge and experience provides clients with a first-class service."

James specialises in handling complex, high-value and often high-profile litigation relating to private wealth matters, trust and succession in England and other leading trusts jurisdictions. He also has considerable expertise in handling other contentious issues, especially in cases involving fraud and asset tracing (particularly where trusts are involved) as well as advising on trust issues arising out of divorce.

Jurisdictions in which James has experience include Bermuda, Cayman, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Singapore, Hong Kong and the US.  His recent matters include:

• Representing one of the parties in what is considered to be the largest (by value) claim in Bermudian legal history which went to trial for 19 weeks during 2021;
• Advising a number of discretionary beneficiaries of high value Bermudian trusts on the validity of the appointment of trustees and protectors, corporate governance and other matters connected with the proposed restructuring of beneficial interests;
• Advising a Cayman structure on substantial claims brought against it by the Libyan Investment Authority;
• Acting for an Italian beneficiary of Jersey trusts involved in a contested Public Trustee v Cooper application in the High Court in England and Wales; and
• Advising the adult children of the principal beneficiary of very valuable trusts established in Gibraltar concerning a dispute as to beneficial interests.

James joined Stewarts in 2016 to head the firm’s contentious trusts and estates practice. Prior to this he trained at Farrer & Co where he became partner in 2005.

The Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association

James is married and has three teenage children.