Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

James is a Partner and specialist in resolving complex commercial disputes. Clients include major UK and international organisations.

James heads the firm’s TMT disputes practice and has considerable specialist expertise in technology and telecoms disputes. Experience includes network modernisation and expansion, systems procurement, software and hardware development, licensing, outsourcing, consultancy, joint projects, Ofcom and PpP investigations, artificially inflated traffic and cyber-security/data breach claims. In addition, James gained valuable in-house counsel and sector experience whilst on secondment at a telematics plc.

By way of example:

• Defending a provider of essential services in Commercial Court proceedings, relating to the termination of a c.£260m, 10 year outsourcing agreement regarding ICT shared services;

• Defending a leading global mobile network operator in a multi-million pound dispute relating to SIM technology and licensing, including resisting injunctive relief and an underlying ICC arbitration;

• Advising a leading global mobile operator in a series of AIT-related claims, including in relation to GSM gateways;

• Advising an international property company on its multi-million pound dispute with its systems integrator relating to the design, development and roll-out of a leading edge m-commerce platform in the UK and France;

• Advising a German technology provider on its multi-million pound dispute with a joint venture partner relating to the development and deployment of digital vaults and security for mobile devices;

• Advising a multi-national in its £14m IT dispute against two local authorities;

• Advising a number of public and private organisations in their multi-million pound software licensing disputes; and

• Advising a leading Southeast Asia mobile network operator in its c.$40m network modernisation and expansion dispute with a Chinese global ICT solutions provider.

Other recent experience includes:

• Obtaining a worldwide freezing order against 29 corporate defendants in 9 jurisdictions based on Chabra jurisdiction and in aid of an c.$80m LCIA arbitration; and

• Defending a UK plc in the High Court and Court of Appeal against a £108m claim arising from a catastrophic fire at a confectionery factory. It was noted as a top 20 case by The Lawyer.

Recent reported cases include:

• BT Cornwall v Cornwal Council, Cornwall NHS Trust and Peninsula Community Health C.I.C. [2015] EWHC 3755 (Comm);

• PJSC VA Bank v Maksimov and others [2014] EWHC 1958 (QB), [2014] EWHC 3771 (Comm), [2013] EWHC 3203 (Comm), [2013] EWHC 422 (Comm); and

• Trebor and Cadbury v ADT Fire & Security plc [2011] EWHC 1936 (TCC), [2012] EWCA Civ 1158.

Additional notes

James is a member of the Society for Computers and Law and an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

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