James Pickering KC

James specialises in all areas of commercial litigation with a particular emphasis on commercial fraud, insolvency, and professional negligence.

Highlights include representing the liquidators in the well-known “Hyde Park Hotels” fraud, the administrator in the high profile A1 Grand Prix insolvency, the financiers behind a Hollywood movie, provisional liquidators in one of the first crypto-currency insolvencies, the creator of breakthrough gambling software in a multi-million pound commercial IT trial, several well-known football clubs, the shareholders in a leading celebrity chef-owned London restaurant, a lender in a professional liability claim arising out of Channel 4’s Brookside housing estate, and a Swiss banker trustee in a Liechtenstein trust fraud trial. As well as the above, James has appeared in numerous well known and reported cases and is highly regarded within the Chancery and Commercial Bar.

James is a regular speaker at events both domestic and overseas. Recent highlights include speaking in New Delhi, Istanbul, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man. James also has a particular interest in CIS and middle eastern work.

In February 2016 James was appointed as a Deputy Master of the High Court and in September 2018 he was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge. In March 2019 he was elected as Head of Chambers and in March 2020 he was appointed silk.

Insolvency

James deals with all aspects of insolvency litigation representing office holders, directors and creditors alike. Recent successes include a misfeasance action against directors of a Jersey company, a provisional liquidation in one of the first cryptocurrency insolvencies, and committal proceedings against a non-compliant director resulting in a 9-month custodial sentence. James is currently instructed by liquidators and administrators in one of the largest insolvency cases currently taking place within the High Court which is due to heard over 8 weeks in early 2020.

Commercial

James practices in all areas of commercial law. Recent highlights include an arbitration between a Ugandan distributor and one of the largest exporters in India over a failed distribution deal, and representing the estate of a Yemeni businessman known as the “King of Petrol” in a cross-border claim worth tens of millions of pounds.

Professional Negligence & Disciplinary

James regularly represents both claimants and defendants in professional liability claims. Highlights include a protracted 7-party dispute in which he represented solicitors in relation to a failed wrongful trading claim instigated by one of the UK’s richest businessman and which resulted in a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Harmsworth Law Scholarship (1990)

Inns of Court School of Law (Outstanding) (1991)

JJ Powell Prize (1991)