Barristers

James Sheehan KC

James Sheehan KC

Position

Specialist in commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration. Practice areas include civil fraud, contract and other business disputes, banking and finance, company and partnership, claims against directors and other fiduciaries, and insolvency. Particular experience of international disputes involving issues of jurisdiction and choice of law. Regular appearances as an advocate, including significant trials in the Commercial Court and in arbitration as sole counsel and appearances in the Court of Appeal as sole counsel.

Recent cases include Capital Markets Co (UK) v Tarver [2017] EWHC 945 (Ch) (Ch Div, conspiracy); JSC BTA Bank v Madiyar Ablyazov [2016] EWHC 3071 (Comm) (Comm Ct and CA, s.423 claim); Shalabayev v JSC BTA Bank [2017] 1 WLR 603 (CA) (and, separately, [2015] CP Rep 21 (CA), CA and Comm Ct, dispute over asset ownership in major fraud litigation); CitizenM LND St Paul's Properties BV v Chil Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 771 (CA, joint venture dispute); Erste Group Bank AG (London) v JSC (VMZ Red October) [2015] 1 CLC 706 (Comm Ct and CA, conspiracy, jurisdiction, choice of law); Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co v Al-Refai [2015] 1 WLR 135 (Comm Ct and CA, conspiracy, breach of confidence, contempt proceedings (including jurisdiction dispute).

Career

Called 2008

Memberships

COMBAR, Chancery Bar Association, Commercial Fraud Lawyers’ Association, Financial Services Lawyers’ Association.

Education

St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge (French and German, starred first, top of year); BPP (CPE); Inns of Court School of Law (Outstanding, second in year). Queen Mother scholar; Baron Dr Ver Heyden de Lancey prize (Middle Temple).

Mentions

London Bar

Banking and finance (including consumer credit)

Other key lawyer1
James Sheehan KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘James was in my view the best senior junior in London until he recently took silk. I have no reason to doubt that he will thrive as a KC. He is incredibly bright and has a depth of knowledge that is, at times, hard to believe.’    
London Bar

Commercial litigation

Other key lawyer1
James Sheehan KC –Essex Court Chambers 'James is incredibly bright and has a depth of knowledge that is, at times, hard to believe. He is totally unflappable, even under the most extreme pressure. His written work is fantastic, and his advocacy is also impressive.'
London Bar

Company

Other key lawyer1
James Sheehan KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘James is a fantastic silk who stands out for his capacity for sheer hard graft and the ability to collaborate.’
London Bar

Fraud: civil

Other key lawyer1
James Sheehan KC –Essex Court Chambers 'An impressive advocate. He is totally unflappable, even under the most extreme pressure. A strong tactical thinker.'
London Bar

International arbitration: counsel

Other key lawyer1
James Sheehan KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘James is a star.  Very bright, very hard working and very thorough.  He slices through the knottiest problems with panache and good sense.  Highly recommended.’