Fountain Court Chambers

James Cutress KC is a leading commercial advocate, described as “immensely effective in court”, “brilliant on tactics” and “excellent at cutting to the chase”.

He regularly acts both before the courts and in international arbitrations. His cases are typically heavy and complex commercial disputes which are international in nature and often raise jurisdictional and conflict of law issues.

Described as a “Rolls-Royce of a barrister”, James’ expertise spans a number of fields, including Commercial Litigation, International Commercial Arbitration, Banking & Finance, Financial Services, Insurance, Aviation, Travel and Professional Negligence.  He has particular expertise in disputes arising out of financings and financing structures, commercial contracts, aviation, insurance, acquisitions/business sales, energy, fraud, sanctions and professional liability and discipline.

James is co-Author of Thanki’s The Law of Privilege (3rd edition) and gives specialist and expert advice in relation to privilege issues and disputes. He has also sat on the Bar Standard Board professional complaints committee (now Independent Decision Making Body) for a number of years. In addition, James provides expert evidence on English law to foreign courts.

Called 2000. Silk 2018.

Oxford University, 1997 BA Law (First class degree, coming first in his year in Law in the University), 1998 BCL (Distinction); Inns of Court School of Law (second in year); Harvard University, 1999 LLM (Kennedy Scholar).

Hockey (Blue 1997, 1998), squash.