James’ busy commercial chancery practice spans Chambers’ practice areas and he is particularly at home with complex disputes which engage multiple overlapping areas of law. James welcomes instructions across the full range of commercial-chancery work including insolvency, trusts and estates, property, commercial litigation, civil fraud and company.
James appears frequently in his own right in the High Court and County Courts. Recent reported decisions include successfully setting aside a statutory demand relying upon the penalty doctrine in Slowikowsa v Rogers [2021] EWHC 192 (Ch), defending against presentation of a winding-up petition under the Coronavirus test in Newman v Templar Corp Ltd [2020] EWHC 3740 (Ch) and led trial experience with Nigel Hood in a four-week High Court dispute with issues of civil fraud and partnership dissolution (Sidhu v Rathor [2020] EWHC 1916 (Ch)).
James is also a contributor to the forthcoming Third Edition of Gough on Company Charges, has written for Trust and Trustees and contributes to Lexis Nexis’ dispute resolution panel.
Before coming to the Bar, James spent ten months at Canada’s leading boutique litigation firm Lenczner Slaght as a Fox Scholar. Previously, James tutored trusts law at the London School of Economics and obtained first class honours in his LLB from University College London.
James can be instructed on a direct access basis.
Bar Professional Training Course, City Law School (Outstanding); LLB, University College London (First Class Honours); Unjust Enrichment First in Year.
London Bar
James Saunders – New Square Chambers ‘Expedient, efficient, concise and reliable. James always goes above and beyond what is asked of him without question and is prepared to squeeze in work with tight deadlines without any effect on the quality of his advice, drafting or advocacy.’
London Bar
James Saunders – New Square Chambers 'James is down to earth with excellent communication skills. He is bright, responsive and thoughtful.'