James is described by the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior on the Northern Circuit in relation to both Personal Injury and Employment work.
James acts for both Claimants and Defendants in all areas of personal injury litigation, fatal accidents, claims involving allegations of fraud and clinical negligence. He has a particular specialism in employers’ liability work (such as health and safety, stress at work and industrial disease work).
He is often instructed in cases of severe injuries (including brain injuries), requiring expert evidence and the drafting of extensive and complex schedules and counter schedules of loss. He frequently deals with complex trials, as well as advising on paper and in conference. He is experienced in advising in cases of forensic loss of earnings claims, such as with self-employed Claimants or those who own/manage their own businesses. James regularly undertakes joint settlement meetings and is happy to act on a CFA funding basis in appropriate cases.
In employment, James mainly undertakes Respondent work, with a small amount of Claimant work. He has considerable expertise in dealing with complex discrimination and whistle-blowing ET cases, especially in the public sector (including Government Legal Service work representing e.g. HMRC, the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Work and Pensions). James also represents a wide range of private sector employment clients, as well as local authorities.
Given his two areas of practice, James also regularly advises clients on issues that span both employment and personal injury law, such as claims for psychiatric injury in the workplace, stress at work, and bullying/harassment claims pursuant to the Harassment Act 1997.
Additionally, through his work as a legal assessor to the Health and Care Professions Council, James has extensive knowledge of, and interest in, professional disciplinary and regulatory law, and welcomes instructions in this area.
James combines his technical ability with practicality – always having a strong focus on the commercial realities of any situation. He is both approachable and friendly and prides himself on his excellent reputation for providing a high standard of customer service and an efficient turnaround on paperwork.
As an accredited public access barrister, James is able to accept advice and advocacy work directly from individuals or businesses through the Public Access Scheme, and is happy to discuss fixed fee or retainer rates for such work.
As part of a continuing commitment to building and enhancing client relationships, James regularly gives training seminars to clients on legal developments. He is happy to devise bespoke training, tailored to clients’ requirements, to deliver at their businesses.
LLB (Hons) University of Birmingham
Northern Circuit • Regional Bar
James Hurd – 9 St John Street ‘James's preparation is meticulous, which is manifest by the sound legal analysis which he employs in his skeleton arguments. His precise advocacy is easy for any judge to follow such that it undermines the opponent’s application or case with compelling subtlety; a first rate advocate.'
Northern Circuit • Regional Bar
James Hurd – 9 St John Street ‘James has excellent attention to detail and he is quick to cut through any chaff straight to the salient information and points. He inspires confidence in his advocacy and has a very good bedside manner with clients.'