James is a partner in our Dispute Resolution and Litigation team. He has significant banking and finance, insolvency, and insurance experience. He is also passionate about cryptocurrency/crypto-assets and Web3 technology.
James identifies problems before they arise and provides pragmatic solutions. Whether you’re involved in a complex commercial dispute or a matter of personal importance, James has a range of experience, skills and connections to help you achieve the outcome that you want.
James is experienced in alternative dispute resolution and regularly represents clients in courts and tribunals. He represents a range of clients from individuals and startups through to large multinational corporates.
In addition to working on some of New Zealand’s most notable insolvencies, and being involved in a range of high profile commercial and insurance related matters, he has advised many clients interested in digital assets. These include insolvency practitioners; private wealth clients in relation to litigation, tax, asset acquisition, structuring, protection and property transfer; and businesses in relation to NFTs, gaming, crypto- mining, capital raising, structuring/decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs), and the regulatory landscape.
James is a member of the Crypto Legal Working Group and is on the Executive Council for Blockchain NZ, a leading digital assets industry group; he is a member of RITANZ the leading insolvency industry group; and a founding member of NZICM, an industry group for credit management professionals.
James was named by NZ Lawyer as a “changemaker” in its 2023 Most Influential Lawyers rankings. He is ranked by Doyles as a Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyer – New Zealand, 2022. He has also recently been noted as a “Recommended Lawyer” in Dispute Resolution for 2024 by Legal 500.
