James Shiel

James specialises in commercial litigation with a focus on disputes in the technology and life sciences sectors. He has experience of acting on a wide range of complex commercial disputes and his previous cases have proceeded in various courts in England and Wales, including London’s Business & Property Courts and the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court. 

James focuses primarily on commercial litigation across a number of sectors (technology, life sciences, sport, education, charities, government and health). He has also developed considerable expertise in advising on non-contentious matters. As part of James’ training to become a qualified solicitor, he completed a three-month secondment to the in-house legal team of a rapidly growing life sciences company. Most recently, James has provided a mixture of advisory and transactional work for a technology company which operates in over 100 countries. Such non-contentious experience is of unquestionable benefit to his clients when advising on litigious matters. 

Being part of a leading UK law firm with strong cross-office and sector expertise, the litigation team is well placed to handle "complex regional, national and cross-border disputes" (Chambers & Partners). Our highly regarded litigation team is also known for its commercially attuned advice and its particular “[focus] on contract disputes, notably for technology and life science companies” (Legal 500).

James is a member of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and acts as a champion for the Junior London Solicitors Litigation Association. He also has a particular interest in contract disputes involving intellectual property issues as well as litigation in the sports sector.