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James Shiel

Principal Associate

What can I do for you

James is a litigation lawyer, with a broad experience of commercial disputes as well as disputes involving intellectual property and IP cross-over issues. His work also includes corporate related disputes and misuses of confidential information. James’ experience includes litigation in the High Court as well as the County Court, together with experience of alternative dispute resolution (particularly mediations) and sport related disputes.

Supporting your ambitions

James has a particular specialism in technology and IT related disputes, but his dispute resolution experience spans across a number of sectors (including life sciences, sport, education, charities, government and health).

He has also completed two client secondments during his time at Mills & Reeve and has developed significant experience of working directly with in-house lawyers and non-lawyers to understand their priorities.

What do others say

The Legal 500 (2025) commented as follows:

“Senior associate James Shiel is tactically and strategically astute, he is a partner waiting to happen.”

“James Shiel is a key adviser to the life sciences sector” and a “leading associate.”

What else should you know

James completed the Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law & Practice at the University of Oxford in the summer of 2022. He was appointed as the Chairperson of the British Swimming judicial appeals panel and the Panel Legal Advisor to Swim England's judicial panel, and has experience in relation to Athlete Selection work for a national governing body.

What our clients say about us

  • I think Mills & Reeve are a wonderful firm. The support they have provided to us in a really difficult area has been brilliant, collaborative and commercially minded. The team were absolutely wonderful and a joy to work with. Amazing advice and support and a real collaborative effort with us. I can't thank them enough for getting us through some really tough times and doing so with an amazing can-do attitude.
  • They are friendly, fast, always available and always on top of the game. I tend to judge my legal team against the other side's legal team and never doubt Mills & Reeve is the better of the two.
  • All interactions have been very clear. Responses to questions have always been very swift and unambiguous. Our company, and my family, have used various services in Mills & Reeve with the same level of satisfaction.
  • I value the fact that Mills & Reeve are recognised as a good place to work in the UK Best Companies survey. This aligns with the values of our business and means that Mills & Reeve can share what is required to achieve this status with our business.

As many clients will testify, too many lawyers deliver the required legal expertise but fail to deliver an outstanding client experience. Which is why we always listen to our clients and constantly ask ourselves what we can do to deliver the results you expect.

You expect a close and attentive working relationship, with a lawyer that is responsive and available when you need them. You also want clear, pragmatic and commercial advice tailored to your needs, and transparency and certainty on costs. We completely agree. That’s why every day, through our culture and approach we are committed to delivering the exceptional results and service our clients expect of us.

Related sectors and services

  • Contract disputes
  • Injunctions
  • Intellectual property disputes
  • IT disputes
  • Patents
  • Post M&A and breach of warranty disputes
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Sport, media and entertainment
  • Technology

Contact James