James Shiel

James is a litigator who focuses on intellectual property, commercial and corporate disputes. His previous cases have proceeded in various courts in England and Wales, including London’s Business & Property Courts (including the Patents Court) and the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court. James also has experience of alternative dispute resolution (particularly mediations) as well as sport related disputes and County Court litigation.

James focuses on litigation across a number of sectors (technology, life sciences, sport, education, charities, government and health). As part of James’ training to become a qualified solicitor, he completed a three-month secondment to the in-house legal team of a now NASDAQ-listed life sciences company. Most recently, James 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. 

The General Counsel of a technology company noted that James provided “fantastic support” coupled with “hard work [and] enthusiasm”.

On another matter where James was the lead associate on a complex technology dispute, which involved mediation and extensive without prejudice negotiations, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the client commented that the outcome was: “Great news and outstanding work by Mills & Reeve. Very impressed”.

James is currently completing the Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law & Practice at the University of Oxford.