Our German Desk
James joined Hesketh Henry in October 2021 after nearly 10 years of practice with leading international law firms Pinsent Masons and Mayer Brown in Hong Kong. He is admitted in both Hong Kong and New York.
James acts for clients in contentious and non-contentious construction matters and, more generally, in international arbitration and various forms of dispute resolution.
In his construction practice, James has specific non-contentious expertise in review and drafting construction tender and contract documentation (both bespoke and based on standard forms), and providing mid-project advice to contractors, principals, sub-contractors and suppliers on a wide variety of construction-related issues. For a portion of his time in Hong Kong, he was seconded with a major Hong Kong contractor on multiple high-profile strategic Government infrastructure projects in Hong Kong advising, coordinating claims team and strategy and carrying out in-house legal work.
James also acts for clients in relation to all types of contentious construction matters, including claims relating to delay, variations and defects in a variety of dispute resolution forums including negotiations, mediations, court litigation and both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations.
James’ construction practice has involved a wide variety of project sectors including cultural developments, high-tech infrastructure, healthcare, education, high-end residential, mixed-use residential and commercial, commercial, hospitality and infrastructure (including roads, railways, power and airports).
James also specialises in international arbitration and dispute resolution where he has advised, and acted for, clients in mediations and international arbitrations seated in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mainland China governed by both ad hoc regimes and a range of well-known institutional rules. These international arbitrations have involved construction, commercial and insurance related matters.
James has written regularly on construction and dispute resolution issues and has been published in the Journal of International Arbitration and International Arbitration Law Review. Prior to moving to New Zealand, James was a Council Member of the Hong Kong Society of Construction Law. He holds an LLB and MSC in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution from King’s College London and an LLM from Columbia University in New York.
