Practice overview

James is a commercial and chancery specialist who is ranked in The Legal 500 and in Chambers & Partners. In the UK, James has a broad practice with particular expertise in contentious trusts, commercial disputes and civil fraud work. He appears regularly, both as sole counsel and as part of a team, at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court / Privy Council. He is ranked by the legal directories in the practice areas of Civil Fraud, Private Client: Trusts and Probate, and Chancery (Traditional), where he is described as “extremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks“.

James also has a significant international practice. His trusts practice includes advising and acting for settlors, trustees, beneficiaries and protectors. His commercial and fraud work also often includes proceedings and applications for interim relief in offshore jurisdictions. In recent years, James’ instructions have involved cases in Guernsey, Jersey, Cayman, The Bahamas, BVI, Nevis, TCI, Liechtenstein, and Malta.

Commercial disputes

James undertakes a variety of commercial work, both in his own right and as part of a larger team. He is ranked by the Legal 500 as a leading junior in Civil Fraud, where he is described as “a very strong junior particularly in complex fraud cases” with a “masterful grasp of the detail and documents”.

Recent instructions include:

  • Lucas v Gilbert [2022] 2 WLUK 177. James acted as sole counsel in a 3-day trial concerning a joint venture in respect of a property development, which concerned allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty and undue influence. See link here.
  • Lim and others v Ong and others. James acts (led by James Bailey KC) for the claimants in a wide-ranging commercial fraud proceedings. The claimants were successful at trial: see [2023] EWCH 321 (Ch). In support of their claims, the claimants applied for and obtained ex parte freezing and quia timet injunctions. See [2021] EWHC 3414 (Ch) and [2022] EWHC 225 (Ch). James continues to act for the claimants in ongoing enforcement and contempt proceedings.
  • Eva Green v White Lantern. James acted (led by Max Mallin KC, and leading Lemuel Lucan-Wilson) for White Lantern in the high-profile High Court trial between film star Eva Green and a production company in respect of the termination of a sci-fi thriller: see [2023] EWHC 930 (Ch). James acted unled in relation to the consequentials of the same: see [2023] EWHC 1391 (Ch).
  • Al-Dowaisan v Al-Salam. James (led by Nikki Singla KC) acted for the Claimants in a wide-ranging commercial dispute. The judgment contains important guidance on fiduciary duties, the duty to account, and the defence of illegality in the context of tax evasion. See [2019] EWHC 301 (Ch).
  • Meridian v Batista: James acted (led by Graeme Halkerston) for the successful applicant in the Cayman Islands, obtaining a Worldwide Freezing Order against the Brazilian oil magnate and sometime 7th richest man in the world, Eike Batista. The case made new law in respect of the circumstances in which a court will grant WFOs against non-residents and in support of ‘treble damages’ claims.
  • Deutsche Bank v SHI and Vik; SHI v Sarek et al: James acted (led by Tim Penny KC) for Receivers appointed over assets of a Turks and Caicos Islands company previously controlled by Alexander Vik. James has appeared as sole counsel in the English High Court, and has acted in litigation in England, Guernsey, and the TCI. See e.g. [2017] EWHC 3265 (Comm).
  • Thomas v Frogmore Real Estate Partners GP1 Ltd [2017] EWHC 25 (Ch): James acted, led by Marcia Shekerdemian KC, in an application to set aside an administration order on grounds of improper purpose and COMI.
  • Acting in a major commercial breach of contract case against a major bank in respect of the sale of a portfolio of non-performing loans.
  • Acting as sole counsel for a defendant forex broker in relation to a substantial claim for unlawful commissions and trading losses.

Download Commercial disputes CV

  • Quote symbolJames has an outstanding intellect and a complete mastery of his brief. He instils confidence in all who work with him. He is a simply magnificent lawyer.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolJames is extremely hardworking and diligent. His written advocacy in particular is second to none, and it is a pleasure to instruct him on complex commercial litigation cases.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolIncredibly approachable and happy to roll his sleeves up and work through all the documents in a case. He is also very commercial and very easy to work with.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA man with a great reputation, he is everything you want in a capable junior. He rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in; he is going places.

    Chambers & Partners 2023

  • Quote symbolExtremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks.

    The Legal 500 2022

Commercial disputes insights & events View all thought leadership View all events

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    Recent Cases

    Lim and others v Ong

    Civil fraud and asset recovery, Commercial disputes, Company law

    James Bailey KC | James Goodwin
    Wednesday 21 February 2024

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Fraud, Trusts & Asset Recovery Conference 2023

    Wednesday 8th November 2023 | 12.45pm - 5.30pm, followed by drinks
    Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, London

    £120 + VAT | 3.5 CPD

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Commercial Litigation Conference 2023

    Thursday 12th October 2023 | 12.30pm - 6pm, followed by drinks
    The Langham, London

    £130 + VAT | 4.0 CPD

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    Events / Webinars

    Civil Fraud Conference 2023

    Thursday 8th June 2023 | 12.15pm - 5.55pm followed by drinks & canapés
    The View at The Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3PE

    £130 + VAT | 4.0 CPD

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James's expertise

Download Insolvency CV

Insolvency

James has a wide insolvency practice and appears regularly before ICC Judges. James also has a particular interest in receivership applications, being a contributing author to Kerr & Hunter on Receivers and Administrators.

Recent instructions include:

  • Acting (alongside Thomas Robinson) for the joint administrators of eight companies within the Carlauren Group of luxury hotels and care homes.
  • Acting (unled) for the applicant in an application to (i) set aside the decisions of joint supervisors of an IVA to allow various creditors of disputed multimillion-pound debts to vote at a creditors meeting; and (ii) to revoke the approval of a proposed IVA.
  • Acting, led by Marcia Shekerdemian KC, in an application to set aside an administration order on grounds of improper purpose and COMI: Thomas v Frogmore Real Estate Partners GP1 Ltd [2017] EWHC 25 (Ch).
  • Acting (led by Lexa Hilliard KC) in a confidential application to restrain the presentation of a winding up petition in the context of a dispute between two high-profile companies.
  • A (potentially) high-profile application for bankruptcy, in which James successfully applied on behalf of the respondent for the hearing to be heard in private and listed under anonymised names.

Download Insolvency CV

  • Quote symbolJames has an outstanding intellect and a complete mastery of his brief. He instils confidence in all who work with him. He is a simply magnificent lawyer.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolJames is extremely hardworking and diligent. His written advocacy in particular is second to none, and it is a pleasure to instruct him on complex commercial litigation cases.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolIncredibly approachable and happy to roll his sleeves up and work through all the documents in a case. He is also very commercial and very easy to work with."

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA man with a great reputation, he is everything you want in a capable junior. He rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in; he is going places.

    Chambers & Partners 2023

  • Quote symbolExtremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks.

    The Legal 500 2022

Insolvency insights & events View all thought leadership View all events

  1. Placeholder

    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Fraud, Trusts & Asset Recovery Conference 2023

    Wednesday 8th November 2023 | 12.45pm - 5.30pm, followed by drinks
    Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, London

    £120 + VAT | 3.5 CPD

    View more
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    Recent Cases

    Key Privy Council decision: Equity Trust (Jersey) Ltd v Halabi

    International / offshore, Insolvency, Trusts, probate and estates: contentious | Privy Council

    Clare Stanley KC | James Goodwin
    Thursday 13 October 2022

    View more
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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Commercial Conference 2022

    Thursday 24 March 2022 | 9am - 5.20pm followed by drinks
    Kimpton Fitzroy Russell Square (and online via Zoom), London

    £195 + VAT | 5.0 CPD

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Guernsey Conference 2016

    Tuesday 29 November 2016 | 4.00pm -6.30pm
    The Old Government House Hotel, Guernsey,

    2.0 CPD

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Professional liability

James is often instructed in relation to professional liability claims, especially where such claims interact with commercial chancery matters. Recent matters with which James has been involved include:

  • Advising and acting (led by Mike Tennet KC) in a professional negligence claim against a firm of solicitors in respect of advice given to a trustee of a scheme in respect of pension benefits liable to statutory indexation.
  • Bloxwich Pension Scheme. James was instructed alongside Jonathan Hilliard KC to act for the defendant law firm facing professional negligence claims in relation to an alleged failure to equalise scheme benefits.
  • Acting (led by Martin Hutchings KC) for a defendant property developer in respect of a large dispute over architectural services.
  • Acting in a successful claim against a negligent estate agent.
  • Advising in relation to professional negligence claims brought against solicitors, IFAs, and investment managers.

Download Professional liability CV

  • Quote symbolJames has an outstanding intellect and a complete mastery of his brief. He instils confidence in all who work with him. He is a simply magnificent lawyer.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolJames is extremely hardworking and diligent. His written advocacy in particular is second to none, and it is a pleasure to instruct him on complex commercial litigation cases.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolIncredibly approachable and happy to roll his sleeves up and work through all the documents in a case. He is also very commercial and very easy to work with."

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA man with a great reputation, he is everything you want in a capable junior. He rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in; he is going places.

    Chambers & Partners 2023

  • Quote symbolExtremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks.

    The Legal 500 2022

James's expertise

Download Property CV

Property

James has significant experience of contentious property litigation, in particular where such disputes involve fraud, trusts, and equitable remedies.

A recent example is Lucas v Gilbert [2022] 2 WLUK 177, where James acted as sole counsel in a 3-day trial concerning a joint venture in respect of a property development, which concerned allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty and undue influence. See link here.

James also has extensive experience of possession claims, in particular against trespassers. One high-profile example was the eviction of the protestors occupying the historic Elephant & Castle pub (see link here).

Previous matters include:

  • Acting (with Julian Greenhill KC) in a wide-ranging dispute involving the application of the Access to Neighbouring Land Act and the Party Wall Act in the context of a major housing development.
  • Acting (as part of a large team, including Julian Greenhill KC and James McCreath) for the sewerage undertaker (United Utilities) in the long-running dispute over the lawfulness of discharges of water and treated effluent into the Manchester Ship Canal.
  • Acting (led by Joanne Wicks KC) for a supermarket chain in a dispute over whether an agreement was lawfully terminated in circumstances where a satisfactory planning permission had not been obtained.
  • Assisting Jonathan Davey KC in relation to Phillips v Francis, the leading case on when consultation requirements under section 20 of the LTA 1985 are triggered.
  • Advising in relation to a variety of property matters, including forfeiture of leases, disputed service charges, invalid notices to complete and the subsequent recovery of deposits, the operation of the Right to Manage legislation, and renewal of business tenancies under the 1954 Act.

Download Property CV

  • Quote symbolJames has an outstanding intellect and a complete mastery of his brief. He instils confidence in all who work with him. He is a simply magnificent lawyer.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolJames is extremely hardworking and diligent. His written advocacy in particular is second to none, and it is a pleasure to instruct him on complex commercial litigation cases.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolIncredibly approachable and happy to roll his sleeves up and work through all the documents in a case. He is also very commercial and very easy to work with."

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA man with a great reputation, he is everything you want in a capable junior. He rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in; he is going places.

    Chambers & Partners 2023

  • Quote symbolExtremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks.

    The Legal 500 2022

Property insights & events View all thought leadership View all events

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    News

    Lucas v Gilbert [2022] 2 WLUK 177: joint ventures between solicitors and clients, fiduciary duties and undue influence

    Judgment has been handed down in Lucas v Gilbert [2022] 2 WLUK 177. A solicitor and his client entered into a joint venture in respect of the development of a property, by which the solicitor provided the purchase costs and... Read more

    Thursday 24 February 2022

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    Events / Webinars

    Property Litigation: The Ultimate Goal

    Wednesday 25 May 2016 | 2.00pm followed by drinks reception & bbq
    The British Library, 96 Euston RdLondonNW1 2DB

    £125 + VAT | 4.0 CPD

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Trusts, probate and estates: contentious

James has a busy practice in trusts (both offshore and onshore) and traditional chancery. He is ranked in Chambers and Partners (Chancery: Traditional) and the Legal 500 (Private Client: Trusts and Probate).

Much of James’ trusts work is offshore and international in nature. His practice includes advising and acting for settlors, trustees, beneficiaries and protectors. In trusts proceedings James has appeared in courts at all levels up to and including the Privy Council.

In the early part of 2015, James spent time as an associate in the offices of Carey Olsen, a leading Channel Island firm, and acted in a number of proceedings, primarily concerning high-value trust litigation.

Recent instructions include:

  • Equity Trust v Halabi (Z Trust). James acted (led by Emma Jordan) for the former trustee of a Jersey trust in the Privy Council. The judgment of the Board (see [2022] UKPC 36) now provides the leading guidance on the nature and scope of the right of a trustee to recover from or be indemnified out of trust assets, in particular where the trust fund is ‘insolvent’. See link here.
  • M Trust. James acts for the trustee of extremely high-value trusts administered in Guernsey in the context of removal proceedings and restructuring of the trusts.
  • Ad Hoc Arbitration. James acts (led by John Martin KC and Fenner Moeran KC) for the claimant beneficiary in a multibillion-dollar trusts dispute, concerning a contested distribution of the entirety of the trust assets to the settlor-beneficiary. The proceedings raise issues of rectification, mistake, breach of trust, dishonest assistance and unconscionable receipt.
  • Morina and others v Scherbakova and others. James (led by Giles Richardson) acted for the widow of a deceased Russian businessman in high-value international probate litigation and related proceedings concerning the ownership of shares in a BVI company.
  • Acting as sole counsel for one of the professional trustees in the latest chapter of the Earl of Cardigan litigation.
  • Assisting Robert Ham KC in Marley v Rawlings, the Supreme Court case about mirror wills, now the leading case on the validity, interpretation and rectification of wills.
  • Patel v Patel (Royal Court, Guernsey): James acted for the defendant trustees in an application for information in the context of a worldwide dispute.
  • Advising in the wide-ranging Guernsey proceedings concerning the Tchenguiz Discretionary Trust (Investec v Glenalla).
  • Advising the trustees of the Church Property Trustees, statutory trustees of Christchurch Cathedral, New Zealand, as to the application of insurance proceeds received in relation to the contents of the Cathedral damaged in the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence of 2010-2011.
  • Obtaining (alongside Thomas Seymour) a freezing injunction against personal representatives who had misappropriated assets.
  • Assisting Robert Ham KC and Andrew Mold KC in a case concerning the administration of a charitable trust administered in the Isle of Man, resulting in a leading judgment on when trust proceedings will be held in private.
  • Advising in relation to claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958.

Download Trusts, probate and estates: contentious CV

  • Quote symbolJames has an outstanding intellect and a complete mastery of his brief. He instils confidence in all who work with him. He is a simply magnificent lawyer.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolJames is extremely hardworking and diligent. His written advocacy in particular is second to none, and it is a pleasure to instruct him on complex commercial litigation cases.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolIncredibly approachable and happy to roll his sleeves up and work through all the documents in a case. He is also very commercial and very easy to work with."

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA man with a great reputation, he is everything you want in a capable junior. He rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in; he is going places.

    Chambers & Partners 2023

  • Quote symbolExtremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks.

    The Legal 500 2022

Trusts, probate and estates: contentious insights & events View all thought leadership View all events

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Trusts Litigation Day 2024

    Monday 29th January 2024 | 9am - 5.35pm, followed by drinks and dinner
    InterContinental Park Lane, London

    £299 - £360 + VAT | 5.5 CPD

    View more
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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Fraud, Trusts & Asset Recovery Conference 2023

    Wednesday 8th November 2023 | 12.45pm - 5.30pm, followed by drinks
    Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, London

    £120 + VAT | 3.5 CPD

    View more
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    Recent Cases

    Key Privy Council decision: Equity Trust (Jersey) Ltd v Halabi

    International / offshore, Insolvency, Trusts, probate and estates: contentious | Privy Council

    Clare Stanley KC | James Goodwin
    Thursday 13 October 2022

    View more
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    Events / Webinars

    WATCH: Trusts Conference 2021: Webinar 2

    Thursday 25 February 2021 | 5pm - 6.15pm (UK time) followed by virtual networking
    Online, Zoom

    1.0 CPD

    View more

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International arbitration

James has experience in arbitrations under LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules, acting both as sole counsel and as a junior as part of a larger team. James’ experience spans a number of industry sectors, including start-up companies, telecommunications, and oil and gas. Further, James has acted and advised in relation to the intersection between civil proceedings and arbitration, including parallel litigation, and interim relief in support of arbitral proceedings.

Recent instructions include:

  • Acting (as sole counsel) for the Claimant in an LCIA arbitration concerning:
    • Specific performance of a contract for the grant of shares;
    • Allegations of breach of fiduciary duty; and
    • Valuation of the shares in private companies.
  • Acting (alongside John Martin KC and Fenner Moeran KC) for the Claimant in a UNCITRAL arbitration of a multibillion-dollar trust dispute, concerning issues related to:
    • Rectification;
    • Mistake;
    • Breach of trust;
    • Dishonest assistance and knowing receipt;
    • Reconstitution of trust assets and equitable compensation; and
    • Replacement of trustees.

Download International arbitration CV

  • Quote symbolJames has an outstanding intellect and a complete mastery of his brief. He instils confidence in all who work with him. He is a simply magnificent lawyer.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolJames is extremely hardworking and diligent. His written advocacy in particular is second to none, and it is a pleasure to instruct him on complex commercial litigation cases.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolIncredibly approachable and happy to roll his sleeves up and work through all the documents in a case. He is also very commercial and very easy to work with."

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA man with a great reputation, he is everything you want in a capable junior. He rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in; he is going places.

    Chambers & Partners 2023

  • Quote symbolExtremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks.

    The Legal 500 2022

James's Details

BSB/VAT information

Registered name: Mr James Edward Goodwin
VAT number: 196242000

Privacy Notice pdf

Qualifications and Appointments

  • MA in Law, University of Cambridge, graded First (1st in University)
  • LLM, University of Cambridge, graded First (1st in University)
  • Awarded a number of University and college prizes, including the Chancellor’s Medal for English Law and the Tapp Scholarship
  • Taught contract law at several colleges in the University of Cambridge
  • Bedingfield Scholar of Gray’s Inn

Memberships

  • Chancery Bar Association
  • Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association
  • The Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
  • Property Bar Association
  • Association of Pension Lawyers (associate member)

Publications

  • Contributing author, Kerr & Hunter on Receivership & Administration (21st Edition)
  • ‘AIB v Redler’ (2014) Wilberforce Legal Digest (Issue 1) March 2015
  • ‘Where there’s a will there’s a way: Marley v Rawlings’ (2015) Modern Law Review 140-150
  • ‘Purpose Trusts: Doctrine and Policy’ (2013) King’s Law Journal 102-110
  • ‘Reflexive Effect and the Brussels I Regulation’ (2013) Law Quarterly Review 317-320
  • ‘A Remotely Interesting Case’ (2013) Law Quarterly Review 485-488
  • ‘Failure of Basis in the Contractual Context’ (2013) Restitution Law Review 24-45
  • ‘Secret Profits, Opportunities, and Constructive Trusts’ (2013) Restitution Law Review 85-92 (with Edward Granger)
  • ‘The last Defence of Wednesbury’ (2012) Public Law 445-467
  • ‘Contract, Unjust Enrichment, and Risk’ (2012) Law Quarterly Review 503-507

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