Robert is one of the firm’s key dispute resolution partners and is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in his field by both the prestigious Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 legal directories, recommended across the fields of Agriculture, Commercial Litigation and Contentious Trusts and Probate.
The substantial part of Robert’s practice focuses on trust, wills and estate disputes. This includes issues such as the removal of executors and trustees, contentious issues of trust and estate administration, trusts of land and co-ownership disputes, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 as well as challenges to the validity of wills. Robert is particularly noted for his expertise in proprietary estoppel claims and wider farm partnership disputes and acted for the successful appellants in the recent Supreme Court case of Guest v Guest.
As part of Robert’s broader practice, he works with private individuals and businesses on a wide range of commercial disputes, including contractual claims, professional negligence, shareholder disputes and partnership disputes.
Recognised in the legal directories as “one of the most savvy proprietary estoppel lawyers around” and “among the very best in the country”, Robert has been described by clients and commentators as being “an exceptional operator” and “a brilliant strategist”.
Robert is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and the Agricultural Law Association.
Much of Robert’s work is confidential, but a summary of his relevant experience includes:
Acting on a number of high value proprietary estoppel claims, including Gee v Gee [2018] EWHC 1393 (Ch) and for the appellants in the Supreme Court case of Guest v Guest [2022] UKSC 27
Acting on numerous claims concerning challenges to wills on the grounds of due execution, capacity and undue influence
Advising on co-ownership of land claims, including issues relating to resulting and constructive trusts, trusts of land and ancillary orders for sale applications
Advising on a large number of high value farm partnership disputes, typically concerning the extent of partnership property, retirement provisions and its associated accounting
Advising on a large number of contractual disputes, ranging from sales of goods, misrepresentation and breach of warranty claims
Acting for claimants in professional negligence claim against their professional advisor
Robert James is the emperor of estoppel, having been involved in most of the successful estoppel claims in recent years. A brilliant strategist who sees through both the trees and the wood to the clear uplands beyond.’- Legal 500
