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Stephen James

Partner

Stephen James

Partner

“The construction lawyer, Stephen James, knows his stuff inside out. Very methodical and pragmatic in his working. Assimilates information very quickly and advises very well.”

The Legal 500

Stephen is partner in the construction team, advising on a broad range of disputes.

With over 20 years’ experience and ranked band 1 in Chambers and Partners 2023, Stephen is able to minimise legal risk in a way that is cost-effective and is frequently recognised as a leading lawyer by legal guides, including Chambers and Legal 500.

Stephen is Secretary of Constructing Excellence Berkshire.

Experience

Construction

If a problem arises on a construction project, Stephen can help you resolve it. His expertise covers a wide range of disputes from interim and final accounts to extensions of time, defects and professional negligence.

Clients include employers, developers, architects, contractors and specialist subcontractors.  Stephen’s caseload spans adjudication references, arbitration, Part 7 and 8 litigation claims, mediation and expert determination.

Insolvency

Stephen is experienced in working with insolvency practitioners in all forms of insolvency procedures and a very wide range of applications. He also acts for individuals in bankruptcies and voluntary arrangements, as well as defending directors’ disqualification proceedings and wrongful trading claims.

Injunctions

Stephen has obtained and defended many injunctions, including the freezing of assets, preventing unlawful picketing, enforcing restrictive covenants and search orders.

General advisory

Stephen’s wide experience allows him to offer external and in-house training to clients on many construction related issues, as well as risk avoidance, directors’ duties and product liability.

What our clients say

“Stephen James is extremely knowledgeable about construction, and consistently gives excellent and practical advice. He has a well-developed following of developer and contractor clients, who like his approachability.”

Legal 500 2024

“Stephen James continues to provide excellent legal support on construction disputes.”

Chambers 2024

“Stephen is tactically good. He is punchy when it comes to negotiations and has a great commercial outlook.”

Chambers 2024

“The quality of Stephen James’ advice is highly rated because he knows what is needed to get a result.”

Chambers 2024

Read, listen and watch our latest insights

art
  • 30 September 2020
  • Construction

How do I prove my final account claim?

Many construction disputes relate to the calculation of the final account. Sometimes there may be an interesting point of law or expert evidence at stake. More often than not, the dispute will boil down to proving what work was done and / or what was the agreed price for the work.

art
  • 25 September 2020
  • Construction

Adjudication and Insolvent Companies – falling at the final hurdle – will the decision be enforced?

Our article in July 2020 commented on the Supreme Court decision in Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (In Liquidation) v Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd USC 25. This case opened the doors to more adjudications being started by liquidators of construction companies.

art
  • 10 September 2020
  • Construction

Final dates for payment linked to invoices no longer permitted

The TCC’s recent decision in Rochford Construction Ltd v Kilhan Construction Ltd found that final dates for payment must be a fixed period of time from the due date for payment under a construction contract.   The common practice of linking the final date for payment to issue or receipt of an invoice was found to be at odds with the requirements of the Construction Act. 

art
  • 09 September 2020
  • Construction

Publication of government’s draft Building Safety Bill

At the end of July the government published its draft ‘Building Safety Bill’ (the “Bill”) which housing secretary Robert Jenrick has described as the “biggest improvements to building safety in nearly 40 years”.

Pub
  • 03 June 2020
  • Construction

Planning the ‘New Normal’ Programming & Dispute Avoidance in a COVID-19 World

Watch our construction specialists Stephen James and Ruth Wilkinson, as they help you get your construction projects back on track as we adjust to living with the threat of COVID-19 and a sustained period of social distancing. We were delighted to be joined by guest speaker Tom Francis, programme and delay expert at Decipher Consulting.

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  • 01 June 2020
  • Construction

Hart v Large – significant damages awarded for surveyor negligence

In the recent case of Hart & Hart v Large & others, the High Court awarded significant damages to a couple who had relied, in purchasing a £1.2m property, on a HomeBuyer report produced by a surveyor.