James brings a wealth of experience in civil and commercial litigation, with a reputation for pragmatic problem-solving and quickly getting to the heart of complex disputes.
He began his career at Lee & Priestley Solicitors, a respected Leeds-based regional firm, before moving to a high-street start-up with a national presence in High Court Enforcement. In 2005, James joined Ison Harrison Solicitors where he handled a wide range of matters including commercial contract disputes, intellectual property disputes, property disputes, contested debt recovery, breach of data protection cases, and employment law work.
In 2011, James moved to DWF LLP at the start of its rapid growth into an international law firm. Alongside managing complex litigation matters, he co-managed a team of 45 paralegals, driving significant growth in departmental turnover. His leadership was recognised with promotion to Associate in 2013 and Director in 2014.
James has held a number of prestigious professional roles. Since 2013, he has acted as the independent Solicitor on the High Court Enforcement Officers Association’s Complaints Board, regulated by the Lord Chancellor. He joined the Law Society’s National Civil Litigation Committee in 2016, serving as Vice-Chair before being appointed Chair in 2019. After serving the maximum permitted term, James has now stepped down as Chair. During his tenure, he helped guide litigators across the profession with updates, training, and contributions to Civil Justice Council policy discussions. James has also contributed to the Ministry of Justice’s engagement group on online Court reforms, chaired national conferences at the Law Society in Chancery Lane, and regularly works with the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM), presenting on cost-effective dispute resolution strategies.
His expertise has been consistently recognised in the Legal 500, where he has been named a Leading Lawyer for several years. His team has also been ranked Tier 1 in debt recovery, with the directory describing him as “commercially astute” and a lawyer who handles “complex litigation” with skill. Clients value him as “approachable, empathetic and steadfast in his determination to secure a fair result.”
At Bhayani Law, James supports businesses and individuals facing disputes of any scale. Whether it’s recovering unpaid debts, resolving commercial contract disagreements, protecting intellectual property, or tackling complex litigation, James provides clear, strategic advice with a focus on achieving cost-effective and practical outcomes. His experience at both regional and national levels means clients benefit from the expertise of a top-tier litigation lawyer, delivered with Bhayani Law’s personal, approachable service.
Outside of work, James enjoys family life, particularly supporting his children in developing their love of football and music.