James joined W Legal in January 2015 and is head of our commodities and shipping team.

James has many years of experience in arbitrations under the auspices of the LMAA, LCIA, ICC and the various London commodity associations, including GAFTA, FOSFA, Refined Sugar Association, Sugar Association of London, and the Federation of Cocoa Commerce, acting for oil, mining and power companies, manufacturers, traders, ship owners, charterers, insurers and P&I associations. He has particular expertise in handling complex multi-jurisdictional litigation and has assisted clients in handling investigations by regulatory and prosecuting authorities. He has acted in public inquiries, representing the Marchioness Contact Group in the Thames Safety Inquiry and the Marchioness/BowbelleFormal Investigation. James also advises on non-contentious matters including contract drafting and negotiation.

James regularly speaks and writes on industry topics and regularly undertakes arbitrator training for one of the London commodity associations.

James was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (MA Hons 1978). After leaving university he worked in industry before joining Middleton Potts, qualifying as a solicitor in 1981. He joined Taylor Wessing (at that time called Taylor Garrett) in 1986 and after more than 20 years as a partner with that firm joined Elborne Mitchell as a partner in 2009. James has a working knowledge of French, German and Italian.

James Sleightholme is not a statutory director of W Legal Limited.