 James is one of the UK's leading contentious tax practitioners and has over fifteen years of experience advising in relation to large and complex investigations by the UK tax authorities and of handling tax litigation at all levels from the Special Commissioners and the VAT Tribunal to the House of Lords. In particular, he has extensive experience of handling cases and successfully resolving disputes where avoidance has been alleged by HMRC. James has advised extensively in relation to the powers of HM Revenue & Customs and the application of those powers in enquiries and investigations and has advised FTSE companies, professional advisory firms and professional bodies in relation to the exercise of such powers. James also advises in relation to investigations with a view to criminal prosecution both at the investigatory stage and once matters have been passed to the HMRC Prosecutions Office.
Notable cases include: Commissioners of HM Revenue & Customs v Weald Leasing Limited (High Court) - November 2007; Commissioners of Inland Revenue v Océ van der Grinten; Dragon Futures Limited v Commissioners of HM Revenue & Customs; Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited v Barrett (Special Commissioners); Westmoreland Investments Limited v Macniven.
James is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars and has written extensively for professional journals. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Tax Journal, a member of the Development Board of the Law Faculty at the University of Oxford and a member of Council of the VAT Practitioners' Group.
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