With vast experience of arbitration as counsel, James accepts appointments as arbitrator in a range of international commercial disputes, including those where the language of the reference is German or Dutch. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
James is on the SIAC, SCMA, HKIAC, NAI (Dutch arbitration institute) and UNUM arbitration panels. He is also on the arbitration and mediation panels of the Shanghai and the Asian International Arbitration Centres.
He is the only non-Dutch arbitrator on the UNUM list. Formerly TAMARA, UNUM Transport & Mediation is the leading Dutch maritime dispute resolution service. The NAI is the leading (and only non-specialist) Dutch arbitration institute.
His experience as arbitrator over more than 20 years includes ICC, LCIA, HKIAC, LMAA, NAI (Dutch Arbitration Institute), UNUM and ad hoc references. His recent (2020-date) and current appointments include:
- Chair of an LCIA arbitration arising out of a cattle export contract from Spain to Turkey
- Sole arbitrator in an LCIA dispute regarding an offshore surveying contract (proceeded to an interim final award which disposed of two thirds of the claim before settling)
- Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC reference concerning a ship repair contract (proceeded to an award)
- Party-appointed arbitrator in an NAI arbitration regarding an offshore construction dispute, with Dutch curial and substantive law
- Chair of an LCIA reference (appointed by the party-appointed arbitrators) with Dutch substantive and English curial law (settled during the main hearing following several interlocutory rulings, principally on disclosure)
- Chair of an LCIA reference arising out of coal-supply contracts and giving rise to issue of Swiss procedural law (proceeded to substantive and costs awards)
- Party-appointed arbitrator in multiple LMAA references, including charterparty, ship sale and collision disputes
- Sole arbitrator appointed by the parties in an expedited ICC reference arising out of a sales contract, in which both the contract and the arbitration were governed by Polish law. Involved application of the Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods. Proceeded to an award within the timetable set by the ICC Rule
- Co-arbitrator appointed by UNUM in ship-sale dispute, with English substantive and Dutch curial law (has so far proceeded to one award)
- Party-appointed arbitrator in an HKIAC reference arising out of a ship conversion contract. Proceeded to an award in June 2024.
- Party-appointed arbitrator in an UNUM reference, relating to guarantee claims under a super-yacht construction contract, with Dutch substantive and curial law
- Party-appointed arbitrator in two related LCIA references concerning oil supply contracts, both of which proceeded to awards
- Chair in an ICC reference arising out of a charterparty dispute. Proceeded to an award in January 2025
- Sole arbitrator in a heavy-lift charterparty dispute under LMAA Terms.
- Chair of an LCIA reference arising out of a share pledge agreement governed by Cyprus law.
- Chair of a Dutch language arbitration with maritime subject matter.
- Sole arbitrator in an LMAA charterparty arbitration.