James Barratt advises and represents clients in some of the world’s most complex and challenging disputes.
James offers clients more than two decades of experience in international commercial arbitration, public international law, and investment arbitration. He has served as counsel in more than 100 international arbitrations, where the amounts in dispute have often exceed US$1 billion. He often leads the team and conducts the advocacy as the first chair. James also has been appointed to sit as an arbitrator.
Multinational corporations, institutional investors, governments, and international organizations have engaged James’s representation in arbitrations administered under the rules of all major institutions (including the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, and HKIAC) as well as in ad hoc UNCITRAL proceedings under various applicable laws (including English, French, German, Spanish, Swiss, Brazilian, PRC, Japanese, Russian, and public international law).
James has worked extensively with clients in As...
James Barratt advises and represents clients in some of the world’s most complex and challenging disputes.
James offers clients more than two decades of experience in international commercial arbitration, public international law, and investment arbitration. He has served as counsel in more than 100 international arbitrations, where the amounts in dispute have often exceed US$1 billion. He often leads the team and conducts the advocacy as the first chair. James also has been appointed to sit as an arbitrator.
Multinational corporations, institutional investors, governments, and international organizations have engaged James’s representation in arbitrations administered under the rules of all major institutions (including the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, and HKIAC) as well as in ad hoc UNCITRAL proceedings under various applicable laws (including English, French, German, Spanish, Swiss, Brazilian, PRC, Japanese, Russian, and public international law).
James has worked extensively with clients in Asia Pacific and Latin America and clients also frequently seek his advice on investment treaty disputes and public international law. His practice has a particular focus on disputes in the energy sector, especially natural gas and LNG disputes, and he also has conducted substantial arbitrations in various sectors, including life sciences, private equity, aviation, defense, technology, and telecommunications.
James is an English qualified barrister with full rights of audience before all English courts. He was called to the Bar in 2001 (Middle Temple) and was awarded the Diplock Major Scholarship and was a Harmsworth Entrance Exhibitioner. He appears frequently as an advocate before international arbitral tribunals and the English High Court, including in ss. 67 and 68 challenges to arbitral awards. He is also a Part II registered advocate before the DIFC Courts and has appeared before the DIFC Court of Appeal in one of the seminal cases on the jurisdiction of the DIFC Courts. James also sits as a Recorder (part-time judge) in criminal matters.
James has been recognized for more than a decade as one of the leading international arbitration lawyers under 45 years of age. For several years, he has been cited by Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration as a “Future Leader” in the partners category, by Expert Guides as “Rising Star” for International Arbitration, by Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 UK in the International Arbitration and Commercial Litigation: Premium categories and listed in The Legal 500’s Arbitration Powerlist - UK Region. Clients report to The Legal 500 UK that James is an “excellent lawyer and very focused on achieving the right outcome for clients.” James is also described as being “a go-to specialist who clients can always rely on to provide practical and valuable legal input.
James has authored several publications and frequently presents on topics related to public international law and international arbitration. Before joining Fried Frank, James worked at one of the world’s leading international arbitration practices.
Work highlights:
Distilling Disputes Series |
Appeals in the English Courts⟶International Trade and Investment Alert™ |
UK Russia Response: New Law Passed Imposing Strict Liability for Financial Sanctions Breaches by Companies⟶Client memorandum |
Enka v Chubb: The Supreme Court Rules on the Law Applicable to Arbitration Agreements⟶Articles |
Covid-19 and the Search Order⟶Client memorandum |
Client memorandum |
COVID-19 Pandemic: Key UK Government and Bank of England Initiatives to Support Businesses⟶Client memorandum |
COVID-19 Pandemic: Expansion of UK Loan Schemes - New Future Fund⟶Client memorandum |
COVID-19 Pandemic: Key UK Government and Bank of England Initiatives to Support Businesses⟶Client memorandum |
COVID-19 Pandemic: Expansion of UK Business Interruption Loan Schemes⟶Speaking engagements |
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