
James Welch
Director – Access Law Group
Accredited Specialist Commercial Litigation – Insolvency.
Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours)/Bachelor of Arts (French, International Studies Minor).
James brings to the firm a wealth of legal knowledge in commercial, insolvency, and workplace law and disputes. James also sits as a director on Not-for-Profit boards, sharing his knowledge and experience to further social and community enterprises.
Qualifications
- Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation – Insolvency (2015)
- Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours (2008)
- Bachelor of Arts (French with International Studies Minor) (2008)

Professional Background
For more than 12 years, James has passionately assisted people and businesses resolve their legal issues as quickly and cheaply as possible. His approach delivers innovative and dynamic long term sustainable solutions, thereby reducing the likeliness of the same legal issue arising again.
James commenced working as a lawyer in February 2009. In 2010, James worked as a legal contractor in London, before returning to Access Law Group. He now leads a team of agile, ethical, and committed young professionals who partner with you to resolve all manner of disputes in practical and costs effective ways – in most instances, avoiding expensive litigation through affective alternate dispute resolution.
James’s key areas of practice are in commercial, insolvency, and workplace law and disputes. James also sits as a director on Not-for-Profit boards, sharing his knowledge and experience to further social and community enterprises.
Legal disputes are full of uncertainty, risk, stress, and confrontation. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel that you need to enforce or protect your legal rights, let James and his team deliver simple solutions and clear ways forward.
You can meet with James online, or in one of Access Law Group’s convenient locations in Wollongong, Camden, or Sydney. James will also come to meet you at your business or residence.
Experience
Experience
Industrial Relations and Workplace Law:
James’ clients are:
- Employers and Employees needing employment agreements and policies drafted or reviewed.
- Applicants and Respondents to Unfair Dismissal or General Protections (Fair Work) actions, or other proceedings in the Fair Work Commission, Federal Circuit Court, or Federal Court.
- Employers and employees needing advice and representation in disciplinary processes, workforce restructures, or allegations of discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
- Employers and Employees involved in a contract or award dispute, including underpayment or wage claims, and breaches of the Fair Work Act.
- Employers responding to alleged contraventions by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
- Employers being prosecuted by WorkCover for industrial incidents.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy:
James’ clients are:
- Administrators, Receivers and Managers, and Liquidators who have been appointed to a company, Trust, or group of assets.
- Liquidators pursuing claims against a director for insolvent trading, or breach of director duties.
- Liquidators pursuing directors, officers, related parties, and creditors for an unfair preference payment or other voidable transaction.
- Directors, officers, related parties, and creditors responding to a claim for an unfair preference payment or other voidable transaction received from a company or bankrupt.
- Directors responding to a Director Penalty Notice (DPN).
- Companies responding to a Statutory Demand or Winding Up Application.
- People responding to a Bankruptcy Notice or Creditor’s Petition.
- People dealing with a Trustee in Bankruptcy in relation to an annulment, or purchase of assets out of a bankrupt estate.
Commercial Disputes and Litigation:
James’ clients are:
- Families, shareholders, unitholders, and directors who are in dispute amongst themselves, for example, where an agreement cannot be reached as to the future of a business.
- Parties to a relationship whereby a duty in equity has been breached, for example, the duty of trust and confidence between partners in a partnership.
- Clients that need to protect or enforce an interest in property (land), for example, by defending a lapsing notice for a caveat.
- Employers and other clients that need to protect their intellectual property rights, confidential information, or business through a restraint of trade, for example, theft of a client list.
- Parties to a contract where there has been a breach of its express or implied terms, for example, to provide something within a certain time period.
- Plaintiffs and Defendants in actions involving a breach of the Australian Consumer Law, for example, a misrepresentation of something being purchased.
- Contractors pursuing amounts or defending claims under the Building and Constructions Security of Payments Act, or for building work under contract.
- Parties to a relationship whereby a duty of care has been breached, (negligence, including professional negligence), for example, in the provision of accounting or legal services.
- Debt recovery actions and proceedings for money owed.
Professional Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of New South Wales
- Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association
- Executive Global Network
- The Illawarra First
- i3net
- Director – Steel City Strings
- Director – Australian First Responders Foundation
Education
Education
James graduated with First Class Honours from a double degree of Law and Arts majoring in French and with an International Studies Minor. James was awarded various academic awards and consistently appeared on the Dean’s Merit List for outstanding academic achievement. He was admitted as a solicitor in February 2009 and obtained specialist accreditation in 2015.
The University of Wollongong is an exceptional university that has collected a series of awards over the recent years. This includes being in the top 2% of the world’s universities (2009) according to The Times Higher Education – QS World University Rankings and gaining 5 out of 5 stars in six of the most important university ranking criteria for the past decade.
Interests
Interests
James is a keen sportsman, both on and off the field. His passions are diverse and include skiing and snowboarding, surfing, squash, cricket, and rugby. James loves travelling and has visited most of Asia and Europe. James loves hanging out with his wife and two young boys, particularly at the beach. James is passionate about fresh, interesting, and healthy food, and enjoys preparing it as much as consuming it.
Experience specialist expertise
in uncertain times.
In the legal profession an Accredited Specialist is a practising solicitor who has demonstrated specialised competence in a particular area of law and has been conferred Specialist Accreditation by the Law Society under its Specialist Accreditation Scheme.
To become an Accredited Specialist a solicitor must have practised law full-time for at least five years and worked in their area of legal specialty for at least three years.
To gain status as an Accredited Specialist a solicitor must pass the Law Society’s rigorous assessments in communication, problem solving, client relations and, of course, their specialist area of law.
Both directors, Tom Ellicott and James Welch are accredited specialists. James is an accredited specialist in Commercial Litigation – Insolvency and Tom is an accredited specialist in Business Law. To maintain their status as an Accredited Specialist, they annually renew their accreditation to practise the law and membership of the Law Society, plus ensure they maintain their high level skills and knowledge by completing additional professional development points.
Get in touch today!
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Access Law Group
Office Locations
WOLLONGONG:
Suite 1, Level 8, 200 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
CAMDEN:
Level 1, 76 John Street, Camden NSW 2570
SYDNEY:
Suite 450, Level 5, 311 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000