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

• 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

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

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.