James is a Partner specialising in commercial, media and digital work for clients across the sports and media industries and heads the firm’s media rights practice from the London office.
Commercially-minded and understands the business’ commercial drivers and tailors the legal advice with this in mind.
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Location
London
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Practice Area
Commercial, Intellectual Property, Corporate
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Previous Clubs
Reed Smith, ITV (on loan)
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Specialisms
Sponsorship, Digital Media & Broadcasting, IT/Technology, esports
James specialises in advising clients at the intersect of sports, media and technology and regularly advises sports governing bodies, competition operators, broadcasters, rights agencies, production companies and talent on matters relating to the exploitation of sports media rights, including licensing and regulatory matters and production arrangements for live and non-live content.
James also has particular expertise advising on high-value and innovative sponsorship and endorsement agreements for a range of sports rightsholders, talent and brands, as well as on the establishment, delivery, licensing and investment into new sports tournaments and competitions.
Prior to joining Onside Law in 2019, James spent six years in the Entertainment and Media Group at Reed Smith where he undertook multiple client secondments, giving him a valuable insight into the internal pressures and sensitivities facing clients and how to effectively advise them.
James was named as a “Next Generation Partner” in Sport by Legal 500 in 2024, 2025 and 2026, in which he is described as “a very good technical lawyer”, “a pleasure to interact with” and “incredibly responsive and efficient and negotiates contracts with a strong grasp and understanding of the key commercial and legal issues at play”.
James sits on the commercial advisory board of Street League, a charity that uses sports programmes to help unemployed young people move into work and training.
Away from work, James can usually be found watching Chelsea lurch between trophies (and managers) and threatening to return to any one of the basketball court, football pitch or tennis court.