We provide a wide range of advocacy and advisory services in the UK and internationally. We pride ourselves on our approachable and friendly outlook and our ability to build strong relationships with clients. Our barristers have received over 40 individual rankings covering 15 practice areas across the legal directories, including in Civil Fraud, Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and Travel amongst others. We are supported by a highly experienced, friendly and responsive practice management team, headed by James Donovan.
James occupies a unique position as a practising member of both the English Bar and various Caribbean bars – he is, for example, the only English barrister who regularly appears before the courts of Barbados. James has appeared as advocate before the Privy Council, Barbados Court of Appeal, English High Court, and Supreme Court of Barbados – frequently against KCs/SCs.
Legal 500 has recognised James as a Tier 1 ‘Leading Junior’ (2025) for crypto and blockchain law. He is an industry insider, having been deeply engaged in the digital assets space since 2017. James has represented or advised developers, foundations, one of the largest digital assets exchanges, a monetary authority, and others. He was a legal consultant at the Bank of England focusing on digital assets and has spoken on legal/regulatory issues relating to digital assets at conferences and seminars.
James is also recognised as ‘Rising Star’ (2024) and ‘Leading Junior’ (2025) by Legal 500 for commercial offshore disputes/advice. Having practised as an attorney at leading disputes firms in Barbados and Trinidad before joining the English Bar, James brings genuine regional insights to Caribbean cases. He has handled disputes in Barbados, Trinidad, Antigua, Grenada, Bermuda, Bahamas, and others.
James is an experienced commercial disputes specialist, with particular expertise in fraud, corporate governance, arbitration, insurance/reinsurance, and digital assets. His recent and ongoing cases include:
Beyond commercial disputes, James also has a significant public law practice. His work encompasses administrative, constitutional, and tax cases. He has been instructed in judicial reviews and appeals before the Privy Council and Caribbean Court of Justice. James draws on his experience as judicial assistant to Lady Justice Asplin in the English Court of Appeal, as well as his postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford (BCL).
James’ counsel has covered a broad spectrum of legal issues, including claims to recover digital assets, US$20m public sale and token generation events, central bank digital currencies, launching and governing a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO), issuing privacy tokens, the enforceability of simple agreements for future tokens (SAFTs), and regulatory requirements under the UK’s AML/CTF regime.
In addition to his work above, his work in this area includes:
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration
James has been instructed in a wide range of commercial disputes, both as sole and junior counsel. He has appeared in the Commercial Court and London Circuit Commercial Court of England and Wales and various Caribbean courts. James frequently handles cases with an international dimension, collaborating with firms and counsel from multiple jurisdictions. He has particular experience in disputes under LCIA and ICC Rules.
In addition to his work above, his work in these areas includes:
James is an expert in offshore litigation and Privy Council appeals, representing clients in areas such as fraud, corporate governance, public law, and tax. His deep understanding of local laws, practices, and culture in the Caribbean comes from his extensive experience living and practising as an attorney-at-law in the region. James leverages his Caribbean experience to address legal challenges with a deep understanding of regional nuances.
In addition to his work above, his work in these areas includes:
In addition to his work above, his work in these areas includes:
In addition to his work above, his work in this area includes:
In addition to his work above, his work in these areas includes:
Administrative and Constitutional Law
In addition to his work above, his work in these areas includes:
James is able to accept instructions directly from members of the public, companies and other entities through the public access scheme (also known as direct access). He is happy to accept instructions on a direct basis in appropriate cases. If you wish to instruct James on a direct basis, please speak to the practice managers.
For more information on public access, please see the Bar Council website.
Please contact us either by telephone: +44 (0)20 7415 7800 or email: clerks@3harecourt.com