Our Team
James Clark
Partner
James Clark is a commercial litigator with over 10 years’ experience acting in complex high-value commercial disputes, with an emphasis on civil fraud matters.
Practice
James has a broad practice, which includes asset tracing, fraud, contentious insolvency, shareholder disputes, financial markets disputes and sanctions. He has extensive experience in obtaining and resisting interim remedies such as worldwide freezing injunctions and asset disclosure orders.
Most of James’s cases involve an international element and he regularly works with lawyers in foreign jurisdictions. He has a particular interest in Latin America and, having lived and worked in Ecuador for a year, has a good working knowledge of Spanish.
Notable Representations
Navigator Equities Limited and Chernukhin v Deripaska
[2023] EWHC 788 (Comm), [2024] EWCA Civ 268
James was on the team which successfully defended Oleg Deripaska in proceedings by which the claimants sought to commit Mr Deripaska to prison for contempt of court. The committal application was dismissed following a three-day trial before HHJ Pelling KC. The claimants’ appeal against that decision was unanimously dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
LCIA Arbitration (confidential)
James represents a former state-owned bank, which is the respondent to an arbitration claim for USD 500 million purportedly owed under a subordinated loan agreement.
London Capital & Finance Plc & Ors. v Thomson & Ors
[2020] EWHC 2490 (Ch)
James was lead-associate acting for two defendants to a complex fraud claim for circa £180m brought by the Joint Administrators of a large finance company. These proceedings included various applications for freezing and proprietary injunctions.
Gray v Hurley
[2019] EWHC 1636 (QB), [2019] EWCA Civ 2222
James acted for the claimant in relation to claims of resulting trusts, undue influence and unjust enrichment for the recovery of valuable assets (including real estate, shares in a foreign company and hyper-cars) located in four different jurisdictions. He was a key part of the team that defeated a High Court jurisdiction challenge and obtained a proprietary injunction over the assets in dispute.
R v H & Ors
(2019)
James acted for the former-CEO of an international publicly listed mining company in relation to a Serious Fraud Office investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption in West Africa.
Bacardi and Company Ltd v Whyms & Ors (Bahamas)
JCPC 2018/0053
James acted as Privy Council agent for the respondents to an application for permission to appeal a decision by the Bahamian courts; permission was refused. The underlying dispute concerned the misuse of confidential information.
R v O & Ors
(2017)
James acted for the beneficial owner of a West African oil company in relation to an investigation by the National Crime Agency into allegations of bribery and corruption.
Industry Recognition
"James Clark is a star, he punches well above his weight."
"James Clark is a particularly impressive partner. He is always on top of the latest legal developments, which is imperative in this area given the need to make quick decisions. He has a broader range of experience and is full of ambition to deliver for his clients. When a case is destined to be a fight, it's James you would want in your corner."
"James Clark is the engine room and a star in the making."
Legal 500
Education and Admissions
University of Kent, Canterbury
(Law LLB, first class with honours)
University of Law, London
(Legal Practice Course, distinction)
Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales
(2017)