James Russell | Humphries Kerstetter

James Russell is the managing partner at Humphries Kerstetter with over 18 years’ experience of contentious commercial practice, noted in particular in the 2022 edition of Legal 500 for his derivatives disputes experience.

James has been cited by leading directories and described by clients as “straight talking, robust and methodical”. He has particular experience of complex financial disputes involving company law issues and breaches of fiduciary duty (in particular involving solicitors, directors and accountants). He is also experienced in insolvency litigation, civil fraud and claims relating to failed investment schemes. He has an interest in professional regulation and jointly advised (together with partner Toby Starr) the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking in relation to proposed reforms to insolvency regulation. Following Mark Humphries’ example, he is one of the few solicitor advocates to have appeared in the Commercial Court in London, including against QCs, and has led multi-million pound claims in the City and the Channel Islands. He has also appeared in the Business and Property Courts (Insolvency List) and successfully acted as the lead trial advocate in arbitral proceedings.

His current and recent cases include the largest claim brought against Visa and Mastercard in relation to unlawful interchange fees, a high-profile FX hedging dispute between Goldman Sachs and one of the world’s largest wine producers, a multi-million pound dispute with bondholders in relation to the acceleration of a €1.3bn secured loan and the representation of shareholders in the high profile Core VCT liquidation in which claims for breach of duty are being pursued against the former managers and liquidators of a publicly listed venture capital trust.