James Leslie is a member of the Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Family groups at No5.
James has extensive experience in the various aspects of insurance disputes, whether on behalf of insurers, policyholders or third parties. Many of the cases in this area of work involve fraud, and given James’ reputation in the areas of fraud and high value Personal Injury Litigation, he is a natural choice for Insurers and Claimants seeking to establish or defend such allegations. However, his experience in this area also includes, avoidance of policy on the basis of non-disclosure, Subrogation, Compulsory insurance matters (motor and employers liability), and Contribution proceedings.
James is regularly instructed to advise Insurers as to liability and risk, and his prompt response to requests for detailed analysis of evidence is invaluable in the post-Mitchell landscape.
James’ specialty lies in clinical negligence, Industrial disease and personal injury work, and he accepts instructions under conditional fee agreements in appropriate circumstances.
He has experience in a range of clinical negligence claims including surgical error, clinical mismanagement, delays in diagnosis and treatment. His clinical negligence practice also includes advising and acting in fatal accident claims and appearing at inquests.
In addition to court work, James has an extensive paperwork practice, advising at all stages of litigation (including pre-action), and drafting statements of case.
Away from the bar James a keen sportsman and in particular is devoted to his family and mountain sports.
James practices principally in three main areas:
In cases relating to financial disputes following the breakdown of marriages, James financial remedies work cover the full spectrum of issues, including; matters concerning business/company assets, reviewable dispositions (transferring of property to third parties to defeat claims), family trusts/farming, and hidden assets (non-disclosure of accounts, property, Cryptocurrency and other valuable assets such as gold). His instructions range from the simple to the complex.
In addition to representing married or formerly married clients in financial disputes, James has considerable expertise in financial cases relating to children (Schedule 1 cases) where the parents may not have been married, claims by unmarried cohabitants under the TLATA jurisdiction, and Inheritance Act claims (including wills disputes).
James’ instructions very often relate to cases where third party interests are claimed, such as wider family members.
James’ financial practice is complemented by his work on cases concerning living and contact arrangements for children. He is often instructed in factually complex and difficult cases, for instance those where controlling behaviour and abuse are alleged, as well as the more mundane.
As a practising civil lawyer of many years in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence, James is an expert in the CPR, including the Part 36 Offer regime and Costs Budgeting. This experience is invaluable in Cohabitation and Trusts cases
James is qualified to accept work on a Direct Access basis in appropriate cases, and will usually offer a free initial consultation. If you are a member of the public and want legal advice directly from him, please speak with his clerks at No5 Chambers.
James undertakes work in all areas of personal injury law acting for both claimants and defendants, and accepts work under conditional fee agreements. He has wide experience of employers’ liability, industrial injury, Highways Act and other public liability claims, CICA appeals, and inquests in the Coroner’s Court. In addition to court work, James has an extensive paperwork practice, advising at all stages of litigation (including pre-action), and drafting statements of case.
James has extensive experience in the various aspects of Motor Indemnity work, from policy coverage issues to Article 75 insurer status, dual insurance, MIB claims and the Untraced and Uninsured Drivers agreements, acting for both Defendants and Claimants.
Many of the cases in this area of work involve potential fraud, and given James’ reputation in the areas of fraud and high value Personal Injury Litigation, he is a natural choice for Insurers and Claimants seeking to establish or defend such allegations.
James’ prompt response to requests for detailed analysis of evidence is invaluable in the post-Mitchell landscape.
Although to all outward appearances the machinery of government appears to have ground to halt, fixated with only resolving that one conundrum with an outcome…
Although to all outward appearances the machinery of government appears to have ground to halt, fixated with only resolving that one conundrum with an outcome…
