James Sutherland Partner

James is the Head of Real Estate Disputes and a partner in the firm's Dispute Resolution team, helping clients arrive at the right solution to their issue, minimising impact and maximising success. He is supported by our extensive dispute resolution practice with a proven track record in the highest-profile cases and cross-border, multi-sector expertise. He specialises in real estate and insolvency disputes relating to real estate assets and professional negligence claims.

James has particular expertise in advising institutional and commercial landlords and occupiers, financial institutions, energy generators, high net worth individuals in relation to commercial landlord/tenant disputes (including large-scale rent reviews and business tenancy renewals), real property disputes, portfolio and high-complexity residential disputes, property related insolvency, professional negligence and alternative dispute resolution and mediation.

James regularly provides lectures and training to landowner and banking clients on all aspects of landlord and tenant law and on the impact of various insolvency procedures on leases and security property.

• Advising an international investment bank for many years in relation to asset management issues across its UK office portfolio including decant into new central London HQ and multiple rent reviews and dilapidations claim.
• Advising St James’s Place (one of UK’s oldest and largest Wealth Managers – FTSE 100 listed) on all asset management issues, including disputes, arising from its UK-wide property portfolio.
• Advised the Church Commissioners for England on the successful settlement of a rent review of one of its flagship central London premises, Vogue House, Hanover Square.
• Acted for FRP Advisory, the administrators of Wasps RFC, in relation to court proceedings linked to the sale of Coventry Building Society Arena to Frasers Group.
• James is recognised as one of the leading UK’s practitioners in relation to defective cladding and relating building safety issues under the Building Safety Act 2024. He is on the UK Government panel for enforcement claims under the BSA2024 and rfrequently acts for both landlords and occupiers.