Partners

James Sleightholme

James Sleightholme is a partner specialising in arbitration and litigation relating to international trade, shipping and commodities.

James has many years of experience in arbitrations under the auspices of the LMAA, LCIA, ICC and the various London commodity associations, including GAFTA, FOSFA, Refined Sugar Association, Sugar Association of London, and the Federation of Cocoa Commerce, acting for oil, mining and power companies, manufacturers, traders, ship owners, charterers, insurers and P&I associations. He has particular expertise in handling complex multi-jurisdictional litigation and has assisted clients in handling investigations by regulatory and prosecuting authorities. He has acted in public inquiries, representing the Marchioness Contact Group in the Thames Safety Inquiry and the Marchioness/Bowbelle Formal Investigation (and has continued to assist the Marchioness Contact Group on a pro bono basis in pursuing river safety). He also advises on non-contentious matters including contract drafting and negotiation. James regularly speaks and writes on industry topics and has undertaken arbitrator training for one of the London commodity associations.

James was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (MA Hons 1978). After leaving university he worked in industry before joining Middleton Potts, qualifying as a solicitor in 1981. He subsequently joined Taylor Wessing (then Taylor Garrett) in 1986 and after more than 20 years as a partner with that firm joined Elborne Mitchell in 2009. James speaks French and has a working knowledge of German and Italian.

E-mail: sleightholme@elbornes.com