Band 5
Provided by James Ballance
Chancery: Commercial, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Company, Fraud: Civil, Partnership, Professional Negligence, Real Estate Litigation, Restructuring/Insolvency, Trusts.
James’ busy commercial practice includes high profile property litigation; commercial and corporate disputes; professional liability claims; civil fraud; and trusts litigation.
He has considerable experience of advising commercial landlords and tenants on forfeiture and other L&T claims, particularly in an insolvency context. Recent instructions include acting for WeWork group tenants resisting High Court forfeiture actions, culminating in a successful summary judgment application: SBP 2 Sarl v 2 Southbank Tenant Ltd [2025] EWHC 16 (Ch).
His wide-ranging practice includes beneficial ownership claims to real property, in both domestic and commercial contexts; claims against directors, partners or fiduciaries for breach of duty, including tracing and off-shore dimensions; real estate litigation including easements, restrictive covenants, rentcharges, and Charities Act claims. He also has considerable experience advising on professional liability claims, particularly in banking & legal negligence contexts, and has a thriving commercial litigation/arbitration practice, ranging from claims against NHS corporate bodies to cross-border disputes in the IT sector.
Chancery Bar Association, COMBAR, Property Bar Association, Professional Negligence Bar Association
James is a contributor to Company Voluntary Arrangements (OUP, 2022), on the property law implications of CVAs.
Provided by Chambers
James Ballance is recognised for his expertise across the full spectrum of property matters. He is particularly noted for his work in issues arising from insolvencies, but also has experience in real property litigation, lender claims and landlord and tenant disputes.
Provided by Chambers
He is very persuasive both on paper and orally.
James has been a very responsive and astute adviser on a number of instructions.
James is extremely bright and assured. He is a very effective communicator and tactically astute.
He is very persuasive both on paper and orally.
James has been a very responsive and astute adviser on a number of instructions.
James is extremely bright and assured. He is a very effective communicator and tactically astute.