James Brockhurst

Practice Areas

James is a Partner in the Private Client team and advises high net worth clients, family offices, entrepreneurs, trustees and investors.

He has extensive experience advising clients and families on a wide range of succession planning and family governance matters. This includes assisting clients with trust and foundation structuring, Wills, family business succession, family charters and the establishment of family vehicles and investment companies. He is also deeply experienced in UK tax planning, including residence and domicile matters.

James advises clients around the world, with a special focus on the Middle East where he travels very frequently.

In addition, James is widely known for his expertise in cryptoassets, being one of the first lawyers to develop an expertise in this area. He is the author of the book 'Cryptoassets for Private Clients' (published LexisNexis Butterworths, 2023). He advises a range of crypto clients, from early adopters to token issuers.

He is a member of STEP and holds the STEP 'Advanced Certificate in UK Tax for International Clients'. He studied international tax law to masters level (University of Warwick).

James is a recommended lawyer in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500. In 2016, 2017 and 2019. He was named as one of ePrivate Client's Top 35 under 35, and as a 'One to Watch' by Legal Week's Global Elite in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and as a 'Rising Leader' in 2022.James was named a 'Top Recommended' advisor in Spear’s Cryptocurrency Index 2023.

James joined Forsters in May 2017 and qualified in 2012. He became a Partner in 2022.