SILK PROFILE

James Duffy KC

UK Bar 2026

Fountain Court Chambers

Ranked in 6 practice areas

Consumer Finance

All Circuits

3 years ranked

Aviation

London (Bar)

11 years ranked

Banking & Finance

London (Bar)

13 years ranked

Fraud: Civil

London (Bar)

2 years ranked

Group Litigation

All Circuits

3 years ranked

Commercial Dispute Resolution

London (Bar)

9 years ranked

About

Provided by Fountain Court Chambers

Practice Areas

Commercial litigation and arbitration practice, including: banking and finance; aviation; civil fraud; insurance and reinsurance; and professional negligence.

Significant recent cases include: Ingenious Litigation (group litigation concerning mis-selling of film finance investments, and litigation funding); Littop v Ukraine (an Energy Charter Treaty international arbitration); Federal Deposit Insurance Corp v Lloyds Banking Group and others (LIBOR manipulation); Russian Aviation test case (major insurance disputes following the invasion of Ukraine); Decura v UBS (material adverse effect clauses); LNT v Airbus (contractual formation); Barclays v UniCredit (scope of contractual discretions); Choicezone v Simmons & Simmons (professional negligence); Marz v Bank of Scotland (interest rate swap mis-selling); Tchenguiz v Serious Fraud Office (misfeasance in public office, and privilege); SAMs Borrowers v Bank of Scotland (group litigation concerning mortgages); Bmibaby v Durham Tees Valley Airport (incorporation of terms in an aviation contract and damages).

Career

Called 2005. Silk 2024.

Professional Memberships

COMBAR; BASL.

Personal

Christ Church, Oxford (BA, First; BCL, Distinction)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Consumer Finance - All Circuits

Band 2

Individual Editorial

James Duffy KC is well regarded for his handling of financial mis-selling and Consumer Credit Act cases.

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Aviation - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

James Duffy is a regular in substantial commercial aviation disputes who acts for a client base composed of various industry bodies in sophisticated and high-profile cases in the regulatory and insurance spheres.

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Banking & Finance - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

James Duffy KC handles complex matters for a wide variety of major national investment banks. He has expertise in cases concerning LIBOR manipulation, swaps mis-selling and fraud disputes. Duffy has appeared in a number of the most significant cases of recent years in the banking and finance sector, and is noted for his handling of cases that are both high-profile and reputationally sensitive.

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Fraud: Civil - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

James Duffy KC has plentiful experience acting on multi-jurisdictional frauds arising from contexts including Libor manipulation and securities fraud. Prior to taking silk, he developed expertise handling interlocutory applications, including for freezing orders.

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Group Litigation - All Circuits

Band 4

Individual Editorial

James Duffy KC has a strong group litigation practice. He is regularly sought out to defend in large-scale group actions, often involving high-profile clients. He has a particular strength in matters involving banking and finance elements.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

A very experienced barrister who gives strategic input and keeps an eye on the bigger picture.
Consumer FinanceUK Bar
During trial, we were impressed with his strategic thinking and his ideas for how to present our position in a simple but effective way.
AviationUK Bar
James is an excellent lawyer with great technical expertise and sound commercial sense.
AviationUK Bar
James is very approachable and gets all the detail very quickly. You can trust his views.
AviationUK Bar
James is extremely responsive, thoughtful, practical and hands-on.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar
James is an accomplished advocate. He is quick on his feet and able to deal with the unexpected.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar