SILK PROFILE

James McClelland KC

UK Bar 2026

Brick Court Chambers

Ranked in 6 practice areas

Financial Services

London (Bar)

12 years ranked

Administrative & Public Law

London (Bar)

12 years ranked

Professional Discipline

London (Bar)

16 years ranked

Banking & Finance

London (Bar)

12 years ranked

Commercial Dispute Resolution

London (Bar)

12 years ranked

Energy & Natural Resources: Regulatory

London (Bar)

1 year ranked

About

Provided by Brick Court Chambers

UK Bar

Practice Areas

“A superstar”, “terrifyingly intelligent”, “exceptionally gifted”, “a phenomenal legal mind”, “genuinely intellectually brilliant”, “magisterial in his conduct of cases”, “fantastic both on his feet and on paper”, “a compelling advocate”, “calm under fire”, "provides a brilliant delivery in court", “cuts through to the key points with a superb sense of what the court wants”, “finds the strongest arguments in the most complex cases”, “comes up with creative solutions to the hardest problems", "provides sure-footed direction on difficult judgement calls", “his advice is always clear and pragmatic”, “totally down to earth”, “exceptionally easy to work with”, “brilliant with clients”, “good fun”, “has no airs about him at all”, “a very nice guy” (current or past editions of Chambers & Partners or Legal 500).

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Financial Services - London (Bar)

Band 2

Individual Editorial

James McClelland KC is a much-admired barrister with a significant practice in financial services regulation, particularly on issues involving FSMA directives and European regulations. He has been involved in some of the highest-profile and highest-value cases in the sector over the last few years. He acts both for and against regulators and is experienced in PPI mis-selling matters.

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Administrative & Public Law - London (Bar)

Band 3

Individual Editorial

James McClelland KC focuses his considerable public law practice on commercial and regulatory cases, particularly in the financial services sector. He is capable of counselling claimants and defendants in judicial review and regulatory proceedings. Recent notable cases have involved the regulation of metals and energy markets.

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Professional Discipline - London (Bar)

Band 3

Individual Editorial

James McClelland KC enjoys a strong reputation for his regulatory practice, which focuses on legal and financial services regulation. He frequently prosecutes solicitors on behalf of the SRA. He is also instructed in significant judicial review proceedings that define the powers and duties of disciplinary bodies in the legal sector.

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Banking & Finance - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

James McClelland KC is a respected silk with a wide-ranging practice spanning a variety of areas. Besides his expertise in commercial and banking disputes, he has noted ability and experience of handling cases arising in administrative and public law and professional discipline. McClelland is comfortable acting for and against banks, and is also experienced in acting for the regulator in challenges of great import. He is noted for his strength in handling domestic and multi-jurisdictional group actions.

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Energy & Natural Resources: Regulatory - London (Bar)

Spotlight

Individual Editorial

James McClelland KC is a highly experienced silk regularly sought out to appear in public law challenges both for and against regulators. He has experience representing major regulators as well as large NGOs such as Greenpeace, showing his versatility in such disputes.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

He is an intellectual machine in his area of law. James is hugely effective in court and an incredibly punchy advocate. He is very diligent, detailed and careful in preparation.
Financial ServicesUK Bar
James is personable, professional and a pleasure to deal with. He is absolutely excellent on his feet.
Financial ServicesUK Bar
He is an excellent practitioner.
Financial ServicesUK Bar
James has a really great analytical mind.
Financial ServicesUK Bar
He has the right calibration of covering everything to the nth degree but knowing what risks to focus on. He is absolutely excellent on his feet. He kills softy and brings the judge on side.
Administrative & Public LawUK Bar
There is no one more capable of drilling down into the detail on public law and commercial issues. James is an intellectual machine and an incredibly punchy and diligent advocate.
Administrative & Public LawUK Bar