James Ramsden KC

James Ramsden KC is Senior Partner at the special situations legal and professional services firm, Astraea (an Alternative Business Structure), which he co-founded in 2020.

James has an expansive international practice in the follow areas:

- commercial dispute resolution (litigation, mediation, arbitration)

- international enforcement

- regulatory and disciplinary law

- civil fraud

James is a trusted advisor to corporate, governmental, regulatory, family office and high net worth individual clients. He is panel counsel for the SRA/Law Society acting on complex, high-profile matters. He advises the FCA and ICAEW.

In all his work, and unlike barristers in traditional settings, James is able to leverage the multidisciplinary platform he has built at Astraea. This includes experienced solicitors, in-house intelligence and investigations capabilities, a range of language skills, and a Special Situations Advisory Panel, comprising seasoned experts across strategic communications, corporate strategy, public affairs and investigations.

James has particular expertise around digital assets and non-traditional finance, and has represented clients in a number of precedent setting cases in this area. He is a regular media commentator on regulation of non-traditional finance, as well as digital finance in the wider context of geopolitics and international security.

James was recognised by Chambers in 2025 as “ferociously clever and an excellent tactician” and “the person you want in your corner”.

James built an expansive international practice over 30 years in chambers, establishing himself as a leading commercial silk before co-founding Astraea with chartered tax accountant Nina Stewart in 2020. James now co-leads Astraea, advising a range of individual, corporate and regulatory clients, often planning and executing multidisciplinary strategies that combine legal advice with strategic counsel, intelligence and investigations.

James has advised in multiple jurisdictions: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, US, Russia, Ukraine, Iceland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Uruguay, Australia, BVI, Jersey and Isle of Man.

A highly experienced advocate, James has been admitted to the Bar in England and Wales, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands (BVI). James also acts as arbitrator and mediator.

James lectures widely on Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF), fraud and asset recovery. He is a regular conference keynote speaker and media commentator.

- Admitted to the Bar: England and Wales

- Admitted to the Bar of British Virgin Islands (full-time)

- Admitted to the Bars of Gibraltar, Isle of Man and Cayman Islands (Ad hoc)

- Commercial Bar Association

- Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association

- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers

- Chancery Bar Association

Author/contributing editor to Butterworths' Financial Regulation Service.

- Anatoli Stati & Ors

- Argentem Creek Partners

- Bitcoin Association & Ors

- BTC Core & Ors

- Innovatus Capital Partners

- Madison Pacific

- Molson Equipment Services Ltd

James has a longstanding commitment to Advocate (Bar Pro Bono charity) and was nominated Pro Bono Silk of the Year in 2021.

- Acting as global counsel for a group of international investors enforcing US$500 million investor-state arbitration award against the Republic of Kazakhstan.

- Acting for the leading group of successful defendants in US$4.5 billion claim, Tulip Trading Ltd v Bitcoin Association for BSV & others [2022] EWHC 667 (Ch), one of the most important decisions so far in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space.

- Acting for a defendant to a US$6million claim for unlawful means conspiracy and fraudulent misrepresentation and coordinating proceedings in relation to collateral criminal allegations in the United States in respect of an alleged US$1billion fraud.

Over 30 years at the commercial bar

Leicester University

Bachelor of Laws

1983 - 1986