Partner
International Dispute Resolution & Arbitration
James serves as Head of International Disputes – Europe. He is based in our London office and has more than two decades of experience representing clients in some of the world’s most complex and challenging international arbitrations.
He has served as counsel in more than 100 international arbitrations, where the amounts in dispute have often exceeded US$1 billion. He typically leads the team and conducts the advocacy as the first chair. James also sits as an arbitrator and as a part-time judge.
James has been recognized for more than 15 years as one of the leading international arbitration lawyers. In multiple years, he has been referenced in Chambers, Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration, and Expert Guides, International Arbitration. James has also been listed in The Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist – UK Region.
According to Chambers UK 2026, James has, “laser-focused, excellent judgement” and, “is a very talented lawyer with multiple specialisms.”
James is an energy disputes specialist with a particular focus on natural gas and liquified natural gas (LNG) price renegotiations and arbitrations. He also has conducted substantial arbitrations in various sectors, including life sciences, private equity, aviation, defense, technology, and telecommunications. He has worked extensively with clients in the Asia Pacific region and Latin America.
James has represented multinational corporations, institutional investors, governments, and international organizations in arbitrations administered under the rules of all major institutions (including the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, and HKIAC), as well as in ad hoc UNCITRAL proceedings under various applicable laws (including English, French, German, Spanish, Swiss, Brazilian, PRC, Japanese, Russian, and public international law).
Representing an Asian buyer in a multibillion-dollar dispute under a long-term LNG supply agreement
Acting for a leading Asian LNG buyer in an annual delivery programme dispute with an global seller
Representing an African telecommunications group in a series of London-seated arbitrations alongside parallel insolvency proceedings in Mauritius concerning the development of data centers
Representing a European gas buyer in a gas price arbitration in Southern Europe under the ICC Rules relating to a long-term gas pipeline contract with a sum in dispute in excess of US$1 billion
Acting for a major European LNG buyer with its price negotiations in a billion-US-dollar pricing dispute with a Middle Eastern seller
Representing a multinational energy company in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction of an FPSO in South East Asia
Representing an East Asian buyer in a multibillion-dollar pricing dispute under a long-term LNG supply agreement
Acting for an energy company in the Middle East in a multimillion-dollar oil pipeline dispute
Representing a US aerospace and defense multinational in two parallel US$250 million ICC arbitrations governed by Spanish law concerning disputes under a joint venture agreement with a Spanish company
Representing a global pharmaceutical company in connection with a €2 billion arbitration claim for fraud and breaches of warranty arising in connection with an M&A transaction, involving allegations of wrongdoing across more than 10 European countries
Representing an investment fund in a US$100 million cross-border insolvency before the Court of Appeal in Jersey in the leading case on the Jersey creditors’ winding-up process: HWA 555 Owners, LLC v Redox PLC S.A. (formerly Regus PLC) and Maître Nicolas Thieltgen [2023] JCA085
Acting for a group of companies in the industrials sector in Eastern Europe in a US$100 million cross-border enforcement in respect of security granted over assets of operating and holding companies
Acting for an East Asian LNG importer in a price reopener arbitration
Representing a state-owned oil company in a US$1 billion energy dispute subject to arbitration under the arbitration rules of a South East Asian institution
Acting for a Korean conglomerate in a billion-dollar ICC arbitration in the technology and life sciences sector
Acting for an East Asian pharmaceutical manufacturer in an IP arbitration governed by English Law
Representing an African telecommunications group in a series of London-seated arbitrations alongside parallel insolvency proceedings in Mauritius concerning the development of data centers
Representing a leading European life sciences company in a €500 million arbitration arising under a long-term development and distribution agreement
Representing a major European pharmaceutical manufacturer in a €100 million dispute under a licensing and distribution agreement
Representing a Middle Eastern consultant in a Swiss-seated ICC arbitration against a Greek construction company arising out of a project to build a power station
Representing a contract research organization in a US$65 million dispute with a pharmaceutical manufacturer
Representing and counselling a Middle Eastern state in a series of public international law disputes under peace and economic development treaties relating to electricity, customs tariffs and taxation; the disputes are subject to ad hoc inter-state arbitration
Representing a Latin American state in an HKIAC arbitration concerning disputes arising out of the purchase of a ship from a PRC shipbuilding yard
Representing an international organization in an ICC arbitration concerning disputes under an agreement with a consortium of companies in the transport sector
Representing a leading software provider in a high-value dispute with its former licensees in four consolidated WIPO arbitrations
Representing a major telecommunications company in a Vienna-sited VIAC arbitration concerning a joint venture dispute in Eastern Europe
Representing a Chinese technology company in a HKIAC arbitration governed by PRC law
Conducting the advocacy in a jurisdictional challenge to a London-seated ICC arbitral award in Telecom of Kosovo v Dardafon [2017] EWHC 1326 (Comm)
Conducting the advocacy in a leading English High Court decision on challenges to arbitrators under the IBA Rules on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration: Sierra Fishing v. Farran [2015] EWHC 140 (Comm), [2015] 1 All ER (Comm)
Conducting the advocacy in a leading decision of the DIFC Court of Appeal on the scope of jurisdiction of the DIFC Courts over non-DIFC entities: Investment Group Private Limited v Standard Chartered Bank: CA-002-2018
Representing a syndicate of lenders and subsequently appointed administrators in relation to the restructuring of a telecommunications group against the backdrop of a US$100 million LCIA arbitration
Representing a leading Indonesian conglomerate in a US$1 billion contentious restructuring: Re Indah Kiat International Finance Company BV [2016] EWHC 246 (Ch)
Representing Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd, the world’s largest producer of silicon solar power units, in a €560 million cross-border fraud case involving proceedings in the Commercial Court in London, the High Court of Singapore and several other jurisdictions
Representing the official Chinese-appointed administrator in several London-seated arbitrations involving complex questions of law under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations and the impact of Chinese court decisions
Education
Admissions
Publications
Presentations
Podcasts
Powering Progress Episode 10 – Building Resilience into AI Infrastructure
Much of the conversation around AI infrastructure has focused on growth, new data centers, unprecedented capital investment, rising power demand, …
July 29, 2026
July 29, 2026 • 7-minute read
Articles
Force Majeure and LNG Contracts
Amid the escalating Middle East conflict, QatarEnergy’s 4 March 2026 declaration of force majeure following the suspension of liquified natural …
June 4, 2026
June 4, 2026 • 1-minute read
Articles
The Coming Wave of Disputes in Data Centre and AI Infrastructure
The global data centre sector is in the midst of the largest infrastructure build-out of the modern era. The Goldman …
May 29, 2026
May 29, 2026 • 14-minute read
Articles
Force Majeure and LNG Contracts
Introduction Recent attacks on LNG facilities in the Gulf have sent shockwaves through the LNG industry and are already having …
March 23, 2026
March 23, 2026 • 4-minute read
Articles
Mideast War Tests LNG Contracts
Published by Energy Intelligence, March 2026 The escalating conflict in the Middle East is already having a significant impact on …
March 4, 2026
March 4, 2026 • 5-minute read
Media Coverage
James Barratt Discusses QatarEnergy Force Majeure Declarations in Energy Intelligence
Vinson & Elkins Partner James Barratt talked with Energy Intelligence about QatarEnergy’s force majeure declarations and the impact of the …
July 7, 2026
July 7, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises SOCAR on $1 Billion Apollo Funds Investment in TANAP Stake
Vinson & Elkins advised the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic and SOCAR Turkey Enerji A.Ş. on the issuance …
June 11, 2026
June 11, 2026 • 1-minute read
Media Coverage
James Barratt and Chris Strong Speak to Law360 About the War in Iran
Oil and gas dealmakers are cautiously optimistic they can ride out immediate market volatility from the U.S. and Israel‑Iran war, …
March 9, 2026
March 9, 2026 • 2-minute read
Awards & Rankings
Chambers Global, announced today, recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 27 practice categories, including new rankings for Construction in the UAE, …
February 12, 2026
February 12, 2026 • 2-minute read
Awards & Rankings
Chambers UK 2026 Recommends Vinson & Elkins in Five Practice Areas, 11 Individual Lawyer Rankings
Chambers UK 2026 has ranked Vinson & Elkins in Construction: Contentious UK London (Firms); Construction: International Arbitration; Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas; International Arbitration: Commercial Arbitration; and Projects: Mainly International UK-wide.
October 16, 2025
October 16, 2025 • 1-minute read
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