James Lockwood

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

London
United Kingdom
T:+44 20 7444 5417
London
United Kingdom
T:+44 20 7444 5417
James Lockwood

James Lockwood

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Biography

James Lockwood is a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer based in London. He focuses on banking and finance, civil fraud and commercial litigation. He also has extensive experience of contentious regulatory and bribery and corruption investigations.

James regularly acts for banks, corporates, funds and asset managers, helping them navigate a wide range of complex, cross-border and contentious matters. He has significant experience defending high-value group action litigations.  

James is a Solicitor-Advocate with higher rights of audience in the courts of England and Wales (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings).

Before joining us, James spent nine years at a magic circle firm. He has completed secondments to the in-house litigation and investigation teams of two major international banks.


Professional experience

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  • University of Cambridge, MA, 2003-2006
  • GDL, BPP Law School, London, 2008
  • LPC, College of Law, London, 2009
  • Higher Rights of Audience (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings), City, University of London, 2015
  • Solicitor qualified in England & Wales

Advising:

  • A global bank - defending two related high profile billion pound and multi-million pound group action fraud claims concerning certain tax-advantaged film finance structures.
  • An energy and trading conglomerate on a range of cross-border contentious matters and high court litigation following the collapse of Greensill Capital.
  • A global bank - defending a complex £30m group action misselling claim regarding certain film and game tax-advantaged structures.
  • Multi-million pound bribery, deceit, conspiracy, undue influence and dishonest assistance claim against an aircraft manufacturer.
  • Financial institutions and technology companies on claims and issues arising out of payments fraud by third parties.
  • A bank - in a multi-million pound close-out dispute under an ISDA Master Agreement.
  • A commodities company on disputed margin calls and related claims
  • Payments companies on various merchant and customer claims.
  • A foreign exchange bureau on claims regarding termination of an outsourcing and services agreement.
  • A major investment bank - in a contractual dispute with a financial technology company.
  • A foreign bank - on enforcement of finance documents in a number of jurisdictions.
  • Financial institutions - on various trade finance issues concerning letters of credit.
  • A global bank - successfully defending a complex £30m group action misselling claim
  • A major investment bank - responding to a third party disclosure order in high-profile proceedings.
  • A financial institution - successfully responding to an application for Norwich Pharmacal relief and/or pre-action disclosure.
  • A private bank in connection with obligations under a freezing injunction
  • An energy company - defending a freezing injunction and a mass tort claim from hundreds of claimants.
  • Fintechs, corporates and individuals on various shareholder and termination disputes.
  • Acting on contractual disputes - regarding termination of player contracts and image rights agreements.

Next Generation Partner, Civil Fraud (London), The Legal 500 UK, 2023

  • "James Lockwood is utterly outstanding and, although a newly made-up partner, has the qualities of the most seasoned of litigators. He's extremely bright, and an excellent lawyer; he's has a vice-like grip on the details of the case while never losing sight of the big-picture"
  • "James Lockwood: a very slick operator and rising star who made partner this year. Leading the next generation for NRF"

Rising Star - Civil Fraud (London), The Legal 500 UK, 2022

  • "James Lockwood, Counsel, is class act, very responsive and gives practical and commercial advice; clients love him.  Sure to be a star of the future"
  • "James Lockwood: totally outstanding, and someone you want working on any fraud case you've got. He produces excellent documents, first-rate analysis and legal research, and has a capacity for hard work second to none"
  • "James Lockwood is an up and coming superstar"

 

The Legal 500 UK, 2021

  • "James Lockwood is a brilliant team player".
  • "James Lockwood drafts documents beautifully and is very bright".

Member of:

  • Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association
  • Fraud Lawyers Association
  • London Solicitors Litigation Association
  • Financial Services Lawyers Association