James Baldwin

James specialises in international arbitration and dispute resolution, with particular expertise in real estate disputes, commercial litigation and debt recovery. Since moving to Dubai in 2012, James has acted for clients in the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and under the Arbitration Rules of the DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC, IICRA, ICC and LCIA, where he often conducts his own advocacy.

James has also assisted on several large construction disputes between master developers and sub-developers. He has worked for international firms in the UK representing clients in the English Courts and in mediation on a wide variety of issues, including extensive experience of insurance backed litigation.

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Career

Since 2014	Associate, Taylor Wessing
2012 - 2014	Associate, Hadef & Partners
2010 - 2012	Solicitor, Hill Dickinson

2008 - 2010	Trainee Solicitor, Pannone
2007 - 2008	Litigation Paralegal, Stephenson Harwood

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Education

2010	Admitted as a lawyer, England & Wales
2007	Legal Practice Course, Distinction, College of Law, London
2006	LLB, University of Sheffield

Additional languages

English

Expertise

Sectors Real estate Insurance

Experience

Global investors	Acting for more than 50 property purchasers/investors from across Europe and the MENA region, against a prominent UAE developer. Recovering c. AED 100 million, arising from breaches of villa Sale and Purchase Agreements (under DIAC Rules and in Dubai Courts).
A Malaysian insurance company	Acting for a Malaysian insurance company against a Dubai based commodities trading company involved in a suspected USD 5 million fraud with a Hong Kong based international trade house
Vegie Bar LLC v Emirates NBD Properties LLC	Acting for Emirates NBD in a long running real estate dispute concerning an unregistered lease and large damages claim by an Australian restaurant franchisee (key issues included: the “assignment” of an unregistered interest in land; equitable obligation/estoppel as an exception to registration; the idea and effect of ‘provisional’ registration; and enforceability of uncertain and/or illegal contractual terms)

HNW Greek national	Advising HNW Greek national in parallel proceedings in DIAC arbitration and Dubai Courts against two contractors arising out of breach of a contract to renovate a villa on The Palm (c. AED 10m)
British-owned property developer	Acting for a leading British-owned real estate developer in the UAE. Completing over 30 arbitrations brought by individual investors due to breaches of off-plan Sale and Purchase Agreements, in multiple residential projects across the UAE (under DIAC Rules).
Dubai cable company	Acting for a state-owned cable company to recover unpaid sums relating to a landmark mixed-use development in Dubai, recovering c. 70 million with interest and costs (under ICC Rules).