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James has a meticulous eye for detail and achieves excellent outcomes.
Legal 500
Travel & International Law
James has a wealth of experience in litigation involving travel and cross-jurisdictional issues.
In particular his fluency in French and extensive expertise in personal injury litigation has led to his instruction in a variety of claims where an understanding and interpretation of French law and evidence in a foreign language has been invaluable.
For example, James has acted for defendants in a number of claims arising out of serious road traffic collisions in France. He has advised on French legislative provisions relating to the equivalent of social security benefits and their recoupment in the context of high value personal injury litigation in the High Court.
He has also acted in cases arising out road traffic collisions in Italy and Spain where complex issues relating to damage in the context of cross-jurisdictional litigation concerning brain injury have arisen.
James has also acted for a number of major airlines in cases involving delay and damage involving the interpretation and application of the Montreal and Warsaw Conventions and Hague Protocol.
View full profile >>Notable Cases
Atkinson v Pathak (2015) EWHC 1120
James was instructed by the Defendant insurer to defend a claim involving a Claimant who had been working as a self-employed gardener when in December 2009 the First Defendant -insured by the Second Defendant- had negligently run over his left foot when mounting the pavement in the course of doing a U-turn. The Claimant sought a total award of damages in excess of £600,000.
Szura v Dixey
Represented a Claimant injured in an rta who alleged that she sustained a moderate brain injury. This was hotly disputed by the experts (Neurologists, Psychiatrists and Neuro-Psychologists) and was heard over a five day High Court trial before HH Judge Forster QC sitting as a High Court Judge. The issue was determined in the Claimant's favour and quantum was settled. The case was one of the first in the High Court (indeed in any court) to involve experts giving evidence concurrently ('hot tubbing').
Cass DA v (1) C & C Plumbing & Heating (Southern) Ltd (2) C & C Carpentry Services Ltd (3) Bellway Homes Ltd
Successfully represented a Defendant in a claim arising out of a fall through a roof on a construction site that was heard over a number of days before HH Judge Moloney QC. The claim involved complicated questions of engineering evidence relating to the building methods and materials used.
Thompson F v Asphaltic Roofing Supplies Ltd
Successfully represented a Defendant in a claim where it was alleged that a hydraulic arm had malfunctioned and injured the Claimant. The matter was heard before HHJ Hand QC and involved lengthy and technical expert engineering evidence.
If you would like to instruct James Pretsell or would like help or advice in doing so, please call and talk to our excellent clerking team, led by Chief Executive/Director of Clerking, Paul Cray. Our phone number is +44 (0)20 7583 9241. Alternatively, please email us at chambers@farrarsbuilding.co.uk
For more information about our clerking team, please click here for the clerks page.
Appointments & Memberships
- Chairman of the Appeals Tribunal of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain
- Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers
- British Association for Sport & Law
- Employment Law Bar Association
- Personal Injury Bar Association
Education & Qualifications
- Karmel Scholar & Prince of Wales Scholar, Gray’s Inn
- BVC (with Distinction in Advocacy), Inns of Court School of Law
- Dip Law (Commendation), City University
- BA in French & Philosophy (First Class), University of Bristol
Directory Quotes
James is ranked as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500 for Personal Injury:
He has a wonderfully relaxed manner with clients which makes him very reassuring.’ Legal 500
‘James has a meticulous eye for detail and achieves excellent outcomes.’ Legal 500
Personal Interests
James interests include playing for and now supporting London Welsh, cycling, skiing and cricket.