James Smithdale is a barrister and Senior Associate in Quinn Emanuel’s London office. His practice covers all forms of commercial litigation and arbitration, with a particular focus on complex civil fraud, shipping, and commodities disputes.
James has significant experience of High Court commercial litigation, especially applications for urgent interim relief and those related to arbitration and enforcement. He has also acted for clients in a wide range of arbitrations, both domestic and international, under various institutional rules including investor-state (ICSID) disputes. He further has experience of ad hoc arbitrations, including under the LMAA Terms.
James is ranked as an “Associate to watch” in Shipping by Chambers & Partners 2025, where feedback includes:
“He stood out for his commercial awareness and his grasp of complex matters. He has an extremely strong work ethic and was exceptional in his legal drafting of complex matters.”
“He is knowledgeable, fast and diligent and has a strong commercial and business perspective.”
"He is available 24/7, with a work ethic that rivals any firm we have dealt with. He was exceptional in drafting complex matters and being able to rationalise our commercial considerations.”
James previously practised as a barrister in a leading shipping and international trade chambers. Prior to that, James read Jurisprudence at the University of Oxford, where he was a scholar at Christ Church, graduating in 2011 with First Class Honours before returning in 2013 to read for the B.C.L., from which he graduated with Distinction, specialising in Conflict of Laws, Restitution of Unjust Enrichment, Commercial Remedies, and Transnational Commercial Law.
- University of Oxford
(B.C.L., Distinction, 2013) - University of Oxford
(M.A. (Oxon.), First Class Honours, Jurisprudence, 2011)
- The Bar of England and Wales
- Chambers UK, Shipping, Associate to Watch, 2025