About James…

Before joining Gosschalks, James worked in a Yorkshire steel manufacturing and fabrication company (serving the construction and brewing industries), generating and documenting sales orders and contracts. This provided an valuable insight into business sales and procurement “at the coal face”.

James trained at Gosschalks and qualified in February 1999, and is now a commercial lawyer and partner in Gosschalks’ Corporate team, heading up the firm’s commercial contracts team. He specialises in advising, negotiating and drafting commercial trading and technology agreements across a variety of sectors.

James has been practicing in this area for over 20 years, and is able to draw on extensive experience to provide his clients with clear, pragmatic commercial advice and insights into understanding and managing contractual risk.

James acts for many of the firm’s largest national clients on complex and high value supply and licensing deals, as well as many local businesses of all sizes, including SMEs. This involves regularly negotiating with some of the biggest blue-chip companies and their legal teams, to ensure appropriate contract and IP advice and protection in available for his clients in highly competitive business environments.

“Getting a decent legal overview of a contract before you negotiate and sign it, rather than from a litigator after a dispute arises, will always be worthwhile where there is tangible commercial value in the contract. There’s sometimes a tendency with growing businesses to try to deal with legal contract issues internally (to save time or legal costs), where a well-timed conversation with a commercial lawyer would have avoided a lot more money and headaches in the long run.”

What his clients say...

"James has assisted Ei Group for a number of years in negotiating various high value and strategically important deals with major suppliers, including the likes of Molson Coors, Heineken and most recently with Budweiser Brewing Group. Along with his industry leading expertise, James brings an experienced commercial approach to negotiating the contracts which helps in delivering a positive outcome."

Miles Selby - Procurement Director, Ei Group plc

“We have worked closely with James for a number of years and view him as an experienced and trusted partner in negotiating the complex integrated services agreements we put in place with our clients, including several major national and global organisations we do business with. James provides highly valued support with our commercial contracts requirements, particularly in ensuring our intellectual property is properly protected, often to tight deadlines and with a good eye on the detail.”

Matt Marshall - Sales Director, ResQ

Other roles:

James is a School Governor at the Mount Trust, covering Mount St. Mary’s College & Barlborough Hall School, Sheffield. He is also a Freeman of the Cutler’s Company in Hallamshire, Sheffield.