Profile

James is a Manchester based Partner who trained and qualified in England and Wales in 2024. Based in Kennedys’ counter fraud unit, James is a specialist in defending a broad spectrum of suspected fraudulent claims.

James has a particular specialism in the defence of high value organised fraud and advising insurers on market disruption strategies. His work includes the delivery of strategic litigation whilst working with industry bodies such as the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), IFED and regulators.

James has a particular interest in the developing area of Generative Artificial Intelligence and its impact on fraud. He has spoken at a number of industry conferences on the subject and is currently assisting a wide range of Insurers to raise awareness, educate claims handlers and create bespoke defence strategies.

James is also engaged in a project assisting global insurers to understand insurance fraud across multiple jurisdictions and collaborates with colleagues from Kennedys across the globe, recently assisting clients based in the US, the Nordic regions and Europe.

Fraud and fundamental dishonesty in catastrophic injury claims is a growing problem for insurers. James collaborates with Kennedys’ Serious Injury teams and actively provides strategic advice on fundamental dishonesty during the course of a case. This has recently  culminated in recent successes and findings of fundamental dishonesty and securing repayment of large interim payments made to claimants early in proceedings.

He has advised a number of insurers in the design and implementation of their own internal organised fraud processes and has particular experience in the growing field of telematics.

James often contributes to industry publications, and has hosted several industry wide forums on damages and costs layering in both the injury and non injury claims space.

Qualifications

  • Qualified in England and Wales in 2004

Market recognition

  • Recommended lawyer for 'Crime: general crime and fraud (North West)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2024

Work highlights

  • James was the lead solicitor on ‘The Azimi Group of Cases’, an investigation into a widescale induced road traffic accident fraud ring before HHJ Mitchell in the County Court, London.