As a Partner and Head of our Construction team, Jim is a specialist in construction law and recognised as such in national independent legal directories where he is listed as a ‘leader’ in this field.

His work includes advising on contractual disputes as well as drafting build contracts, appointments, and collateral warranties. Jim is experienced in dealing with complex and high value adjudication and arbitration proceedings, as well as technology and construction court claims.

Jim leads the Construction team in cross-collaborative work with Stephens Scown’s specialist Mining and Minerals, Social Housing, and Renewable Energy subsector teams to support clients across those sectors.

After studying law at the University of Exeter, Jim qualified as a solicitor in 1996 with Winckworth Sherwood in London before moving to Foot Anstey in Exeter and then joined Stephens Scown in 2016.

Examples of recent work include:

• Representing a client in a multi-million pound adjudication, in relation to defective works and the final account.
• Drafting EPC Agreements in relation to solar parks.
• Enforcing adjudication decisions in the Technology and Construction Court.
• Resolving an extension of time dispute in relation to the construction of an energy from waste plant.
• Drafting collateral warranties and appointments on behalf of a funder client for a multi-million pound project.
• Drafting standard contract amendments including the new JCT Design and Build Contract 2016.

As one of our B Corp™ Champions, Jim is knowledgeable and passionate about helping you build your own purpose and positive impact, at whatever your current stage of the journey. Increasingly, organisations and business leaders are no longer measuring success based solely on annual accounts, but whether they have a defined positive purpose, if that purpose is being met, and the organisation’s wider impact.

Outside of work, Jim is a keen sailor and has represented Great Britain at World and European level. He is now more often involved getting his kids out on the water sailing and surfing and is a member of Starcross Sailing Club.