James Hartley
Partner & Divisional Head of Dispute Resolution | Leeds
"Other firms had tried and failed to do what Freeths ultimately achieved. It could not have been achieved without the unfailing commitment of James Hartley to the cause of the subpostmasters, and his unshakeable confidence in the merits.”
Kathleen Donnelly, Barrister at Henderson Chambers
Call: 0345 077 9581 Mobile: 0792 070 1822
About James
James Hartley leads Freeths’ award-winning Dispute Resolution team, advising boards and senior executives on their most complex, high-value and business-critical disputes, as well as the legal and reputational risks that can lead to them.
He is best known for leading the landmark Bates v Post Office litigation, now recognised as one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British legal history. The case has helped to shape his approach to risk, litigation and advisory work, particularly the importance of identifying issues early and pursuing them with clarity and persistence.
James is listed as a Recommended Lawyer and recognised as a Leading Partner in the Legal 500 (2027 edition). He is also ranked as a Leading Individual in Chambers & Partners (2027 edition)
Helping boards anticipate and contain risk
James works with GCs, CEOs, CFOs and risk leaders to identify and manage issues before they develop into litigation, and to respond decisively when a complex, high-value dispute has already reached the business.
He recognises that the most serious litigation risks rarely begin as legal problems. They often arise from operational decisions, governance gaps or cultural issues, only becoming visible once the consequences, often at board-level, are significant.
When a dispute has already crystallised, James helps clients move quickly from assessment to action: clarifying the legal and commercial position, identifying the pressure points, building a response strategy and keeping decision-making aligned with the organisation’s wider commercial objectives.
His work focuses on helping organisations:
Anticipate emerging risks
Escalate issues to the right people before they compound, or build the right response when escalation is already urgent
Respond decisively to complex, high-value and business-critical disputes when they arise
An outcome-driven approach
James takes a structured, strategic approach to dispute resolution, combining:
Scenario-based decision analysis
Commercial risk mapping
Cost and reputational impact modelling
His proprietary methodology, developed during the Post Office case, gives clients a structured, goal-driven way to manage disputes under pressure, supported by advanced data and AI tools. This approach helps leadership teams assess risk, prioritise decisions and maintain control where legal, financial, operational and reputational issues are moving at pace. It is also informed by insights from Freeths’ Corporate Conscience Index, which highlights how governance, culture and decision-making can give rise to legal and reputational risk.
The result is clear decision-making, controlled exposure and outcomes aligned with board-level priorities and scrutiny, helping clients protect reputation, manage risk, reduce financial and operational impact and regain control when a dispute threatens to distract the business.
Areas of expertise
Complex and group litigation (claimant and defence)
Commercial and technology disputes, including contractual and deal-related disputes (warranty and earn-out)
Financial services, investment and banking disputes
International arbitration and cross-border disputes
Fraud, asset recovery, defamation and professional negligence
Sector expertise including technology, manufacturing and transport
He also has extensive experience in litigation funding and in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation (CEDR-accredited), helping clients resolve disputes efficiently and avoid unnecessary delay.
Contact James
Call: 0345 077 9581
Mobile: 0792 070 1822
Notable work
James regularly advises companies on competition litigation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the High Court. He has particular knowledge on “follow-on” damages actions against companies found to have infringed competition laws, including cartel and related price-fixing activities.
Recent work
- Advising a UK company on substantial follow-on actions against Visa and MasterCard, relating to alleged anti-competitive conduct associated with credit/debit card multilateral interchange fees
- Advising organisations on substantial follow-on damages actions against international truck manufacturers, arising out of EU infringement findings
- Advising a UK company in respect of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigations into alleged cartel activity in the galvanised steel tanks market.
James has industry-leading expertise in complex funding and litigation risk hedging strategies. He has extensive links within the UK funding market, and is able to create funding solutions where others do not have the expertise and contacts.
James regularly advises corporate clients on risk management issues arising out of high-value commercial disputes. This enables his clients to make informed investment and risk management decisions in commercial litigation projects.
Recent work
- Advising in relation to financial mis-selling claims against a UK lender by over 300 borrowers
- Advising Central Government (DECC) on issues arising out of the largest ever group action/compensation scheme in the UK
- Advising over 200 franchises on claims against a national estate agency group
- Advising a number of UK companies in relation to a high profile cartel/price fixing investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, and advising on related follow-on damages claim issues
- Acting for a UK company in relation to an international arbitration (International Criminal Court) matter arising out of the supply of industrial equipment for use in Chile
- Acting for a local authority in relation to £11 million claim relating to landfill tax, against a UK waste operating company. The matter was successfully resolved at a two-day mediation
- Advising in relation to mis-sold financial derivative products, including interest rate hedging products
- Advising an international food retailer (US owned) in relation to a significant supply-chain dispute
- Advising a central Government department on information management and evidential issues, including contentious Freedom of Information Act issues.
Litigation funding and dispute risk management
- Recently working with London-based brokers to form a syndicate of UK insurers to cover substantial adverse costs risk on a group action litigation case
- Providing litigation risk management advice to a UK-based client, leading to estimated £1.5 million savings in legal costs through early dispute resolution.
James has advised on many IT contract disputes, working as one team with colleagues in the specialist IT & Intellectual Property (IP) law teams. He also works with leading technical expert witnesses and specialist legal counsel, to deliver winning outcomes for commercial clients.
Recent work
- Currently acting in relation to one of the largest IT and computer system disputes in the UK, relating to the Post Office’s Horizon point of sale system
- Advising a substantial public sector organisation on dispute resolution strategies relating to an EDRMS project and associated contract issues.
James has over 20 years' experience of commercial mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He regularly advises clients on ADR strategies designed to achieve winning outcomes at reduced cost and over a planned timeframe.
He is known for his deep insight into the process, from years of appearing as advocate at mediations, as well as from his training involved in becoming a CEDR Accredited Mediator.
Recent work
- Resolving, at mediation, a long-running £10 million dispute relating to a waste contract – the mediation lasted 36 hours and was part of a planned strategy which resulted in a rapid and confidential settlement on favourable terms.
Recent work
Led the legal team who took on the Post Office to successfully fight one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history.
Find out more about our specialist technology disputes resolution service.
James has extensive expertise in dispute litigation and risk mediation across a vast multitude of legal services and sectors. Learn more across.
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Complex disputes start earlier than you think. We help you spot the risk, ask the right questions, and act before it becomes tomorrow’s litigation.
We’re a specialist team handling complex technology disputes. We handled one of the largest and most complex technology project disputes to enter the UK High Court, namely the litigation regarding the Fujitsu/Post Office Horizon Point of Sale System.
Our team has over 20 years’ experience advising clients following the theft of company data, from straightforward cases of hard copy company records to the transfer of confidential documents
Testimonials
"We have always been extremely impressed with the service provided by James."
Client testimonial
"James is someone you want on your side."
Client testimonial
"James and his team did an incredible job resolving our shareholder dispute."
Client testimonial
“Praised for his common-sense approach and ability to ask thought-provoking questions.”
Client testimonial
"He was brilliant and the way he understood the case was fantastic."
Client testimonial
"I have recently been working with James Hartley, Rhiannon Murphy and Eleanor Hargraves. Together they make a very effective and responsive tea...
The Legal 500, 2026
"Very commercially astute. Makes big and important calls under pressure and in a manner that is calming for a client."
The Legal 500, 2024
"James Hartley is incisive and quick to get down to business."
The Legal 500, 2024
"James Hartley is consistently calm when the pressure is on. He is unflappable. Drills down to the relevant issues with ease and has a wonderful ab...
The Legal 500, 2023
"Led by 'very experienced litigator' James Hartley, the team represented over 550 claimants in high-profile litigation brought against the Post Off...
The Legal 500, 2022
"Very experienced litigator who is 'City Quality'."
The Legal 500, 2022
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