Omnia

James Palmer

Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution

Role

James Palmer is a highly experienced litigator both in the UK and internationally with a practice focussing on investor-State and commercial arbitration, public international law and offering more general commercial advice. James advises Governments, State entities, leading multinationals as well as private clients and charities.

Career

James has represented clients in a wide variety of disputes, including those concerning energy, mining, construction, manufacturing, shareholder relationships, joint ventures and business & human rights. Many of his cases have involved complex technical matters and sensitive political issues. He has acted as counsel in disputes under the rules of the LCIA, ICC, CRCICA, UNCITRAL and ICSID.

James has a particular focus on emerging markets and has spent considerable time working and travelling across sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans and Latin America. Among his State clients, since 2014, James has represented: Ghana, Rwanda, The Gambia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan. He has also acted for two African former Heads of State.

James specialises in delivering swift solutions in challenging circumstances by taking a strategic approach that combines core legal skills with a depth of understanding that spans political, diplomatic and commercial considerations.  

Before entering private practice, James was posted to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda where he worked for the Office of the Prosecutor. 

Qualifications

James is a qualified solicitor and is admitted to the roll in England and Wales. He was named a “Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers Directory, a Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Future Leader in 2020 & 2021 and became Omnia’s youngest Partner in 2017.

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