James Hayton

James Hayton has extensive experience with resolving disputes through commercial litigation and international arbitration, across a variety of industries, including financial services, professional services and the art world. He has handled arbitrations under the LCIA, ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL rules, as well as ad hoc arbitrations, and has served as Secretary of the Tribunal in a LCIA arbitration.

James has been published in leading journals on topics in international arbitration and civil procedure. He is a contributor to Arlidge, Eady & Smith on Contempt (5th ed., Sweet & Maxwell) on breaches of civil orders and undertakings.

James trained as a barrister at a commercial chancery set before going on to practise at Kirkland & Ellis where he spent over six years. Before joining LK in 2015, James also spent a year working in-house at the Bank of Nova Scotia in London.

Experience

Syndicated finance

Representing the mezzanine lender in an arbitration arising from a syndicated financing, with claim value over US$500 million (LCIA Rules, London seat).

MaxamCorp v Eurotel

Acting for Maxam, one the world’s largest energetic materials producers, in successfully obtaining anti-suit and anti-enforcement injunctions in the English High Court relating to various arbitration agreements.

Gas infrastructure

Acting for one of the largest construction firms in Eastern Europe in arbitration against a subcontractor arising from a gas storage project, total value over EUR90m (LCIA Rules, London seat).

Behlen Industries LP

Representing Behlen Industries LP, a leading Canadian manufacturer of steel buildings, in an ICC arbitration commenced against a state and a state-owned enterprise arising from a project to design, build and finance the construction of sports infrastructure (London seat).

Kingate

Representing the court-appointed liquidators of the Kingate Funds, the second largest of the “feeder funds” to Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme, which collapsed with losses of over US$550 million.

Ping An

Represented Ping An, the Chinese financial services group, in its ICSID BIT claim against Belgium arising from the collapse of Fortis (the first ever ICSID claim by a Chinese investor).