James Levy KC

Practice Areas

James Levy is the Senior Partner of Hassans, specialising in corporate and international tax law.

He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in October 2002 and, in 2013, was awarded a CBE for his services to the community of Gibraltar and for his work in helping to grow and develop its economy.

James advises large public companies on mergers and acquisitions and property companies on acquisitions throughout Europe. He is often called upon by high-net-worth individuals from around the world to provide advice on complicated commercial and family dispute resolution. His in-depth legal knowledge is eclipsed only by his common sense approach to problem solving.

He assisted the Government of Gibraltar on its development of the jurisdiction as a finance centre. This has included advice on anti-money laundering, banking, insurance, financial services and trust legislation.

James pioneered the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Gibraltar and is a qualified Mediator.

He advised the Government of Gibraltar in the 1980s/1990s in respect of the transposition of a backlog of EU Directives. He also advised the Government of Gibraltar in the landmark Spanish Pension Case. He advised TGWU (now Unite) in their successful challenge of the Ministry of Defence’s decision of the Naval Base under the Crown Proceedings Act.

He was a contributing author to Tolley’s ‘Tax Planning International’, joint editor of Tolley’s ‘Taxation in Gibraltar’ and a frequent lecturer on various aspects of financial services legislation.

James Levy is consistently ranked as a Leading Individual by the legal directories. For over 13 years James has been awarded Star Practitioner status by Chambers and Partners. This accolade, which he first received in 2007, is granted only to the very best lawyers in each jurisdiction. Chambers and Partners also conferred the highly prestigious “Life Time Achievement Award” upon James in May 2008.

Career

An Honours graduate from Manchester University, James attended the Council of Legal Education in London and qualified in 1972, becoming a partner of Hassans soon after in 1974. .

Publications

Contributing author to 'Tolleys Tax Planning International' and joint editor of 'Tolleys Taxation' in Gibraltar. Frequently lectures on various aspects of financial services legislation.