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James Willn
Lawyers profile
Global 2025
Lawyers profile | Global 2025: Corporate Compliance & Investigations, Dispute Resolution
James Willn
Ranked in 2 Practice Areas
3

Band 3

Corporate Compliance & Investigations

United Arab Emirates

1 Years Ranked

5

Band 5

Dispute Resolution

United Arab Emirates

6 Years Ranked

About

Provided by James Willn

Global

Practice Areas

James is a dispute resolution partner and routinely advises clients on complex disputes and international arbitrations, primarily within the construction, energy, infrastructure and shipping sectors.

His practise is centred around large value, multi-party arbitrations, seated within the major international arbitral hubs. He regularly acts for clients as counsel in all international recognised arbitral forums including the ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, HKIAC and KCAB.

James also advises on a range of contentious and non-contentious sanctions issues acting for sanctioned entities and individuals challenging sanctions in national, US and EU courts.

He is also renowned for his experience in asset tracing and recovery litigation work which are frequently cross-jurisdictional in nature and involve worldwide freezing relief orders being issued before international Courts throughout the world.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Global Guide

Corporate Compliance & Investigations - United Arab Emirates

3
Band 3
Individual Editorial

James Willn is a well-known disputes lawyer in Reed Smith's UAE team. Drawing upon his experience in the arbitration and asset-tracing arena, he frequently advises clients on sanctions-related issues, with specific experience in proceedings relating to the alleged violation of sanctions on Russia. He acts for a variety of high-profile clients operating in sectors such as energy and transportation.

View ranking table

Dispute Resolution - United Arab Emirates

5
Band 5
Individual Editorial
James Willn has a wide range of experience covering matters as diverse as cryptocurrency disputes as well as sanctions-related cases. He is well versed in representing clients in arbitration proceedings conducted under a variety of institutional rules.
Learn more about this team❖View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

James Willn is one of the most commercially aware lawyers I have had the pleasure of working with. He is astute, knowledgeable, practical and very solutions-oriented.

Corporate Compliance & Investigations respondent
Chambers Global Guide

James is able to come back to us promptly. His approach is practical - sanctions is a difficult area and he is able to put it in context.

Corporate Compliance & Investigations respondent
Chambers Global Guide

James clearly cares deeply about his clients and he goes the extra mile. He is able to quickly understand and assess the most complex of situations.

Dispute Resolution respondent
Chambers Global Guide

James Willn provides exceptional client service and is always available. He really cares about his clients and getting the right result for them.

Dispute Resolution respondent
Chambers Global Guide

James is an excellent guy to work with. He is very practical and he is able to take any problem that is thrown at him and find a solution for it.

Dispute Resolution respondent
Chambers Global Guide

James Willn is simply excellent at what he does. He has a calming effect on a case and he does well because he knows the industry, but equally because he knows who we are as a business.

Dispute Resolution respondent
Chambers Global Guide

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