James Maton

James is co-partner in charge of the London office, heads Cooley’s versatile UK disputes practice and is a member of the firm’s compensation committee. He is a solicitor advocate and acts for companies in a broad range of commercial, contractual, privacy and product compliance disputes – whether resolved in court proceedings or arbitration – including defending group actions. James’ cases are often multijurisdictional, and his work is particularly focused on the technology and manufacturing sectors. He conducts and co-ordinates internal investigations, and he is experienced at helping companies manage and resolve the numerous legal and reputational challenges that unexpected crises can present. 

James has advised states worldwide on sensitive public international law issues and on domestic and international remedies for the corrupt activities of public officials. He is a co-author of the third edition of ‘Corruption and Misuse of Public Office’, published in October 2017 by the Oxford University Press (and the fourth edition is to be published in 2024).

James is recommended in UK and international legal directories for asset recovery and civil fraud, commercial litigation, international arbitration, and public international law.

James’ representative experience includes:

• Defending a social networking app against a group action alleging misuse of sensitive data
• Advising online marketplaces on product safety and other regulatory issues, related disputes, and investigations
• Acting in a wide range of contractual and commercial disputes in the Commercial Court and in arbitration under International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and ad hoc rules
• Advising tech companies on sensitive privacy issues and claims arising from the alleged misuse or loss of data
• Acting in proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court or in arbitration concerning the design, construction, operation, and/or repair of industrial assets, sites and technology 
• Conducting internal investigations for clients and helping to resolve the issues and disputes that arise, often in crisis situations where there is a significant threat to the business or reputation of the client
• Advising a manufacturer in a substantial criminal investigation examining alleged breaches of product safety laws regarding product design and the implementation of product recalls
• Representing the claimant in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought under NAFTA Chapter 11 seeking compensation exceeding US$2 billion for the arbitrary denial of an environmental permit for a subsea phosphate dredging project
• Advising a government on various land and maritime boundary disputes with neighbouring countries and on a range of related commercial disputes arising under joint venture arrangements and contracts between state-owned companies of the client and its neighbours
• Advising governments in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean on English and foreign civil proceedings seeking to recover the proceeds of corruption from former leaders, senior public officials and their associates

Publications and speaking engagements:

• Speaker, ‘How to Crack a Crisis (and Not Let the Crisis Crack You)’, The Lawyer’s GC Summit, May 2021 
• Quoted, ‘The Morning Risk Report: UK Brings Its First Wealth Orders’, The Wall Street Journal, March 2018
• Co-author, ‘Corruption and Misuse of Public Office’, Oxford University Press, third edition, 2017