James Johnston

James is a Partner and Head of Burnetts' Dispute Resolution team.

“Senior associate and team head James Johnston is singled out for his ‘great legal knowledge’ and is praised as being ‘good at seeing ways through a client’s problem and achieving a good outcome” – Legal 500 2019

James is a Partner and Head of the firm’s Dispute Resolution team. He specialises in contractual, construction and commercial litigation and has successfully settled multi-million disputes involving farm partnerships and company shareholders, as well as bringing public procurement challenges in the construction and IT sectors.

As a commercial lawyer, James appreciates and understands that a business’ reputation is often the most important thing at stake and in all matters he is determined to ensure that any dispute causes the least possible amount of damage to the client’s business.

James studied Law at Durham University and completed his Legal Practice Certificate at the College of Law in York.  He qualified as a solicitor in July 2010 with a Law degree (LLB), having completed his legal training with Burnetts.

James runs the firm’s growing Regulatory team and acts for clients facing investigations and prosecutions by the Health & Safety Executive, Trading Standards and Environment Agency.

“Authoritative and intelligent” with “good tactical judgment” and “thorough, attentive, detailed and a strategic thinker”. Legal 500 2017

He lives in Carlisle with his wife and their four children and is Chair of Governors at Cummersdale Primary School.