James Clayton

James is a director in our London office, the Head of the Commercial and Finance Department and also manages the firm’s Marshall Islands Advisory Team.

James specialises in commercial, corporate and finance matters in the shipping sector and regularly advises shipping companies, funds, banks, managers and start-ups. James has extensive experience on all aspects of financings (asset/corporate/structured), leasing matters, restructurings/work-outs, M&A, offshore oil and gas transactions, and other general commercial matters involving construction contracts and the sale, purchase and employment of vessels. James has also more recently worked in the energy sector on various projects (including wind, solar and battery storage).

He previously spent 2 years as in-house Legal Counsel with Navig8 (the world’s largest independent pool and commercial management company) and spent numerous secondments at international banks and shipping companies.

James is recognised as a key lawyer by Legal 500 and is praised by clients as 'extremely determined, responsive, approachable, and pragmatic'.