James is a specialist in public inquiries, inquests and criminal regulatory law. He is Vice Chair of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association.
He has been Leading Counsel representing the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in all Phases and Modules of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry since June 2017. He was previously instructed in the Hutton Inquiry, the Shipman Inquiry, the BSE Inquiry, the Mubarek Inquiry, the Billy Wright Inquiry and the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry.
He was Lead Counsel to the Inquest in the Lakanal House Fire Inquest. Other notable inquests include: the Hillsborough inquests, the Camber Sands drowning inquests and the HMS Tireless inquest.
Previous clients include: the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Chatsworth House Trust, the Fat Duck, First Group, Persimmon Homes, Serco, Siemens, Southeastern Railway, Vinci, the Chief Executive of the NHS (Shipman Inquiry), the Director General of HM Prison Service (Mubarek Inquiry), the Secretary of State for Defence (Hutton Inquiry) and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Infected Blood Inquiry).
View full profile »Awards
News
- Members of Crown Office Chambers recognised for their Pro Bono work
- James Maxwell-Scott KC and Jack Murphy represent the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at The Cranston Inquiry
Events
Qualifications
- BCL, Christ Church, Oxford
- MA (First Class), Christ’s College, Cambridge
- Accredited Advocacy Trainer (Gray’s Inn), 2017
- Recorder of the Crown Court, 2018
- Bencher of Gray’s Inn, 2023
- Vice Chair, Health & Safety Lawyers Association, 2024
- Assistant Coroner, 2024
Memberships
Health & Safety Lawyers Association (Vice Chair)
Personal Injury Bar Association
Professional Negligence Bar Association
London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association
Administrative Law Bar Association
Recommendations
“James (is) exceptional in all areas and went well beyond the call of duty.”…”His attention to detail is extraordinary. He is courteous and calm. James can distil huge quantities of information and advance difficult points for his clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2026
“He has a really lovely manner with clients and is very practical. James gets what they are trying to achieve and has a way of explaining really technical safety law in a really palatable fashion.”…”He is incredibly calm and always identifies the correct approach to adopt. He’s academically brilliant and has a fantastic ability to identify key points from a significant volume of documents.”
Chambers & Partners, 2026
“James is at the top of his game. He is pragmatic and demonstrates well- reasoned judgement and arguments.”
Legal 500, 2026
“James knows the law inside out.”
Legal 500, 2026
James “is a brilliant advocate and is very good with clients.”…He is knowledgeable and sensible.”
Chambers & Partners. 2025
“James’s advice and leadership is first class.”
Legal 500, 2025
“James is measured and is very good at pitching his submissions exactly where they needed to be. Absolutely on top of the detail – well read, and very well prepared.”…”James has incredible attention to detail and an ability to quietly digest information and formulate a plan.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
‘A silk with great forensic skills and an analytical eye.’… ‘He produces high-quality written advice and is able to quickly review and disseminate large amounts of information.‘
Legal 500, 2024
“He has a strategic overview of his cases and brings real gravitas to a matter.” “He is so eloquent and knows everything about a case. A very impressive individual.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“First-class. Understands the issues quickly and develops sound and principled arguments, which then develop into themes and key documents that reflect the approach and strategy of the client. His work on this case has been of the highest order and he has steered the team impeccably on such a high-stakes matter.”
Legal 500, 2022
“A very composed and impressive silk.”
Legal 500, 2021
“He is very professional, has good judgement and is very organised. He’s a bright lawyer and a real pleasure to work with.”; “The content of what he says in court is fantastic and his construction of arguments is brilliant. He’s very effective at what he does.”; “I have enormous respect for him, he’s very bright and his integrity shines through.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“Has excellent knowledge of the law, and works for high-profile clients in a lot of the important cases.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
