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James is an outstanding professional who is strategic and highly knowledgeable
Legal 500
Civil Fraud
James has extensive experience acting for Defendants where fraud and/or fundamental dishonesty have been pleaded or put in issue.
He has been successful on numerous occasions: by applying for QOCS to be disapplied due to Fundamental Dishonesty following the dismissal of claims; in applying for otherwise successful claims to be struck out pursuant to s57 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 and due to Claimants discontinuing their claim before or during trial.
He has extensive experience of induced accidents, staged accidents, phantom passengers, malingering or exaggerated injury.
He has experience of viewing / advising on contemporaneous audio or video evidence as well as viewing / advising on video surveillance evidence. He is very familiar with Claimant investigations including the analysis and deployment of social media evidence, DWP and Medical Records, Employment Records and Strava / similar such records.
He has also uncovered opportunities for alleging Fundamental Dishonesty in trial preparation and successfully run the arguments following cross-examination.
Further he has experience in acting for Claimants where fraud or fundamental dishonesty has been pleaded or raised by way of advising Claimants in conference and/or representing them at trial.
View full profile >>Notable Cases
C v A and 1 other (ongoing)
Acting for Defendant where Claimant alleges a fall on stairs at the Defendant’s premises. Pleaded at approximately £500k. Liability, causation and quantum all in issue. Trial timetable reset following surveillance and social media evidence. Trial expected in 2025.
H v A (2024)
Acted for Claimant Police Officer facing allegation of malingering / fraud following spinal injuries / chronic pain after a road traffic accident. Advised throughout and appeared at the Multi Track trial. The Claim was successful and a Part 36 offer (made following advice from James) was narrowly exceeded.
Y v SB and 1 other (2024)
Acted for Defendant Insurer in a claim where the Claimant pedestrian was run down by a truck. Claim pleaded at over £300k plus provisional damages. There were complex issues in respect of pre-existing comorbid conditions and medical causation generally. The matter was settled at JSM for approximately a third of the sum claimed with no provisional damages.
P v MS (2024)
Acted for Executrix in Fatal Accident claim following the death of a volunteer handyman caused by a fall from height during unpaid work. Atypically high dependency claim notwithstanding deceased’s advanced age. Settled favourably by way of Part 36 offer following service of Claimant’s Schedule pleaded at approximately £400k.
B v F and 1 other (2024)
Acted for Claimant in claim where Claimant was thrown off pallet truck due to defective trailer floor / uneven surface between trailer and dock leveller. Liability, causation and quantum all in issue in a claim where Defendants blamed each other and the Claimant. Settled favourably at JSM for £200k.
T v D (2023)
Acting for Defendant in a liability-admitted claim arising out of burns suffered in a workplace. Claimant alleged that her severe burns lead to permanent pain and psychological trauma. Her life altered its course post-accident and she suffered from alcohol and substance addiction and she lost custody of her children. The matter was pleaded significantly in excess of £1m and was settled at JSM for approximately a third of the pleaded value.
S v E (2019)
Acted for Defendant in pedestrian running down case. Severe leg injuries lead to protracted treatment and eventual amputation. The Claimant was a relatively young man with an active job and leisure pursuits. There was significant agreement between experts about his past and future needs (including prosthetics, accommodation, employment, care and treatment). Claimed at almost £3m and settled at JSM at a significant discount.
If you would like to instruct James Plant or would like help or advice in doing so, please call and talk to our excellent clerking team, led by Chief Executive/Director of Clerking, Paul Cray. Our phone number is +44 (0)20 7583 9241. Alternatively, please email us at chambers@farrarsbuilding.co.uk
For more information about our clerking team, please click here for the clerks page.
Appointments & Memberships
Personal Injuries Bar Association
South Eastern Circuit
Advocate (formerly Bar Pro Bono Unit)
Free Representation Unit
Education & Qualifications
Harmsworth Scholar, Middle Temple
BVC (Bar Vocational Course), College of Law, London
PgDL (Postgraduate diploma in law), College of Law, London
BA (Hons) English Language and Literature, Liverpool University
Directory Quotes
James is ranked as a ‘Leading Junior’ in Personal Injury in Legal 500. Testimonials include:
‘James is an outstanding professional who is strategic and highly knowledgeable.’ Legal 500 2025
Previous Employment
Prior to being called to the Bar James worked for a leading PR and Marketing Communications agency. His work included the research and production of business conferences, the management and development of staff and future business strategy. His conferences received national and European media coverage and covered a broad range of industries: air transport, rail transport, media, utilities and the financial services.
He finds that this past experience continues to assist him today – he has had the benefit of working in a commercial (and non-legal) arena and also has a good understanding of the workings of many different commercial and technical environments.
Personal Interests
Primarily James’ time off work is spent with his wife and young children. He enjoys cooking (occasionally competently) and tries to balance this out with sporting endeavours – weight training, running and basketball.
He is also interested in antiques (every so often finding a diamond in the rough at antiques fairs), interior design and gardening.
He always has several books on the go at any one time and one day hopes to finish one again.