James Ruddell
Senior Associate, AucklandJames is an experienced litigator and advocate with particular expertise in complex commercial disputes, banking and finance, cross-border litigation and insolvency.
James began his career at Bell Gully and returned to the firm in 2025.
From 2016 he practised as a commercial barrister from One Essex Court, a top-tier barristers' chambers in London. During that period, James acted as counsel in market-leading commercial disputes, including in numerous appeals to the United Kingdom Supreme Court.
From 2023, James was also a member of Shortland Chambers in Auckland, where he acted and advised on a range of civil and commercial disputes before the New Zealand courts, including the Court of Appeal.
James holds a postgraduate degree in law from the University of Oxford, where he received the Vinerian Scholarship as the top graduating student in his year. He was also supported by a Banking and Financial Services Law Association Scholarship.
