James is a chartered architect, project manager and expert witness providing specialist expert witness services to lawyers and to the courts. James has also owned and run a successful construction company during the noughties.

His expert witness specialisms are in the area of accommodation needs (in personal injury and medical negligence cases) and construction defects and disputes.

With over 40 years’ experience as an architect and 30 years as an expert witness, James is experienced in forensic investigation, understanding construction law and technology and the needs of people who have had life threatening and long-term personal injuries.

In addition, James has a long- standing knowledge and expertise in preparing expert witness reports for the courts.

James has experience over all the United Kingdom and in Europe and has travelled extensively on business to Africa, China and the Middle East.

Accommodation Need Reports

James has been involved with designing for disabled clients since 1983 and have been registered with numerous solicitors, specialist societies and Councils as an expert with regards professional services for recipients of personal accident litigation settlements and Disabled Facilities Grants.

My practice has also partnered Health Authorities in the renovation, new build and improvements for facilities for residents in care.

His experience covers a wide field of health care work and has involved the Practice in numerous adaptations to individual houses for disabled clients.

In practice he has been responsible for over three hundred minor and major adaptation projects and further projects comprising; Residential Care, Therapy Care, Nursing Care, Medical Practices, Care in the Community and designing for the needs of physically and mentally disabled people.

He has been preparing reports for Solicitors and the Courts since 1990 and he is in the Register of Expert Witnesses and a practising member of The Academy of Experts. He is also a first tier member of APIL.

Many of his expert witness cases have resulted in him being retained by the clients to design and administer major and minor works to their homes following court awards for provision of future needs.

In general the cases in which he has been appointed as expert witness for accommodation needs have been associated with personal injury from road traffic accidents, industrial accidents, work related accidents and clinical negligence.

He has given lectures and seminars on designing for the disabled and have taught Architects and Occupational Therapists on the subject of adaptation work.

He has carried out a number of Access Audits on public and private buildings in order to address issues over restricted access, ramps and mobility provision with respect to the requirements of part M of the Building Regulations and the guidelines encompassed with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Building Defects and Professional negligence

James has carried out a number of cases involving building defects and professional negligence on the part of both contractors and members of the professional team.

His experience in this specialised area involves over 20 years as an expert in the field as well as a practising architect (45 years), project manager (25 years) and building contractor (2003 to 2010). In that time, he has built a reputation as an expert in both areas of professional practice and building technology and best building practice.

He has acted as both expert witness and expert determiner in building disputes and as single joint expert.

His expertise includes Building Control advice, and he is a member of the Association of Principal Designers.

His expertise is built upon over 45 years in the industry and a broad and comprehensive understanding in all areas of building practice and professional care and judgment.

He has been preparing reports for Solicitors and the Courts since 1990 and he is in the Register of Expert Witnesses and a practising member of The Academy of Experts. He is also a first tier member of APIL.

Many of his expert witness cases have resulted in him being retained by the clients to design and administer major and minor works following court awards.