James Legg

James Legg is a Partner and Head of Family Law at IMD Solicitors. He is a family law specialist recognised in The Legal 500 and leads the firm’s growing family law practice.

Before joining IMD, James established a successful career as a specialist advocate and also served as in-house counsel to a leading international law firm with a significant presence in ultra-high-net-worth family law disputes. He now advises clients on complex family law matters involving substantial wealth, business interests, trusts, Family Investment Companies (FICs), international assets and cross-border issues.

James has represented clients before the courts of England and Wales for more than a decade. His practice focuses on high-net-worth financial remedy litigation, international children disputes and protective order proceedings. He is known for combining strategic thinking, robust representation and commercial awareness with a pragmatic and approachable manner.

A key feature of James’ practice is his advocacy background. Unlike many family solicitors, he regularly represents clients before the court himself and has provided expert evidence on English family law to overseas courts. His training as a barrister provides clients with the benefit of advice shaped by extensive courtroom experience and a detailed understanding of how judges are likely to analyse, test and determine complex family law cases.

James regularly advises entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals and other high-net-worth individuals in financial remedy proceedings following divorce and separation.

He acts in disputes involving businesses, trusts, inherited wealth, Family Investment Companies (FICs), overseas assets and complex corporate structures. His work frequently requires the careful analysis of wealth structures and asset protection arrangements, balancing family law considerations with wider commercial and succession-planning objectives.

He advises on all aspects of financial remedy proceedings, including:

• Divorce and civil partnership finance
• Schedule 1 Children Act claims
• Nuptial agreements
• Trust and wealth-structure disputes
• Enforcement proceedings
• Freezing injunctions
• Maintenance applications
• Costs and interim relief applications

James has also developed particular expertise in digital and crypto-assets and advises clients on the challenges these assets can present in family proceedings, including disclosure, tracing and valuation issues.

In addition, he advises and represents clients in cohabitation disputes, particularly claims brought under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.

James has a strong practice in international children law and is regularly instructed in complex disputes involving international families.

His work includes advising and representing parents in cases concerning:

• International child abduction
• International relocation
• Removal of children from the jurisdiction
• Child Arrangements Orders
• Specific Issue Orders
• Prohibited Steps Orders
• Education disputes
• Surrogacy arrangements

He has particular experience in highly contested proceedings involving allegations of parental alienation and other complex welfare issues. His strategic and advocacy-led approach enables him to guide clients through emotionally challenging disputes while maintaining focus on achieving practical outcomes.

James has extensive experience advising and representing clients in urgent applications under the Family Law Act 1996, including:

• Non-molestation orders
• Occupation orders

He appreciates the sensitive and often urgent nature of these matters and works closely with clients to secure effective protection where required.

Alongside his domestic practice, James has developed significant international experience.

He has advised and appeared before the courts of the Falkland Islands and has provided expert evidence on English family law for use in foreign proceedings.

Earlier in his career, James worked with the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights in Phnom Penh, where he assisted with legal submissions to the Supreme Court of Cambodia on behalf of a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Member of Parliament.

He has also provided legal assistance to prisoners facing the death penalty in Botswana and has worked alongside the Law Society of England and Wales in relation to international human rights issues.

James remains committed to widening access to justice and continues to provide pro bono assistance through community advice centres.

James is recognised in The Legal 500 and forms part of IMD Solicitors’ Legal 500-ranked Family Team.

His reported cases include appearances before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Family Court, reflecting the complex and often precedent-setting nature of the matters in which he is instructed.

Outside work, James enjoys yoga, climbing and football. He is also an avid Newcastle United supporter.

He speaks basic Setswana, Afrikaans, French and Spanish and has a longstanding interest in international cultures and legal systems.