James is a full-time arbitrator. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb) and a Full Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA). He joined chambers as an Associate Member in 2019.
James takes party and institutional appointments in ad hoc and administered commercial arbitrations. He has been appointed in arbitrations seated in London, Paris, Copenhagen, Dubai and Singapore.
His background is in maritime and commercial law. He practised as a solicitor for more than twenty years, specialising in dispute resolution, particularly in shipping, commodities, energy, cruise and travel. He trained at Withers and spent four years in the firm’s Paris office. He was admitted as an avocat at the Paris bar. Returning to London in 1994, he joined Holman Fenwick Willan and was a member of its Trade and Energy Group for 13 years. He also spent a year (2015-2016) in an interim role in the international arbitration group at Stephenson Harwood.
Between 2008 and 2012, James was Registrar and Deputy Director General of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). He subsequently worked for two years (2012-2014) in third-party funding and After The Event (ATE) insurance as Senior Legal Advisor at Thomas Miller Legal. Between 2016 and 2022, while establishing his practice as an arbitrator, he worked part-time for LexisNexis UK on its arbitration practical guidance service.
James is regularly invited to speak at seminars and conferences in the UK and abroad.
Appointments
Solicitor (England & Wales), admitted 1990, non-practising since 2019
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) since 2015
Full Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) since 2025
Arbitrator on Main Panel of Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) since 2025
Memberships
London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), Full Member, former Honorary Secretary (2021-2022)
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fellow (2015), former Hon. Secretary of London Branch (2020-2021), former member of Professional Conduct Committee (2018-2021)
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), European Users’ Council
Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA), Arbitrators Panel
Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Arbitrator List
Worshipful Company of Arbitrators, Liveryman and Court Assistant
LexisNexis Arbitration Consulting Editorial Board
Energy Arbitration Club
Commodities Arbitration Club
Education
BA and MA, Classics and Modern Languages (French), St Anne’s College, Oxford University
CPE and Law Society Finals, City of London Polytechnic
French bar training course, Ecole de Formation du Barreau, Paris
Publications
Books
Co-author with Shai Wade and Philip Clifford of A Commentary on the LCIA Arbitration Rules 2014 (Sweet & Maxwell, 2015)
Chapter on LMAA Small Claims Procedure in Expedited International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 2024)
Articles
Ad hoc Arbitration and its Enemies, Arbitration, Vol 86, No. 4, December 2020, pp536 – 551
Conflicting Perceptions of Ethics in International Arbitration with Cherine Foty, Arbitration, Vol 85, No. 2, May 2019, pp185-202.
Rigorous steps short of champerty, New Law Journal, Vol 167 7738, 17 March 2017.
Navigating the Waters of Third Party Funding in Arbitration, Arbitration, Vol 82, No.3, Aug 2016, pp222-232.
Latest news
23rd April 2025
Congratulations to James Clanchy
It gives us great pleasure to announce that Mr James Clanchy has been elected as a Full Member of the LMAA London (London Maritime...
9th November 2020
International arbitration awards: challenges and enforcement
Six Pump Court Chambers are delighted to host a series of webinars on international arbitration.
2nd September 2020
LCIA Arbitration Rules 2020—a heavier touch?
In an article for LexisNexis, James Clanchy considers the new LCIA Arbitration Rules 2020 and their practical implications.
28th July 2020
International Arbitration and Virtual Hearings – A New Era Dawns
The webinar entitled International Arbitration and Virtual Hearings – A New Era Dawns and will take place on Friday 4th September.
14th February 2020
London maritime arbitration: an influencer for the 2020s
In this article for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, James Clanchy makes the case that maritime arbitration is the quintessence of international commercial arbitration.
13th November 2019
Chambers welcomes arbitrators Paul McGarry SC and James Clanchy as Associate Members of Six Pump Court’s Arbitration Group
Chambers is delighted to welcome esteemed arbitrators Paul McGarry SC and James Clanchy as Associate Members of the Six Pump Court Arbitration Group.
Events
4th September 2020
Webinar: International Arbitration and Virtual Hearings Webinar
On Friday 4th September at 11am Six Pump Court will host a webinar entitled - International Arbitration and Virtual Hearings – A New Era Dawns
