James McLeod

James is a personable, practical and very experienced barrister who for around 21 years has been briefed to advise and appear in a diverse range of litigation. James appears in trials and on appeals, and accepts briefs throughout Australia from law firms, and sometimes on a direct access basis (for example from in-house lawyers, tertiary academic institutions, or sporting organisations).

James provides persuasive advocacy and a thoughtful approach to achieving real outcomes in legal disputes. He brings a determined focus and work ethic to his cases, and a genuine empathy and understanding for his clients.

James is adept at advising in relation to legal disputes (and the prospects of them) in conference, or in writing, and regards it as an important part of his role as a barrister to be able to do that in a relatable and clear way.

James typically appears unled in matters, often against senior counsel.

Prior to being admitted to the Bar in February 2004, one of James’ two years working as a solicitor was as Associate to then Federal Court judge and leading barrister the late Richard Conti QC (in 2002). The other was at a leading Sydney commercial law firm.

James’ work involves appearance/advocacy and advisory work across most civil litigious areas, but predominantly in one or more of the following four areas:

• commercial disputes – including contractual disputes and ACL matters;
• employment related disputes – including end of employment/termination/dismissal disputes, adverse action and post-employment restraint matters; this work includes representing both employers (including insured employers) and employees;
• sports law – including appearance work at sports and racing tribunals in sporting disciplinary and/or anti-doping matters, and providing advisory and strategic advice to elite sports people and sporting organisations (including Clubs and governing bodies);
• inquests and inquiries – including appearing at public commissions of inquiry and coronial inquests, and advisory work in connection with those forums.

Other areas of James’ legal work include professional disciplinary/conduct matters, discrimination law (including involving allegations of racial, disability, and sex-based discrimination), defamation law and advice work in respect of reputational risk, property related disputes, and corporations law work.

James has appeared in the High Court, Federal Court, NSW Court of Appeal, NSW Supreme Court (Equity and Common Law Divisions), Land and Environment Court, District and Local Courts. He has also appeared often in the Fair Work Commission, and in the NCAT (and CTTT), ADT, NSW IRC, and at various sports and racing tribunals.

James is a believer in mediation, and is a trained and formerly accredited (NMAS) mediator. He regularly holds briefs to appear at mediations. He is a skilled advocate at mediations, and recognises it as great opportunity to achieve certainty by way of wise settlements for his clients.

During the period 2022 to 2025 some examples of James’ appearance/advocacy work include: appearing unled to provide separate representation to the then second in charge of legal at The Star Entertainment Group in the first public inquiry in connection with The Star presided over by Adam Bell SC; appearing unled in a five day commercial dispute hearing in the Supreme Court involving issues of contract and ACL law in the setting of the recycling industry; appearing unled in a three day commercial dispute hearing in the Federal Court; appearing unled for players and Clubs at the NRL Judiciary.

James has a passion for and deep experience in matters involving the overlap between sport and the law. He has appeared in leading sporting and/or racing tribunals dating back to 2004, including: the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the National Rugby League (NRL) Judiciary, in disciplinary forums of Football Australia (then FFA), in relation to anti-doping provisions of the WADA Code, and at the Racing Appeals Tribunal (the peak appeal body for all thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing appeals in NSW). In recent years he has appeared several times a year at the NRL Judiciary, including as the counsel of choice for the Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors, and in November 2024 appeared in a high profile disciplinary matter within the tribunal process of the National Basketball League (NBL), representing the Adelaide 36ers and two of its elite players.