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James Kirby

"James is always on top of the details and a safe pair of hands to navigate fact-heavy matters through ever-evolving case law. He is available to answer queries and his drafting is excellent."
(Legal 500 2025)

James Kirby is a Chancery barrister with a practice focused on Trusts and Estates (contentious and non-contentious), Court of Protection and Private Client Tax.

He is ranked as a ‘Rising Star’ by the Legal 500 2025 for Private Wealth and Probate.

James has represented clients in courts at all levels from the Court of Appeal to the County Court. In 2023, he appeared for the successful defendant in James v Scudamore [2023] Ch 391, which established for the first time that a probate claim may be barred by delay.

He is also an experienced junior counsel in heavy trusts and estates disputes and tax litigation. Reported cases include Hinduja v Hinduja [2020] 4 WLR 93, HFFX LLP v HMRC [2024] EWCA Civ 813, [2024] STC 1371, and BCM Cayman Ltd v HMRC [2024] 1 WLR 1980.

James was appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel in 2023. He is also an editor of Williams on Wills (11th edition, 2021).

Before becoming a barrister, James was a Fellow in History at Trinity College, Cambridge.

James Kirby is a Chancery barrister with a practice focused on Trusts and Estates (contentious and non-contentious), Court of Protection and Private Client Tax.

He is ranked as a ‘Rising Star’ by the Legal 500 2025 for Private Wealth and Probate.

James has represented clients in courts at all levels from the Court of Appeal to the County Court. In 2023, he appeared for the successful defendant in James v Scudamore [2023] Ch 391, which established for the first time that a probate claim may be barred by delay.

He is also an experienced junior counsel in heavy trusts and estates disputes and tax litigation. Reported cases include Hinduja v Hinduja [2020] 4 WLR 93, HFFX LLP v HMRC [2024] EWCA Civ 813, [2024] STC 1371, and BCM Cayman Ltd v HMRC [2024] 1 WLR 1980.

James was appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel in 2023. He is also an editor of Williams on Wills (11th edition, 2021).

Before becoming a barrister, James was a Fellow in History at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Recommendations


“James is always on top of the details and a safe pair of hands to navigate fact-heavy matters through ever-evolving case law. He is available to answer queries and his drafting is excellent.”

Legal 500 2025

‘James is extremely concise and has a great ability to distil the law into user-friendly advice. He has considered judgement and inspires confidence.’

Legal 500 2024

Qualifications


  • Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding), City Law School (2017)
  • Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction; Equity & Trusts Prize), City Law School (2016)
  • DPhil in History, Balliol College, Oxford (2014)
  • MSt in History (Distinction), Balliol College, Oxford (2011)
  • BA in History (First Class – highest of year; Gibbs Prize and Arnold Prize), Balliol College, Oxford (2010)

Associations & Memberships


  • Member of the Chancery Bar Association
  • Member of the Court of Protection Bar Association and CoPPA (Court of Protection Practitioners’ Association)
  • Member of ConTrA (Contentious Trusts Association)
  • Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

Publications


Williams on Wills (11th edition, 2021) (with Francis Barlow KC, Susannah Meadway and James MacDougald).

Drawing a Veil? Privacy and Anonymity in Trusts and Capacity Proceedings’, Trusts & Trustees, 2023, vol. 29, 760-768 (with Georgia Bedworth).

Can delay defeat a probate claim?’, Private Client Business, 2023, 4, 158-164.

Statutory Wills and Probate Disputes: Contested Wills in the Court of Protection’, Private Client Business, 2022, 3, 104-111 (with Richard Dew).

Tax Planning in the Court of Protection’, Lawskills (Sep. 2018).

For more information and advice

Call: +44 (0)20 7405 0758

Email: clerks@tenoldsquare.com

Pricing Policy

Unless otherwise agreed my Clerk will calculate my fees based on my current hourly rate. My rates are reviewed annually and details can be obtained from my Clerk. Once a rate is set for any particular case the hourly rate will only ever be adjusted with express agreement between my Clerks and those instructing me. All fees are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate where applicable.

James Kirby is a self-employed, independent barrister whose practice is regulated by the Bar Standards Board [Bar Council Ref 69244]. He is fully insured with the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund [BMIF Ref 2360/079] to provide legal services, please refer to the BMIF website for full details of the world-wide cover provided. He is registered for VAT under the reference 304589790.

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