Byron James
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Byron James | |
|---|---|
 Byron James | |
| Education | King's College London (LLB); Inns of Court School of Law (BVC) |
| Occupation | Barrister, Advocate |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Employer | Expatriate Law |
| Known for | Counsel in Unger v Ul-Hasan; Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court Practice |
| Title | Partner |
Byron James is a British barrister and advocate specializing in international family law. He is a partner at the firm Expatriate Law and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL).[1] He has appeared in cases before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court (ADCFC).[2]
Education
James attended King's College London from 2002 to 2005, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). He completed the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law (2005–2006) and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2007.
Legal career
James maintains a practice across two jurisdictions:
- England and Wales: He was called to the Bar in 2007. His practice includes matrimonial finance and claims under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984. He previously practiced at 14 Gray's Inn Square and 29 Bedford Row.
- United Arab Emirates: He is a licensed advocate in the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court (ADCFC).
Notable litigation
James has acted as counsel in several reported decisions:
- Unger v Ul-Hasan (2023 UKSC 22): James served as lead counsel in this Supreme Court case regarding whether financial claims under the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 survive the death of a respondent.[3][4]
- **Deepfake Evidence:** In 2020, he represented a party in a custody dispute involving the submission of audio files manipulated by software. The case was reported in the media for its treatment of AI-generated evidence in family proceedings.[5]
- **Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court:** James has represented clients under Abu Dhabi's Law No. 14 of 2021. This work has included representation in high-value divorce settlements[6] and custody proceedings.[7]
Publications
- Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court Practice (LexisNexis, 2025).[8]
- Contributor to Family Law Journal.
- Commentary on legal developments for regional outlets such as The National and Khaleej Times.[9]
Reported cases
James is listed as counsel in the following reported decisions:
- T v B [2024] EWHC 3251 (Fam)[10]
- Unger & Ors v Ul-Hasan & Anor [2023] UKSC 22[3]
- S (Children: Parentage and Jurisdiction) [2023] EWCA Civ 897[11]
- SA v FA [2022] EWFC 115 (HCJ)[12]
- GC v AS (No. 2) [2022] EWHC 310 (Fam)[13]
- S (Children), Re (Inherent Jurisdiction) [2021] EWCA Civ 1223[14]
- A (Jurisdiction: Family Law Act 1986), Re [2021] EWFC 105 (HCJ)[15]
- GC v AS [2021] EWHC 14 (Fam)[16]
- XM v XF [2021] EWHC 1279 (Fam)[17]
- KMM v NAM (Jurisdiction) [2021] EWHC 2300 (Fam)[18]
- F v M [2020] EWHC 2676 (Fam)[19]
References
- ↑ "IAFL Fellow Profile: Byron James". International Academy of Family Lawyers. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "The expatriates turning to Abu Dhabi's new family court". Financial Times. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Unger & Ors v Ul-Hasan & Anor [2023] UKSC 22". BAILII. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ Ames, Jonathan (2023-02-16). "MPs must fix this flaw in the law on marital assets". The Times. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ Ward, Victoria (2020-01-31). "Deepfake audio used in custody battle". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "American woman awarded Dh100m in Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court". The National. 2025-05-08. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "Rare sole custody order in father's favour". The National. 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court Practice". LexisNexis. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "UAE lawyers warn of defamation risks". Khaleej Times. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "T v B [2024] EWHC 3251 (Fam)". BAILII.
- ↑ "S (Children: Parentage and Jurisdiction) [2023] EWCA Civ 897". BAILII.
- ↑ "SA v FA [2022] EWFC 115". BAILII.
- ↑ "GC v AS (No. 2) [2022] EWHC 310 (Fam)". BAILII.
- ↑ "S (Children) [2021] EWCA Civ 1223". BAILII.
- ↑ "A (Jurisdiction: Family Law Act 1986) [2021] EWFC 105". BAILII.
- ↑ "GC v AS [2021] EWHC 14 (Fam)". BAILII.
- ↑ "XM v XF [2021] EWHC 1279 (Fam)". BAILII.
- ↑ "KMM v NAM [2021] EWHC 2300 (Fam)". BAILII.
- ↑ "F v M [2020] EWHC 2676 (Fam)". BAILII.