James has a diverse practice at Blackburn Chambers in Canberra. However, his focus is on family law, particularly complex parenting and property disputes. Matters involving allegations of physical, sexual, or psychological risk to children and family violence are a particular area of interest, as are matters involving equitable trust structures.

In addition to his undergraduate qualifications, James has a Masters of Law with a speciality in Government and Commercial Law from the Australian National University. This gives him an edge in understanding how different areas of commercial law can intersect with the complexities of financial disputes following separation in a high-value commercial context. James also routinely deals with care and protection and Family Violence Order matters, which are the cause of his occasional media celebrity after appeal work.

James has significant experience with complex advocacy, appellate, and appearance work in the Federal Circuit Court, the Family Court, the Full Court of the Family Court, the Children’s Court, and the Supreme Court of the ACT.  James routinely appears in the Federal Circuit Courts Wagga, Wollongong and Albury circuits and is often briefed for matters in Sydney, Melbourne, and occasionally Brisbane.

Before being called to the Bar, James was the In-House Counsel and Head of Practice for Legal Aid ACT’s family law practice. In that role, James was a trained Independent Children’s Lawyer for many years. He was also an Accredited Specialist in Family Law with the NSW Law Society, a qualification requiring significant skill and additional study. James accepts briefs from all Independent Children’s Lawyers and enjoys working alongside them.

James is heavily involved with developing legal knowledge and CPD through his personal presentations and as a long-term Committee Member/President/Vice President of the Canberra Region Family Law Professionals Association, a peak body for family lawyers in the ACT. James is also a member of the ACT Bar Association’s Family Law Committee and is often asked to present CPD for the ACT Law Society.

In recognition of his skills, dedication, and drive in 2018, 2019, 2020,2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, James was recognised as a Leading Family Law Barrister for the ACT in Doyle’s Guide, an international listing of leading legal professionals.

James is a trained and successful mediator with many years of experience in helping parties reach an agreement in what appear to be intractable disputes. James is also an AIFLAM-accredited arbitrator for family law matters.

Together with Brodie Buckland and Sage Leslie, James is a host of Observations on Brief: A Legal Podcast, which explores interesting legal topics.

James has no interest in achieving a work/life balance as he believes work is life. He has no interest in golf. He has an unfortunate addiction to peanut MnMs and Twix bars.

Called to the Bar
2018

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Phone

02 6247 7881

Email

haddock@blackburnchambers.com.au

Practice areas

Appellate
Criminal law
Domestic violence
Family law
Wills and Estates