James Castle

Senior Associate

Meet James's team

James joined ISOLAS as a Trainee Lawyer in 2019. James holds an LLB from Newcastle University and was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2019 and admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar 2020.

James is a Senior Associate in ISOLAS Litigation, Insolvency and Data Protection teams. James regularly advises a wide range of local and international clients, with a particular focus on complex commercial disputes, civil fraud, contentious insolvency and matters involving emerging technologies, including distributed ledger technology (DLT) and cryptocurrency.

James regularly acts in substantial, high-value litigation before the Supreme Court of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Court of Appeal.

James has a broad civil and commercial litigation practice, working alongside Partner James Montado. James’s practice includes applications for urgent injunctive relief, cross-border enforcement and recognition, fraud and asset-tracing matters, as well as shareholder and contractual and financial services disputes.

James has amassed significant experience in fraud related disputes (representing both claimants and defendants), including in respect of disputes involving the misappropriation or tracing of digital assets. James also has significant experience conducting and issuing interlocutory applications such as world-wide freezing orders, disclosure applications and summary judgment and strike out applications.

James is often instructed by leading banks and financial service providers in Gibraltar to advise and represent them on commercial disputes as well as possession proceedings. Alongside this, James also advises and represents and advises Trustees on a whole host of matters, including in respect of Beddoe applications.

James has appeared in a number of reported and unreported judgments, as instructing (acting) solicitor and/or junior counsel notably:

  • Kingstar & Ors -v- Hassans International Law Firm & Ors- 2023/GCA/016- Representing Claimant (and Respondent) in Gibraltar Court of Appeal case in respect of strike out and summary judgment application on limitation in a knowing receipt and dishonest assistance claim.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2023/GSC/009 – Representing Claimant (and Applicant) in respect of a £5 million freezing injunction against defendant.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2023/GSC/027 – Representing Claimant (and Applicant) seeking costs for freezing injunction.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2023/GSC/039- Representing applicant in permission application to bring contempt proceedings.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2024/GSC/026- Representing applicant (and also respondent) in respect of a number of applications including, application to exhibit letters marked ‘without prejudice’ into evidence, application for an interim privacy order, specific disclosure & inspection and resisting an application to permit amendments to a statement of case.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2024/GSC/030- Representing applicant seeking to enforce unless order for €2.8 million
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2025/GCA/001- Representing respondent in resisting permission application for leave to appeal various adverse findings.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2025/GSC/007- Representing claimant/applicant in contempt trial brought against the First Defendant.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2025/GSC/009- Representing claimant/respondent in recusal application filed by defendant seeking recusal of the presiding judge.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2023/GSC/020- Representing the Claimants/applicants in contempt sentencing trial.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2025/GCA/020- Representing the Claimants/respondents in resisting appeal against contempt finding and sentence.
  • Mansion & Anor v Karel Christian Manasco & Anor 2026/GCA/001- Representing the Claimants/Applicants and drafting written submission on costs for costs in respect of contempt appeal.

In the insolvency sphere, James advises directors, officeholders and financial institutions on statutory duties, regulatory considerations, solvency assessments and contentious matters such as proceedings involving proceedings at an undervalue. James has acted or advised liquidators in a number of high-profile insolvency matters, including proceedings involving the transition of an insurance company from administration to liquidation.

James has also advised and represented liquidators in a number of directions hearings, including for approval and increase in liquidators’ fees and for directions on the distribution of assets.

James has appeared and/or assisted Partner James Montado in the following reported insolvency matters:

  • Re Samir Investments Limited 2022/GSC/25- Representing the Liquidator in a Members Voluntary Liquidation seeking directions on distribution of assets where dissenting joint shareholder.
  • Re Prometheus Insurance Company Limited 2023/GSC/015- Assisting Partner James Montado in respect of the first occasion that a Gibraltar insurance company transitioned from administration to liquidation.
  • Represented the Liquidator of Hill Insurance (In Liquidation) on a number of applications, including in respect of a number of directions hearings.

 

Data Protection & Privacy

James regularly advises Regulators, Law Enforcement Agencies, Government Bodies, as well as multi-national institutions, financial institutions and DLT entities on a whole host of matters.

James has a broad practice encompassing complex Gibraltar GDPR matters with a specific emphasis on advising clients on dealing with large-scale and complex Data Subject Access Requests. Alongside this, James also regularly advises clients on data breach investigations, privacy compliance audits, and the drafting of retention, privacy and data-security frameworks for corporate as well as regulated entities in Gibraltar.

Aside from the non-contentious work, James also advises and presently represents private individuals pursuing defamation and Harassment claims.

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Accreditations

Memberships & Background

Memberships

  • Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Background

2025: Senior Associate, ISOLAS LLP

2020: Associate, ISOLAS LLP

2020: Called to the Gibraltar Bar

2019: Trainee Lawyer, ISOLAS LLP

2019:  Called to the Bar of England and Wales

2019: Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)- BPP University Law School (Manchester)

2018: LLB, Newcastle University

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