James can:
- Help borrowers to correct and pay off mis-sold unsuitable mortgages;
- Assist stockbroking clients whose portfolios have been mishandled;
- Aid policy holders to challenge unfair decisions by life, critical illness or other insurance companies;
- Help businesses and individuals complete the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) review of Interest Rate Hedging products (IRHP) and recover compensation, including consequential losses;
- Support people who have been persuaded to mortgage their retirement homes in order to invest in unsuitable and risky ventures;
- Explain alternative dispute resolution and represent clients in mediation;
- Represent clients in court proceedings if required.
Experience counts
A member of the Financial Services Lawyers’ Association, the Employment Lawyers Association, the Property Litigation Association, James also trained as an accredited mediator with ADR Group, one of the largest dispute resolution service providers in the UK. He is a member of Clerksroom, a leading national provider of advocacy, advice and mediation services throughout England and Wales.
James works to ensure the best possible outcome for his clients including using mediation, negotiation, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and internal dispute resolution processes.
He says: “Litigation is a minefield but, if you involve an expert at the outset, the paths through it lead to resolution. Speaking to a solicitor avoids costly mistakes, the case being sidetracked down blind alleys and ensures you’re taken seriously. We can deliver outcomes that you might never have considered, maximise your chances of success by putting the case properly and succinctly, and ensure that you don’t bury the good bits under piles of bad. In short, we work to achieve resolution in a cost-effective way.”
Highly recommended
John Virgo, of Guildhall Chambers, a leading specialist commercial barrister in financial services litigation, said: “I have worked with James on numerous cases in the financial services sector including a group action to recover losses suffered by investors – which arose from a series of investments in overseas properties in unregulated collective investment schemes – and the first ‘private person’ action against a high street bank arising out of the swaps mis-selling litigation.
“He has a detailed and impressive grasp of the detail of financial services law and regulation and is quite unflappable when dealing with aggressive opponents. He fights hard for his clients and pursues every avenue for recovery, whether by litigation, submission to the Financial Ombudsman Service or engaging with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. He’s a very safe pair of hands.”
Complex sector
Most people will need to take advice at some period in their lives on mortgages, investments or life insurance and other protection yet the regulatory structure and rules of the financial services sector are constantly changing creating a challenging environment.
The provision of consumer financial advice in the UK is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority which imposes strict conduct of business rules governing how advice is provided, by who, about what and to whom.
These rules change from time to time as financial needs and risks change along with the economy, new opportunities and new investment products.
If you believe that you have been the victim of unsuitable, negligent or misleading financial advice please contact James Taylor, part of Wards Solicitors Disputes Team and Business Disputes Team, for help and guidance on where to begin to get your finances back on track.