James Blake

Partner

Areas of Practice

James Blake is a partner at Chambers Russell Lawyers specialising in construction, strata, debt recovery and commercial litigation. He advises individual, corporate and strata clients across both contentious and non-contentious matters, drawing on experience gained in Ireland and Australia. Beginning his career in Dublin before relocating to Sydney in 2008, James has developed a broad litigation practice appearing in all major New South Wales jurisdictions. He combines advocacy experience with industry engagement through seminars and publications, providing commercially practical guidance across property, construction and dispute resolution matters.

Expertise

  • Advising and representing clients in building and construction disputes and strata-related litigation.
  • Contract drafting and advice, particularly with regard to remedial works contracts and compliance with development control orders.
  • Conducting commercial litigation and debt recovery proceedings for individual, corporate and strata clients.
  • Managing both contentious and non-contentious legal matters across a broad client base.
  • Practising across multiple legal areas early in his career including insurance, property, wills and estates, intellectual property and commercial litigation.
  • Appearing in all major  New South Wales courts and tribunals including the Supreme Court of New South Wales, The Court of Appeal, District Court of New South Wales, Local Court of New South Wales  and  the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
  • Delivering educational seminars to stakeholders in the property, strata and construction sectors.
  • Holds a Bachelor of Laws (Portobello College Dublin and University of Wales) and maintains professional memberships with the Law Society of Ireland and the Law Society of New South Wales.

Selected Cases

  • EB 9 & 10 Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan No 934 [2018] NSWCA 288: Successfully argued that applicant should be liable for cost of entire proceedings including costs of the respondent, notwithstanding success in substantive matter, on the basis of the proceeding being commenced in the wrong jurisdiction.
  • Dyldam Developments Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan No 85305 (2020) 104 NSWLR 19;[2020] NSWCA 327: Successfully defended a claim by the defendant builder that proceedings were commenced out of time based on invalid occupation certificate issued.
  • The Owners – Strata Plan No 74232 v Tezel [2023] NSWCA 35: Successfully defended a claim under s.106(6) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 when the Court of Appeal confirmed that the limitation period does not recur on a rolling basis until the breach under s.106 is addressed but instead, commences on the date the lot owner ‘first becomes aware of the loss’.

Contact James

Latest Articles

17/04/2025

New Victorian Building Legislation
30/11/2024

Introduction to Strata Building Defects
04/11/2024

The Challenges of Arranging Building Work to Existing Strata Schemes