Byron James

Partner

byron@expatriatelaw.com | +44 (0)207 846 5445

Byron James is a Partner and Head of the Expatriate Law team in the United Arab Emirates. Having been based in the Middle East for several years, he has an expert understanding of the local law and culture, in particular the way in which it affects expatriates. His caseload is diverse, he represents expatriates all over the world with clients in almost every continent. He specialises in all aspects of family law, ranging from divorce and financial remedy cases to disputes involving children.

In 2026, Byron was admitted to the UAE Roll of Advocates, the first foreign lawyer to be.

Byron is ranked by Chambers & Partners with impressive testimonials, calling him ‘very astute’ and ‘an asset to the firm. Another interviewee said:

he is extremely intelligent, and very much on top of the changing international family law landscape. He knows lots about regulation and is at the cutting edge of the legal world.

Byron is also ranked ‘Top Flight’ by Spears Family Law Index.

Before joining Expatriate Law, Byron worked as a Barrister in Central London for over ten years. He was ranked in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister. At one time, he was the youngest family law barrister ranked in the directories.

Byron has won several awards during his career, including being recently shortlisted as “Lawyer of the Year – Family Law” by Spear’s, “International Family Lawyer of the Year” by Family Law Awards, and previously being named “Young Child Law Specialist of the Year”. In 2013, he was awarded the Pegasus Scholarship that enabled him to work for a time in New Zealand.

During his career at the Bar, Byron appeared in Courts throughout England, including in several reported decisions resolving complex areas of family law. This experience has given Byron an excellent understanding of the Court process and first hand knowledge of litigating and negotiating family law matters. He also knows the members of the family Bar extremely well, and knows which barristers are right for each client or case.

Byron says:

It is rare for a family lawyer to specialise in purely international cases; my time working at Expatriate Law has afforded me with the unique opportunity to become an expert in this field. I have handled an array of complex, diverse and interesting cases with many involving novel points of law. My cases involve expatriates based in countries with legal systems very different to that of England and Wales. My extensive experience in international family law has helped me gain a deep understanding of the cultural circumstances and specific difficulties expatriates can find themselves in. My team is expert in finding solutions to complex and novel family law issues within an international context.

Qualification

Call: 2006
Admitted to UAE Roll of Advocates: 2026

Memberships

Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers

Recognitions, awards and scholarships

Finalist for Lawyer of the Year – Family Law (Spear’s Awards, 2026, 2025)
Finalist for International Family Lawyer of the Year (Family Law Awards, 2026, 2025, 2024)
Ranked in Band 1 in Chambers & Partners UAE High Net Worth guide (5 years ranked)
Top Flight in Spear’s 500 Family Law Index (2026, 4 years ranked)
Winner, Leading Family & Child Support Law Firm of the Year 2024 – London (AI Leading Adviser Awards, 2024)
Winner, Family Law Case of the Year for our Supreme Court case win in the case of Ul-Hassan (Family Law Awards, 2023)
Winner, International Family Lawyer of the Year (Family Law Awards, 2022)
Pegasus Scholarship recipient (2013)

Publications and speaking engagements

Author, UAE Personal Status Court Practice (LexisNexis, 2026) – read the complete electronic version
Author, Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court Practice (LexisNexis, 2025) – read the complete electronic version
Exclusive Contributor, Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides 2024/25 (UAE)
Speaker, Family Law in Transition – Disputes Across Borders organised by The Bar Council of England and Wales (2025, UAE)
Featured in the Financial Times (2025) – Abu Dhabi’s competition for the global rich takes a new form: divorce law
Featured in Spear’s (2025) – Abu Dhabi resident files for $272 million divorce settlement
Regular Contributor on Dubai Eye
Regularly quoted in Khaleej Times
Co-author, Legal 500 Country Comparative Guide, United Arab Emirates: Family Law chapter (2024)
Speaker, International Family Law Conference 2025 (Chamonix, France) – Family life in the Gulf – the pace of change
Speaker, International Family Law Conference 2023 (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Speaker, American Bar Association 2023 (online) – International financial remedies
Speaker, Clarks Attorneys 10th Annual Family Law Conference (2023) – Applications for financial remedies after foreign divorces under Part III MFPA 1984

S (Children: Parentage and Jurisdiction) [2023] EWCA Civ 897 (27 July 2023) EWCA Civ 897 One of the most complex children cases of 2023, addressing two important questions: the definition of a parent under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, and the extent of English jurisdiction over children residing abroad. The firm was successful, and the judgment is now a leading authority on both issues.
Unger & Anor v Ul-Hasan (deceased) & Anor [2023] UKSC 22 (28 June 2023)
A landmark Supreme Court decision addressing the ability to pursue financial remedy claims after the death of a party, with significant implications for international estates and long-running cross-border financial disputes.
SA v FA [2022] EWFC 115 (09 September 2022)
The first case to consider whether England should defer jurisdiction to the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court on forum conveniens grounds. The decision included detailed examination of the world’s newest family law jurisdiction and the domicile of the parties.
GC v AS (No. 2) [2022] EWHC 310 (Fam) (09 February 2022)
A highly complex first-instance determination following success in the Court of Appeal. The judgment considered whether the English Court should extend its jurisdiction to British children living in a war zone in Libya, undertaking detailed analysis of the parens patriae and the scope of the court’s protective jurisdiction.
GC v AS [2021] EWHC 14 (Fam) (11 January 2021)
A Court of Appeal decision concerning British children residing in Libya, resulting in an appeal being allowed against a decision of Mostyn J. The case clarified the availability of the parens patriae jurisdiction where it had not been raised in the first instance.
S (Children), Re (Inherent Jurisdiction: Setting Aside Return Order) [2021] EWCA Civ 1223 (13 August 2021)
A significant decision concerning the circumstances in which the court may set aside a return order under the inherent jurisdiction in international children cases.
KMM v NAM (Jurisdiction) [2021] EWHC 2300 (Fam) (13 August 2021) (concerning divorce jurisdiction)
F v M [2020] EWHC 2676 (Fam) (20 July 2020) (concerning relocation of children from the UAE to England)