James founded James Ware Stephenson in 2005. He has in depth expertise in all aspects of the protection and exploitation of non-patent intellectual property rights, particularly within the creative industries.
James's practice extends from the development of ideas and concepts through the creative process to their implementation and commercialisation.
James's original training in the City has enabled him to provide comprehensive support in related corporate and transactional work; and in the management of connected personal assets.
Following his initial experience in investment banking and then as an IP and entertainment lawyer in Notting Hill Gate, James joined Richard Branson's rapidly developing empire to set up the legal and business affairs department of the Virgin Group where he was a director of the principal trading companies. From Virgin he moved to become Managing Director and regional Vice President of the UK and European music publishing division of CBS Corporation. During that time, he also served as director of the Mechanical Rights Society (now merged with MCPS) and was chairman of its Audit Committee.
Subsequently, as a partner at Davenport Lyons for 18 years until 2005, when he left to establish his own practice, James revitalised that firm's music department and contributed to the firm’s growth in the creative industries and related areas of information technology, including computer software, e-commerce and the internet.
During the course of his career, James has acted for and number of major banks and media groups.
Currently, he is actively involved in a case of copyright infringement in relation to AI and is advising an independent US record label which specialises in urban music.