James Baker trained and qualified as a solicitor at London’s leading private client firm, Charles Russell, and has practiced law in London since 2008. He was subsequently admitted as an attorney in California in 2021, and his practice focuses on advising high net worth clients on the complex issues of lifetime and succession planning. James represents clients with personal and financial interests in the U.S. as well as the U.K., and through his affiliated practice in the U.K. he is able to provide integrated advice on the complex cross-border matters facing such individuals.

James’s key areas of expertise include:

• drafting wills, powers of attorney and related estate planning instruments;
• advising on international probate work, representing executors, trustees and beneficiaries on the administration of estates across multiple jurisdictions, with a particular focus on U.S. nationals who owned assets in the U.K. and U.K. nationals who owned assets in the U.S; and
• advising on creating and administering international trusts and wealth management structures

In addition to his private client law practice, James has worked in the production team for the U.K’s flagship independent television news broadcaster, ITV News. He also worked in the production team of Universal Pictures feature film “Robin Hood” (with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett), before then acting as the production lawyer for British feature film “Solito”. His film credits can be viewed at https://m.imdb.com/name/nm3930261. James continues to draw from his media and entertainment industry experience in representing many clients in the world of television, film and music.

Memberships

James is a full member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), The American Immigration Lawyers Association and the British American Business Network.