James Stonebridge is a banking lawyer based in London. He focuses on restructuring and insolvency matters as well as undertaking general banking transactions.

James' practice covers corporate and debt restructuring and recovery assignments acting for lenders, management and other stakeholders as well as insolvency and distressed debt matters.

James' recent experience includes acting for co-ordinating committees of banks on the financial restructuring of major shipping groups, acting for lenders in the oil and gas sector, and for a Middle Eastern conglomerate on its multi-billion dollar bank debt restructuring.  James recently advised a committee of secured creditors on the first-of-its kind restructuring of international shipping company Vroon on its parallel English scheme of arrangement and Dutch WHOA Plan.  James also acted for a syndicate of lenders on the first UK cross-class cram-down case using a restructuring plan and the changes introduced by the  Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. 

He is recommended in the Legal 500 20242025 where he is noted for being able to leverage his broader banking and finance to good effect on restructuring mandates as well as being well-versed on the use of formal insolvency tools, including on restructuring plans.  He is also ranked in Chambers UK Guide 2026 and is highly recommended in Lexology Index. 

James is a Fellow of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals and an INSOL member. He is a regular speaker and writer on banking, restructuring and insolvency matters and recent work includes contributing to Gore-Browne on Companies, Jordans, Tolley’s Insolvency Law and Lightman & Moss: The Law of Receivers and Administrators of Companies, Sweet & Maxwell, 5th Edn.

James has been a solicitor since 1996 and a licensed insolvency practitioner since 1999. He became a partner in 2006.