2007 Appointed joint Head of Chambers

2006 Appointed Recorder (Western Circuit, crime)
2000 Appointed Queens Counsel
1994/5 CEDR accreditation
1979 Called to the Bar
1975-78 Cambridge University

Email: jwatson@3serjeantsinn.com

James Watson is recommended in leading legal directories Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 in clinical negligence, in Chambers for police law and in the Legal 500 for professional discipline.

JamesWatson QC  is “a creative and pragmatic legal thinker” who gets results. Chambers and Partners 2010

James Watson QC's attention to detail was much commented upon. Praised for "picking up on issues that the experts miss," he has a particular aptitude for "handling complex cases where it is appropriate and necessary to take novel and imaginative approaches to achieve the correct result.” Chambers and Partners 2010

James Watson QC has the "ability to handle complex cases and take imaginative approaches."  Legal 500 2009
 
"...instils 'absolute confidence' due to his intellectual ability..." Legal 500 2008

"Solicitors rave about James Watson QC, with one stating that “he is probably the most intelligent person I’ve ever met.” Chambers & Partners 2009

"A 'measured, lateral thinker,' he is 'a highly capable performer who gets right into the detail'.” Chambers & Partners 2009

Medical discipline and in clinical  and related professional fields
James Watson has frequently represented both doctors and dentists in disciplinary proceedings before the General Medical Council and General Dental Council. He has acted in a nationally important disciplinary inquiry into breast screening services.

James sits regularly as a legal assessor / adviser on regulatory disciplinary tribunals including the General Optical Council’s fitness to practice committee and at hearings before the General Social Care Council and also has experience assisting the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in relation to its disciplinary functions.
 
Police disciplinary work
James has long experience of disciplinary work. In the police field he has experience of acting for the presenting officer in large and complex cases.

GMC v Dr Heath   [June 2009]   FTP hearing relating to forensic pathologist
GMC v Patterson - GMC FTP hearing relating to alleged racial discrimination
GMC v Dr McWilliam [February 2007] Conduct case
GMC v Srivastava [2006] (voluntary erasure from the medical register)
GMC v Blanchard [2006] (removal of transplanted kidney instead of diseased kidney)

Member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association, the London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association, long-standing member of CEDR
Contributing editor to the Lloyds Medical Law Reports.