James & Wells is pleased to announce that for the second successive year, Associate James Rowland has been recognised by New Zealand Lawyer as one of New Zealand’s Rising Stars in 2024.

The Rising Stars 2024 report uncovers the best up-and-coming talent in the legal profession for those aged 35 or under with demonstrated leadership and achievements.

James provides support to the litigation partners on their most important files and is responsible for his own files and clients. He works across all types of intellectual property rights, including copyright, patents and trade marks. He frequently works across teams and in multi-jurisdictional disputes.

James’ supervisor, partner Ian Finch, says, “James has an outstanding brain for legal research – but also the rare skill of being able to recognise that all research has a point, the insight to deliver only that research which will assist with that point, and the empathy to do that in language and form which is immediately understandable to the recipient. On top of that he has a great sense of humour, and remains grounded through his science fiction writing and young family. I have no doubt James will go far in law and in life, and he would be thoroughly deserving of this recognition early in what is going to be a long, successful, and storied career.”

In addition to his legal practice, James is heavily involved in the firm’s academic output. James is the principal contributor to the online edition of James & Wells’ Intellectual Property Law in New Zealand. Further, he assisted partner Ian Finch in working with Thomson Reuters to prepare a Practical Law product for New Zealand.

To read more about James’ recognition and the Rising Stars 2024 Report, click here.