James is a co-founder of ADAPT Real Estate. The company specialises in asset and development management, working alongside partners in the banking, equity funding and occupier markets on a nationwide basis. The team is widely experienced in all aspects of the development, investment and funding process, including the creation and execution of investment strategies, sourcing opportunities, delivering planning consents, and negotiating partnership and funding agreements, together with project delivery at all levels. ADAPT offer a complete real estate investment and development management service, driven by a belief that a partnership approach is the key to successful delivery.

James has had a longstanding relationship with University of West of England since 2005, and was made a Visiting Fellow to the Department of Architecture and the Built Environment in 2012.Lectures are predominantly to Final Year Undergraduates and Masters students, and focus upon the practical application of appraisal theory to professional property investment. James has also undertaken short course training to professionals in the real estate industry and presentations at industry conferences.James also devised and established the MSc in Real Estate Finance and Investment that is delivered in partnership with industry (Lloyds Banking Group and CBRE) and has been accredited by both RICS and IPF.

James was appointed the Founding Chair of Brighter Places following its creation from the merger of United Communities and Solon South West. Brighter Places has over 3,300 homes and over 8,100 residents, primarily located in the wider Bristol and South Gloucestershire area, with ambitious plans for further growth and investment. He stepped down from the Board on October 2022, following the Regulator's G1/V1 assessment of the organisation in a post-merger In Depth Assessment

James became a Board Member at United Communities (now Brighter Places) in 2015, becoming Vice Chair in 2018 and Chair in 2019. He sat on the Governance and Remuneration Committee, and also attended Audit & Risk Committee. He was a Board Director of project level SPVs, and the Chair of wholly owned subsidiary company Bristol Living. United Communities merged with Solon South West in April 2021. James acted as Board lead through the merger and was appointed as Chair of the new organisation.

At their September 2020 AGM Solon agreed to enter into a Strategic Alliance with United Communities with a view to full merger and James was confirmed as Chair of both organisations until the merger was formalised in April 2021.

RED was established in May 2015 as a re-branding of the Outsourced Property Director business of ADAPT Real Estate, providing real estate support to trading businesses with property holdings. After a successful launch and 4 years of trading James stepped down as a Director of RED in April 2019. following a restructuring of ADAPT's business

One of three founding Directors of Asset Management and Investment Specialist created out of Charterfield Asset Management.Acquired and managed office, retail and industrial asset and development management projects alongside institutional joint venture partners, including GE Real Estate, Close Investments and CBRE Investors.

Recruited to provide asset management skills, assisted expansion of institutional joint venture portfolio and successfully managed projects on nationwide basis across all major commercial property sectors. Key industry partners included Standard Life Investments, Rockspring PIM, Royal London and GE Real Estate.

Worked directly for senior equity partners in Asset Management and Investment Agency & Valuation departments. Qualified as Chartered Surveyor in 2001.