Partner
James is head of our Residential Property department; and is the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) under our Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation. He also sits on the firm’s Management Committee.
James handles all sorts of Residential Property transactions, from very small flats to vast rural homes and surrounding land. He also has extensive experience advising Charity Trustees on the more commercial aspects of their property matters.
James’ clients include professionals, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, investors, rural landowners and estates, private and offshore trustees, charities, residential property management companies, and professional practices. He is very pleased to take regular instructions from private home buyers and sellers, especially first-time buyers.
Qualified in 1997, James joined Hunters as a partner on our merger with Vernor-Miles & Noble in 2011.
James is recognised in the Chambers and Partners HNW (2024) directory as ‘A huge pleasure to work with as he was clearly extremely experienced from the outset. He provided very clear professional advice and guidance throughout, ensuring a positive outcome‘. He is also a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 (2025), described as ‘best of breed‘ and commended for overseeing transactions ‘masterfully with solid advice which is clearly based on huge experience‘.
Directory rankings
Practice Head: Real estate – Residential property
“The practice is led by James Vernor-Miles, who focuses on high-value transactions with complex title structures.”
– Legal 500 (2026)
Band 3: Real Estate: High Value Residential
“James always provides a very authoritative service personally tailored to my specific needs.”
“James is very personable, communicative, approachable and has excellent attention to detail.”
“James is a very talented lawyer.”
“James Vernor-Miles is a highly talented, experienced and engaging lawyer. ”
– Chambers HNW (2025)
Practice Head
“James Vernor-Miles – oversees transactions masterfully with solid advice which is clearly based on huge experience. Always very reassuring.”
“James Vernor-Miles has proved wholly accurate and reliable and is best of breed. He is kind enough to pretend that I am the only problem on his desk.”
– Legal 500 (2025)
Band 3: Real Estate: High Value Residential
“James was a huge pleasure to work with as he was clearly extremely experienced from the outset. He provided very clear professional advice and guidance throughout, ensuring a positive outcome. ”
“I rate him highly – he is really practical, lovely to deal with and he deals well with difficult buyers.”
– Chambers HNW (2024)
Band 4: Real Estate: High Value Residential – London (Firms)
“James is very smart and thoughtful, with a relaxed but business-like manner. He is clearly very experienced and nothing fazed him at any point.”
– Chambers HNW (2023)
Awards
“James Vernor-Miles is a highly talented, experienced and engaging lawyer. ”
“James is very personable, communicative, approachable and has excellent attention to detail. James is a very talented lawyer. ”
“James Vernor-Miles has proved wholly accurate and reliable and is best of breed. He is kind enough to pretend that I am the only problem on his desk.”
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