James Pavey read Classics at St Catharine's College, Cambridge and subsequently attended the College of Law. After qualifying with Knights Solicitors in October 2001, he became a partner in May 2004. His practice focuses on property litigation, in both the public and private law spheres.  His wider public law practice at Knights Solicitors includes local government review, political and electoral law and data protection.

James takes a keen interest in policy and legislation affecting landholders. He has advised the shadow DEFRA team and has appeared before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee to give evidence on draft legislation.

James has published a number of articles, principally on matter of property law, in the Estates Gazette and Solicitors Journal.  He lectures to landholders and to chartered surveyors, including for in-house training, as well as for Butterworths and Central Law Training.

Memberships
- City of Westminster & Holborn Law Society
- London Solicitors Litigation Association
- Society of Conservative Lawyers (Secretary)
- Cambridge University Land Society (Committee Member)
- Country Land and Business Association
(Legal, Parliamentary and Property Rights Sub-Committee and Kent Committee)
- Agricultural Law Association
- British Institute of Agricultural Consultants.

His reported cases include

R(oao Devon County Council and Norfolk County Council) v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2010] EWHC 1456 (Admin)
- Administrative Court: acting for two County Councils in judicial review challenging secondary legislation to implement unitary authorities for Exeter and Norwich

R (oao Breckland District Council, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk & South Norfolk District Council) v Boundary Committee; R (oao East Devon District Council) v Boundary Committee & (1) Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government (2) Devon County Council (Interested Parties) [2009] EWCA Civ 239
- Court of Appeal: acting for three local Norfolk authorities in judicial review relating to local government reorganisation under Local Government and Public in Involvement in Health Act 2007.

R(oao Roudham & Larling Parish Council) v Breckland Council & Paul Rackham Ltd (Interested Party) [2008] EWCA Civ 714
- Court of Appeal: judicial review relating to Environmental Impact Assessment and reasons for planning decisions.

R (oao Winchester College & Humphrey Feeds Ltd) v Hampshire County Council & Secretary of State for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Interested Party) [2008] EWCA Civ 431; [2008] 3 All ER 717; Times, May 8, 2008; [2009] 1 WLR 138.
- Court of Appeal: judicial review proceedings (test case) on application of Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 re extinguishment of byways open to all traffic.

R(oao Malcolm Haynes) v Stafford Borough Council & (1) Parrot Society (2) Stafford Showground Ltd (3) Shaun Smith (4) Secretary of State for Environment [2006] EWHC 1366 (Admin); [2007] 1 WLR 1365
- Administrative Court: judicial review relating to scope of licensing provisions under Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended); also, scope of regulatory controls relating to Avian Influenza.