James Murray

With over a decade of experience, James has developed deep expertise in the law surrounding academic freedom and free expression on campus. He has worked closely with universities, academics, think tanks, parliamentarians and government bodies on both contentious and compliance‑related matters.

His work includes advising on sensitive disputes, drafting policy frameworks, and guiding institutions through evolving statutory duties. He has submitted evidence to Parliamentary committees and international human rights bodies, and has published extensively on academic freedom in leading legal journals. He has held positions as a Research Fellow (Law and Policy) (Hon.) at the University of Buckingham and as an Academic Visitor at the University of Oxford. He is currently a doctoral researcher at the University of Westminster and writing a book for Cambridge University Press on academic freedom and free expression on campus.

James’s expertise spans whistleblowing, discrimination (particularly around freedom of belief), redundancy matters, employment disputes and Employment Tribunal claims, as well as complex workplace and academic‑related investigations. He delivers clear, pragmatic advice to institutions and individuals navigating the intersection of employment law, regulatory duties and reputational risk.

He is recognised for his authoritative yet accessible approach, combining specialist insight with a practical, solutions‑focused mindset. His commentary is frequently quoted in the national press, and he is a regular speaker on academic freedom and free speech on campus.

James has authored a series of influential academic articles on free expression and academic freedom, published in the European Human Rights Law Review, Current Legal Problems, Industrial Law Journal, Entertainment Law Review and SSRN’s international human rights journal.