As partner of the property litigation department at Gordon Brown Law Firm LLP (GBLF), James Godden combines his time managing his busy team with assisting with the wider development of the firm's client base across all areas of the business.
James, who specialises in property litigation disputes, is also a member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) and when he’s not in court he can be found on the slopes!
What is your passion outside of work, how did you get into it and why do you enjoy it so much?
It has to be snowboarding. When I was 15, a friend and I travelled with our families to ski and snowboard in Les Houches, France. Neither of us could snowboard and we decided to hire boards for the day. After some disastrous first few runs we decided to book a lesson and I kicked on from there. Snowboarding is a thrill a minute and being in the mountains allows me to completely get away from it all.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Ambitious, determined and conscientious.
What would your autobiography be called?
The Memoirs of an Obsessive Time Recorder.
What do you look forward to most at the end of the week?
Spending time with my amazing family and my two toddlers!
If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be, and why?
It would definitely have to be Jackie Milburn. It would be an absolute honour to speak to a former Newcastle United legend who has actually held silverware for the mighty Newcastle United.
What is the best book you’ve ever read, and why?
I am not a great reader of fiction, but George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones collection is pretty decent stuff (of which I scarcely managed one and half books). I am probably more hooked on the TV show!
If you could have one superpower what would it be, and why?
Invisibility. We all want to get away from it all, don’t we?
What was your dream job as a child?
Believe it or not, my dream job as a child was always to become a solicitor and bring people to justice!
What is your greatest achievement?
It has to be my two amazing children.
What is it about your role at GBLF that inspires you?
The reassurance that if you put the effort in then you will reap the rewards.
How long have you worked at GBLF for, and what keeps you at the firm?
I have worked at GBLF for nine years now. As a business, it has a great culture and really looks after its people. We are given some fantastic opportunities and are able to choose our own niche which enables us to grow with the business. With offices located in Newcastle and Chesterle-Street, GBLF offers a range of legal services and advice across all areas of family, residential conveyancing, wills and probate, dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law. Its dedicated team of solicitors understand that each case is unique and provide bespoke advice and guidance to individuals and organisations.
