About the IAPP

James is a leading Australian technology lawyer and founder of Scildan Legal, a specialist firm advising on privacy, cybersecurity, AI, digital risk, and complex technology and commercial transactions. Recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice and respected thought leader, he helps organisations navigate the intersection of law, emerging tech, and strategic risk with clarity, confidence, and commercial focus. With over a decade of experience across top-tier law firms and Big Four advisory, James brings deep expertise in privacy, data protection, AI governance, and digital regulatory strategy. He is also a trusted advisor on major technology procurements, SaaS and cloud contracting, data licensing, and IP commercialisation—combining legal precision with pragmatic, deal-savvy execution. James has led enterprise privacy uplifts, advised on multi-party cyber incident responses, and developed AI governance frameworks that balance innovation with compliance. His cross-disciplinary experience enables him to bridge legal, risk, and technology teams to deliver integrated, high-impact advice. Drawing on senior roles at PwC Australia and King & Wood Mallesons, and early foundations at MinterEllison and Clayton Utz, James now leads Scildan Legal with a mission to turn regulation into strategic advantage—helping clients build trust, resilience, and responsible innovation across the digital economy.