A senior member of the leadership team at Pinsent Masons, he passed away on 14 September.

A statement issued by the Pinsent Masons leadership team said: ‘It is with deep sadness that we confirm that James Bullock, a partner and a member of the senior leadership team at Pinsent Masons, passed away suddenly on the morning of 14 September.

'James joined legacy firm KLegal in 2000, where he founded one of the UK’s first specialist tax litigation practices. When that business folded back into McGrigors in the wake of regulatory changes, he took on the role of head of risk advisory services and ultimately joined the McGrigors board. He played a lead role in developing McGrigors’ City offering prior to its merger with Pinsent Masons in 2012.'

Following the merger of McGrigors and Pinsent Mason, Bullock headed up the litigation and compliance practice, which grew domestically and internationally, and received industry-wide recognition under his leadership. He remained a fee-earning lawyer and well-known figure in the tax world throughout his career.

‘He developed a reputation as a passionate and uncompromising litigator while building a tax disputes practice recognised by the legal directories as elite. Outside of work James cared deeply about politics and education, and sat on the board of governors of Blundell’s School in Tiverton.

'It is hard to overstate James’ impact on our business and contribution to its success. James was an ebullient character and will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.’

Throughout his career, he was a strong defender of the rights of individual taxpayers and had over 20 years of experience advising in relation to large and complex disputes with HMRC for large corporates and high net worth individuals, including in particular leading negotiations and handling tax litigation at all levels from the tax tribunal to the Supreme Court and European Court of Justice.

He was a regular contributor to Accountancy and his forthright views and strongly held convictions and expert insight into the complexity and invasive nature of many of the recent tax rules extending HMRC powers and his unerring ability to defend the rights of taxpayers will be sadly missed.