James’s distinguished career commenced after his graduation as an architect in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1999, he was premiated with the award of an Honorary Fellowship by his peers in the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

James, in 1981, following early experience in the UK and one of the most recognised architectural practices in Hong Kong, had already attained a main board directorship of an emerging Australian practice from Melbourne, Denton Corker Marshall. James, in this vital role, and together with his partners, was instrumental in the expansion of the young Australian practice throughout South East Asia, Europe and finally into China.

In 2002, and after more than 20 years of commitment to the practice in Hong Kong, Melbourne, UK and finally Sydney, James chose to refocus his area of operation more specifically into Asia, China and Vietnam, and to establish new partner practices in the Middle East, Australia and UK.

In 2003, following the withdrawal and restructuring of the Sydney, Poland and Hong Kong practices from the Melbourne firm, James boldly established the independent DCMSTUDIOS as an exciting Asian based renaissance of the long established Hong Kong design office. It is testament to James’s drive and enthusiasm for Architecture and Urban Design, that he personally, and the new practice in its own right, has continued to be widely acclaimed throughout the region, delivering only the highest level of refreshingly innovative design to an expanding, diverse and prestigious client base.