James Deacon

James specialises in insurance litigation and is involved primarily in a wide range of policy coverage disputes, acting for property, public and products liability insurers. He has notably advised on insurance coverage implications arising out of major incidents, including the foot and mouth outbreak, the Tsunami in south-east Asia, reinsurance issues arising out of the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster, a £100m fire in a university clean room in 2005, the Peckham fire of November 2009 and the recall of London black taxis following the series of fires in 2007 and 2008.

James also has considerable expertise in advising on the drafting of a broad range of insurance policies, including household, property, commercial combined, public and product liability, motor, personal accident, group accidental death, business travel, public health, private medical, land charges and lottery jackpot insurance wordings.

James has considerable experience of handling substantial property actions (covering a range of legal disciplines, including negligence, contract, nuisance, product liability and strict liability) arising from fires, floods and construction related disputes. He also advised in relation to claims arising out of the riots across the UK in 2011.

James has handled many cases for insurers including the following reported judgements:

• Baileys’ Motor Works v HHS Alarms Limited
• Amec Civil Engineering Limited v Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Limited
• LMS International and others v Styrene Packaging and Insulation Ltd and others
• Biffa Waste Services Ltd v Clarke Energy Ltd
• 199 Knightsbridge Development Ltd v WSP UK Ltd
• Jockey Club Racecourse v Willmott Dixon 

James has also co-authored a book entitled 'Property Law and Claims.'

Endorsements

"Clients describe James as 'an extremely talented young lawyer', and a 'very thorough practitioner who gets good results for his clients and whose advice can always be trusted'." Chambers and Partners UK 2015 Edition

And "a 'very thorough and diligent' lawyer." Chambers and Partners UK 2016 Edition

James is recommended in the category of 'next generation lawyers' and is described as a 'talented partner' Legal 500 UK 2017 Edition, Commercial Litigation, Manchester