James Breese

Practice Areas

Policyholder Disputes

Career

James studied at Queen Mary, University of London and The College of Law, Moorgate. Before joining Stewarts he worked on the insurer side at Clyde & Co and then exclusively for insureds at a boutique firm in the City.

Professional Memberships

British Insurance Law Association

Cyber Insurance Association

London Business Interruption Association

London Solicitor Litigation Association

Publications

James recently delivered a talk to the London Business Interruption Association to provide a Covid-19 update. He has also written extensively for the firm’s website including on key rulings on the LMIE and At the Premises test cases, and on estoppel.

Personal

James has recently taken up golf and snowboarding, and has formed the view that both would have been a lot easier at a younger age. When not kidding himself on a sporting level, James does so at home by pretending he can DJ in a bar in his garden.

Industry Sector Expertise

James’ practice focusses on commercial and financial insurance disputes. These include:

representing directors and officers that face criminal, regulatory or civil claims and investigations;

corporate legal liability claims;

advising companies on warranty and indemnity claims when a purchase or sale of a company has gone wrong;

claims concerning alleged financial crime, and business interruption claims.

James has handled most of the leading test cases in Covid-19 business interruption claims in the past four years, achieving considerable success for his clients for the loss of profit they suffered due to the pandemic.

Experience

Represents London International Exhibition Centre at first instance and the Court of Appeal in relation to a test case with market-wide significance.

Represents Liberty Retail Group and Arena Racing Corporation in a further Covid-19 business interruption test case. James’ clients were described by the court as “big winners”.

Represented Stonegate Pub Company in its £1.1bn claim.

Represents FTSE 100 listed companies in relation to financial crime dispute.

Acts for asset management companies and others in financial markets that are the subject of tax and other regulatory investigations, and require indemnity from insurers.

Acts for directors of companies from around the world with claims under directors and officers insurance policies.