James joined Clyde & Co in 1989 and has been a partner with the firm since 1998. He is widely acknowledged for his depth of knowledge and understanding of the insurance and reinsurance industry and for his commercial and practical approach. He is experienced in litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution and he regularly assists clients in drafting policy wordings. James' clients include major domestic and overseas insurance and reinsurance companies, Lloyd's syndicates, brokers and intermediaries.
Described as "a star for political risk issues" in Legal 500 2008, James has considerable experience advising political risk insurers in relation to claims and subrogated recoveries arising out of confiscation and contract frustration policies and credit insurance. His work has involved handling claims in respect of trade or investment in China, Indonesia, Cuba, Tasmania, Senegal, Zambia, Libya, Brazil, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
His specialisations include direct and facultative coverage disputes in the fields of directors' and officers' liability, professional indemnity, banks and financial institutions. James has considerable experience representing insurers and reinsurers in respect of claims under cargo, hull and machinery, loss of hire, offshore and onshore energy construction and operational policies.
He advises the accident and health/contingency markets on a range of policies including personal accident, kidnap and ransom, contingency, workers compensation, key man and travel. James also handles property and business interruption claims and in addition advises insurers in relation to product liability, product recall and guarantee policies. He acts regularly for reinsureds and reinsurers in relation to claims involving both treaty and facultative business and has a special interest in claims involving the US.
During 1993 James was seconded to work at two Lloyd's syndicates where he gained in-house experience of the insurance and reinsurance industries.
James speaks regularly at conferences and seminars in London, the US and around the world.
He is a member of the firm's Insurance Executive and US Management Board.