James is a partner within the Property & Casualty Risk sub-group of DAC Beachcroft LLP’s Global London practice. He is a strong advocate of mediation and is a CEDR accredited mediator.

James specialises in insurance coverage disputes and has wide-ranging experience of material damage, business interruption, construction, public and products liability claims. He has advised on insurance coverage implications arising out of major incidents and emergencies, 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 recall of London black taxis following the series of fires in 2007 and 2008, the Peckham fire of November 2009, the London riots of 2011, reinsurance issues arising out of the Primark fire in Belfast in 2019 and business interruption coverage issues arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aside from pure insurance disputes, James has considerable experience of 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 advises on the drafting of a broad range of insurance policies, including material damage, commercial combined, business interruption, public and product liability, motor, household, personal accident, group accidental death, business travel, public health, private medical, land charges, legal expenses and lottery jackpot insurance wordings.

James is a co-author of the book ‘Property Insurance 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.

James is described as a 'very thorough and diligent lawyer’ (Chambers and Partners UK 2016 Edition), a 'talented partner' (Legal 500 UK 2017 Edition) and ‘dynamic and insightful’ (Legal 500 UK 2019 Edition).

"James Deacon is the stand out property insurance partner. Determined, responsive and with a keen eye for detail. Always looking for solutions rather than problems, and with the client’s best interest always to the fore." Legal 500 UK 2020 Edition