James Crabtree > Keystone Law > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Keystone Law
48 CHANCERY LANE
LONDON
WC2A 1JF
England

Work Department

Insurance

Position

James is an established expert in the insurance and reinsurance field, well known for both detailed legal and strategic advice and for effective problem solving. He has advised numerous major participants in the worldwide insurance and reinsurance markets on insurance and reinsurance claims, coverage questions and disputes, and on the contractual terms and conditions of many varieties of insurance and reinsurance cover. He has also advised corporate buyers of insurance on contract terms and conditions and handled claims and coverage disputes.

Over the years, his work has entailed dealing with major international market loss events and situations, such as Piper Alpha, Phillips Petroleum, the 2011 Japanese tsunami, the 2011 New Zealand earthquakes and the stream of exposures resulting from asbestos-related diseases and environmental pollution.

His work covers both property and liability coverage and he has dealt with complex insurance situations and exposures arising from significant, widely reported events affecting the financial markets, such as the collapse of Barings Bank, the collapse of WorldCom, film finance transactions, the buyback of stock option grants and the Argentine economic crisis of 2002.

He advises on the management of insurance and reinsurance portfolios in runoff and has recently advised on contingency planning in preparation for the UK’s exit from the European Union.

He also handles contractual disputes in other areas of commerce and has managed substantial High Court litigation, appeal proceedings, arbitration processes and various ADR procedures.

Career

2018 Keystone Law | Consultant Solicitor
2015 – 2018 Cooley LLP | Partner
2014 – 2015 Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP | Partner
2006 – 2014 Taylor Wessing LLP | Partner
2000 – 2006 Pinsent Masons | Partner
1989 – 2000 Stephenson Harwood | Associate then Partner
1986 – 1989 Holman Fenwick & Willan | Barrister then Assistant Solicitor
1988 Qualified as a Solicitor
1984 Qualified as a Barrister

Lawyer Rankings

London > Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation

Keystone Law is well-placed to handle all manner of contentious insurance and reinsurance matters – particularly across the marine, life sciences and aviation sectors – with coverage disputes being a particular strong point. The practice continued to grow in partner-level expertise with the addition of Ruth Hite from Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, who comes equipped with a strong UK and EU regulatory background. James Crabtree and Jason Kallis are among the key names to note, with other recommended individuals including James Healy-Pratt, Antony Colman and Elaine Chan.