Dispute resolution
Stewarts Law LLP focuses on complex, high-value disputes. The team has led on high-profile business interruption litigation relating to COVID-19 as well as on significant financial lines mandates, including D&O and cyber matters. Aaron Le Marquer, head of the practice, advises policyholders on all lines of commercial insurance and maintains a high-profile Covid-19 BI practice. James Breese, known for being an ‘excellent communicator and a tremendous eye for detail’, has acted on several W&I, cyber, and business interruption matters. Acting primarily for policyholders on matters involving insurance defence and coverage instructions is Chloe Derrick, who ’takes a logical and sensible approach to contentious matters’.
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Profile
Work Department
Policyholder Disputes
Position
Partner
Aaron leads the Policyholder Disputes team and specialises in representing policyholders in high-value and complex coverage disputes with insurers.
Aaron acts for clients facing insured losses in diverse sectors including financial services, hospitality and retail, manufacturing, logistics, sports and entertainment. He is experienced in all commercial lines of business, including directors and officers, business interruption, product liability, environmental risks, property and casualty. Aaron spent eight years practising in the Asia Pacific region (Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok), and is particularly experienced at resolving international and cross-border claims, often via arbitration.
Aaron’s cases were selected by The Lawyer as the only insurance cases to feature in the publication’s annual Top 20 Cases list in both 2022 and 2023, and as a Top 10 Appeal in 2024. In June 2023 he was named by The Times as Lawyer of the Week in recognition of the successful verdict in London International Exhibition Centre v RSA & Ors [2023] EWHC 1481 (Comm).
Aaron has acted for:
- London’s ExCel centre as lead claimant in London International Exhibition Centre v RSA(the ‘ATP Test Case’), named as one of the Top 20 Cases of 2023 and Top 10 Appeals of 2024 in The Lawyer.
- A US drilling operator in relation to LCIA arbitration proceedings under a political risk policy issued by a consortium of Lloyd’s syndicates, arising from deprivation of assets in Russia following the commencement of hostilities with Ukraine
- The UK’s largest pub owner in Stonegate v MS Amlin, a £1.1bn claim that tested market-critical issues of aggregation, causation and treatment of government support, and selected as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2022.
- An offshore property developer in relation to claims estimated at over £70m arising from alleged cladding defects.
- A Swiss private equity fund in relation to coverage of its claim under a buyer-side warranty and indemnity policy, following its failed acquisition of a UK trading company.
- An investment management company in relation to coverage of significant losses sustained as a result of a sophisticated cyber crime operation.
Career
Aaron trained and practised with City and US firms in London before relocating to Asia in 2011, where he spent two years in-house as regional head of litigation for AIG in Singapore. He then returned to private practice to lead a dedicated insurance practice at Southeast Asia’s leading law firm, with offices in seven countries across the region.
After returning to London in 2019, Aaron led the products and environmental risks practice at a leading insurance boutique, before joining Stewarts to launch the firm’s Policyholder Disputes practice in 2022.
Memberships
- British Insurance Law Association
- London Business Interruption Association
- Law Society LGBTQ+ Solicitors Network
- American Bar Association
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘James Breese - excellent communicator and tremendous eye for detail.’
‘Chloe Derrick is excellent - able to explain in layman's terms tricky concepts, offers thoughtful and commercial advice. Takes a logical and sensible approach to contentious matters - always considering "to what end".'
‘A combination of deep sector expertise, agility, and a solutions-oriented mindset.’
‘James Breese for his depth of knowledge and his ability to navigate complex challenges with clarity and confidence.’
‘The insurance team at Stewarts is supported by the "big firm" infrastructure, but the main appeal to clients is the depth of knowledge and exceptional expertise in their field. As a part of Stewarts that is new and growing, there is an enthusiasm in the department that is of great benefit to clients in terms of the speed and quality of service that results.'
‘The insurance team at Stewarts has an exceptional knowledge in this area and in the short time they have existed have litigated some leading cases.'
'The team are, without exception, a pleasure to work with.'
'Stewarts law are excellent in giving the client great advice and support in regard to coverage and also the necessary steps to challenge a matter. James, Chloe and Aaron are standout in this regard.'
'The team at Stewarts, led by Aaron are excellent with clients and very good at explaining the merits or otherwise of matters and the likely success if a matter is pursued to litigation.'
'They have an exceptional knowledge in this area and in the short time they have existed have litigated some leading cases.'
Key clients
- London International Exhibition Centre plc Liberty Retail and Arena Racing Hottinger Private Office Ltd and Hottinger & Co Ltd
Work highlights
Acting for the London International Exhibition Centre in its Covid-19 BI test case claim on causation in ‘at the premises’ disease clauses.