Property Damage
James is regularly instructed by insurers on both sides of claims arising from property damage often caused by fires and floods.
Selected Cases
- Successfully defended a contract claim brought by property owners for damage from a fire which started when contractors were carrying out work in the roof space (Ball Ponds Securities v Envirocure Limited and others TCC Soole J. July 2016)
- £500,000 claim against Water Authority in respect of damage to a slope alleged to have been caused by a leaking sewage pipe
- £250,000 fire claim arising from alleged hot works in a roof space
- £1m claim for flood damage caused by blocked drains on construction site in Swansea
- Acted for parties to separate claims for damage caused by Japanese knotweed and asbestos contamination
- £380,000 claim for damage to an MRI scanner, which was dropped from a crane. CPA conditions
- £3m Chip shop fire in Glasgow
- Multiple flooding incidents in Wales resulting from inadequate sewage-treatment works
- £800K claim for fire damage to a train following allegedly defective overhaul of engine
- Acting for multi national electrical component manufacturer in multi party fire claim in a Boots shop involving in excess of £11m.
- Acted for property insurers in claim for £250,000 arising out of a fire caused by a faulty electrical consumer unit.
News
- Members of Crown Office Chambers recognised as Market Leaders in Who’s Who Legal
- Security Door: Work equipment or Workplace?
Qualifications
- Queens College Cambridge (1981 – 1983)
- Winchester College Scholar (1975 – 1980)
Memberships
- COMBAR
- LCLCBA
- PIBA
- PNBA
- TECBAR
Rankings
- Leading Junior in Insurance, Product Liability & Property Damage (Chambers & Partners 2023)
- Leading Junior in Insurance, Product Liability & Property Damage (Chambers & Partners 2022)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2022)
- Leading Junior in Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2021)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2021)
- Leading Junior in Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2020)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2020)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2019)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2019)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2018)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2018)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2017)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2017)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2016)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2015)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2015)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2014)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Legal 500 2014)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance and Product Liability (Legal 500 2013)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction, Insurance & Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2012)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction, Insurance and Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2011)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance and Consumer & Product Liability (Legal 500 2011)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction, Insurance and Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2010)
- Leading Junior in Construction, Insurance and Consumer & Product Liability (Legal 500 2010)
- Leader at the Bar in Construction and Product Liability (Chambers & Partners 2009)
- Leading Junior in Insurance and Consumer & Product Liability (Legal 500 2009)
Recommendations
“James leaves no stone unturned, and his attention to detail is phenomenal.”…”James is highly technical and knowledgeable on policy coverage.”…”He is highly impressive.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Encyclopaedic knowledge of insurance policy coverage.”
Legal 500, 2025
“James Medd has excellent attention to detail and technical knowledge.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“He is excellent. Very thorough, hands on, detailed, responsive, very strategic and first rate in his handling of clients.”
Legal 500, 2024
He is able to understand technical information from clients. He’s great at strategy and gives sensible, understandable advice.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Strengths: responsiveness; immediate grasp of complex issues which he can then explain in layman terms if necessary; really good with clients in conference; has a lovely manner with clients; and turns paperwork around quickly.”
Legal 500, 2022
“He is good at distilling down property damage work with complex underlying technology, product or construction issues.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“My go-to barrister for indemnity work. He is efficient, can see the wood for the trees, and produces clear and structured advice on the most complicated legal problems.”
Legal 500, 2021
“Very good to work with and grasps the background circumstances and the technical elements of complex matters.”; “He offers practical solutions and brings an element of clarity to his advice.”’ “He’s very thorough and masters the facts.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“His advice is clear, honest and realistic – simply brilliant at the job.”
Legal 500, 2021
“Very experienced and an extremely safe pair of hands.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“Excellent all round.”
Chambers & Partners, 2019
“A class act. ..”He has a capacity for obtaining a thorough grasp of complex information and documentation in high-value cases and of adding considerable value to the case and overall client strategy.”
Chambers & Partners, 2018
