James M. Davis
During his nearly 30-year career, Jim has helped clients recover billions of dollars by negotiating improved policy language, navigating complex insurance claims, and successfully prosecuting lawsuits and arbitrations.
Jim Davis is a leading national policyholder litigator and counselor who solves insurance coverage issues for his clients. Jim regularly handles complex insurance claims and litigation involving cyber liability and data breach, property and business interruption, directors and officers, and errors and omissions, and general liability including Bermuda form occurrence reported with London arbitration. Jim also assists clients with negotiating better policy terms to maximize coverage and avoid future disputes.
In Chambers USA 2024, clients said, "Jim is an amazing insurance recovery lawyer. He knows the industry cold. He's a great litigator who can break down complex issues into effective arguments." Jim is a frequent author and presenter on various insurance recovery topics and was elected to membership in the American College of Coverage Counsel.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., highest honors, Order of the Coif, 1995
- University of Washington, B.A., History, 1991
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
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Illinois
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Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Professional Recognition
Recognized by Chambers USA, Insurance: Dispute Resolution, 2008-2024; Litigation: General Commercial, 2024
Listed in Who's Who Legal: Insurance and Reinsurance, 2016-2022
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009-2023
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Insurance Law, 2013-2025
American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel (ACCEC) Fellow, 2014-2022
*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Law360 Insurance Editorial Advisory Board, 2014
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee (ICLC)
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Experience
Additional Insured Coverage
- Represented Fortune 500 online retailer seeking additional insured coverage and indemnity for multiple matters.
- Represented Fortune 500 retailer in hundreds of matters involving additional insured coverage leading to leading edge legal decisions and recoveries.*
Advertising Coverage
- Litigated coverage for advertising claims for Fortune 500 retailer.*
- Represented national supermarket chain regarding coverage for advertising claim involving the use of trade dress of celebrity.*
Appellate Coverage Law
- Represented multiple policyholder clients in state and federal courts throughout the country on appeal.*
- Prepared numerous amicus curiae briefs for a national policyholder rights organization with several successful appeals.*
Asbestos Insurance Recovery
- Represented multiple Fortune 500 policyholders in insurance recovery litigation in several jurisdictions and successfully obtained significant recoveries in each matter.*
Business Interruption & Property Damage Coverage
- Leading the Perkins Coie Insurance Recovery practice’s pursuit of property, business interruption, and pollution coverage for COVID-19 losses, including claims for clients in hospitality, hotel, mall, food processing, retail, office space, and higher education.
- Representing hotel and resort owners seeking property and business interruption coverage from wildfires and hurricanes.
- Represented Fortune 500 retail company for multiple property damage and related losses, including from Hurricane Katrina.*
- Represented a restaurant company with property damage and business interruption losses from a microburst.*
Data Breaches & Other Cyber Risk Coverage
- Advised multiple companies regarding terms and scope of cyber coverage.
- Represented online company with a dispute over placement and claim under cyber liability policy.
- Represented a real estate company seeking damage for losses from an intentional hacker attack.*
- Represent multiple companies seeking coverage for data breaches, including avoiding rescission.
Directors, Officers & Corporate Liability
- Represented Fortune 500 retailer with coverage for class action claims regarding corporate transactions.*
- Advised multiple companies and individual directors regarding terms and scope of D&O coverage, including in SPAC transactions.
- Advised private equity funds and portfolio companies on claims and interaction of D&O coverage.
Employment Practices and Wage & Hour Liability
- Assisted national hotel chain with COVID-19 pollution coverage for COVID-19 claims.
- Represented Fortune 500 retailer in Wage & Hour coverage involving hourly manager lawsuits and arbitrations throughout the country.
- Represented Fortune 500 retailer in coverage dispute regarding wage and hour class action claims under Employment Practices Liability policy.*
- Advised clients regarding coverage for biometric privacy claims under EPL policies.
Environmental and Pollution Coverage
- Represented Fortune 500 food company in 180 site environmental insurance recovery litigation.*
- Represented multiple policyholders regarding coverage for PFAS environmental clean-up.*
- Pursued historic liability insurance coverage for multiple oil refiners to clean-up facilities.*
- Advised chemical company regarding coverage for clean-up costs under pollution legal liability policies.
Maritime Coverage
- Represented national construction client regarding hull coverage and dock claims.*
- Assist international company with dispute regarding stock throughput policy and coverage of individual vessels.
Products & Services Liability Coverage
- Assisted Fortune 500 client with PFAS product liability coverage.
- Represented Fortune 500 company regarding coverage for aircraft accidents.
- Represented Fortune 500 retailer regarding coverage for multiple products and home installation class actions and severe injury cases.*
- Represented international construction company regarding coverage for claims arising from construction work after Hurricane Katrina.*
Professional Liability
- Represented insurance defense firm regarding attempted rescission of professional liability policy.*
- Advised firms and individuals regarding scope of errors and omissions insurance coverage.
Privacy Coverage
- Represented manufacturer in coverage litigation arising from claims under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
- Advised multiple clients regarding coverage for privacy claims and negotiating policy terms, including under BIPA and the pending CCPA.
*Prior Experience