Jacques Jacobs

Full Profile

Jacques is a litigation and insurance partner based in our Sydney office, focusing on financial lines claims including D&O, warranties & indemnities and cyber. Jacques also advises clients on risks around ESG, climate change and greenwashing.

Jacques advises local and overseas insurers on complex disputes and coverage issues. He has extensive expertise in financial lines claims with a particular focus on directors & officers, professional indemnity, management liability, trade credit, cyber and warranty & indemnity claims.

Jacques acts as defence counsel for company directors and financial professionals, such as accountants, auditors, stockbrokers and financial planners. His experience ranges from managing large multi-party litigation to regulatory and disciplinary hearings.

Jacques has experience in acting in employment practices claims, including in relation to discrimination complaints. Jacques has assisted insurers with product development, including advice around policy drafting.

Jacques is listed as a 'Next Generation Partner' in Insurance by Legal 500 2024 and is recognised by Doyle's Guide as a Leading Professional Indemnity Lawyer. He is also recognised by Best Lawyers Australia in Insurance Law. 

Experience

• Warranty & indemnity – acting in one of the largest warranty & indemnity claims globally and in Australia, worth more than AUD700 million – Asahi v Pep & Unitas & Ors. This claim involved complex aspects around breach of information warranties and quantification. The litigation comprised more than 20 parties, including other insurers, as well as the buyer, sellers and various directors. 
• Cyber – acting in more than 130 different cyber breach matters, including some of the largest breaches in the Australian market.
• Class actions defence – acting as defence counsel in a number of high profile class actions.
• Class actions coverage – acting as monitoring counsel and strategic advisor to insurers in relation to complex securities and other class actions. 
• Advising insurers in relation to coverage and strategy in relation to complex litigation against Australian financial institution in New York. 
• Directors & Officers – acting for a director in a complex dispute involving allegations of shareholder oppression.
• Professional indemnity – acting for financial planners and other financial professionals in respect of allegations of negligent financial advice and non-compliance compliance framework.
• Warranty & Indemnity – advising client in relation to cover for alleged breaches of warranty in respect of complex asset financing transaction involving claims exceeding AUD20 million.
• COVID-19 – advising, as part of a global team, on complex issues around events cancellation policies in respect of COVID-19 related cancellations.
• Directors & Officers – acting for the Board of a large not-for-profit organisation in respect of a claim exceeding AUD10 million involving breaches of duties.
• Construction PI – Advising clients in relation to risks associated with cladding on large building portfolio.
• Construction PI – Acting as part of a team defending an engineer in multi-party dispute involving high profile building failure.
• Construction PI – Acting for architect in relation to negligent design issues.
• Construction PI – Acting for builder in relation to large scale failures and defects in apartment building.