Hall Of Fame

Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Insurance

At Tsui & Co, founding partner Sam Tsui handles life, marine and general insurance policy disputes, in addition to subrogated claims, liability and professional indemnity claims.

Insurance in Hong Kong

Clyde & Co LLP

As a core underlying area of focus for the firm as a whole, Clyde & Co LLP has comprehensive knowledge of the insurance sector and is able to provide advisory and litigation expertise throughout Asia, as well as on broader cross-border mandates. The Hong Kong team, which is led by industry veteran Simon McConnell, acts for many of the key global insurers and is regularly engaged to act on high-profile disputes involving complex liability claims and coverage issues. A good deal of these occur within the transport space, with the firm able to leverage deep sector knowledge in the aviation and shipping sectors, in particular. In this context, Gloria Jones is regularly instructed by P&I clubs and airlines, and is also noted for her life insurance-related prowess. Patrick Perry specialises in financial and professional lines, as well as property and construction insurance and is also regularly engaged by insurers to advise on complex coverage issues relating to policy disputes. On the non-contentious front, Joyce Chan draws upon a deep well of experience developed in private practice as well as in-house to provide balanced and effective advice on regulatory matters, policy wording, advice on new products and M&A in the sector. Michelle Ho was recently promoted to counsel and forms a key part of teams mobilised to represent international insurance on claims under D&O, professional indemnity, crime, employment, and other financial lines policies.

Practice head(s):

Simon McConnell


Other key lawyers:

Mun Yeow; Gloria Jones; Patrick Perry; Desmond Lui; Joyce Chan; Michelle Ho


Testimonials

 

 

 

Kennedys

The ‘professional and friendly’ team at Kennedys provides ‘precise and clear advice’ to major insurers across a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters both domestically and regionally, as well as in a cross-border setting where the firm is well-equipped to act by dint of its broad international network. Joanie Ko has ‘deep knowledge and experience in the insurance market’ on financial lines matters, regularly advises on liability disputes, and is frequently instructed by insurers when there are complex coverage issues at hand. Wilson Tam takes the lead on large-scale liability disputes, particularly as it relates to casualty defence works, employment issues and discrimination issues arising from work-related accidents. On the non-contentious front, corporate and commercial head Richard Bates regularly handles insurance-related M&A, as well as advising insurance companies and financial institutions on regulatory and compliance matters.

Practice head(s):

Richard Bates; Meiling Yip; Wilson Tam; Joanie Ko; Christine Tsang; Sandy Cho; Rudy Chung


Testimonials

The professional and friendly team always provides precise and clear advice on coverage which effectively helps insurers to tackle the complex, significant and difficult coverage issues.’

The excellent Joanie Ko has deep knowledge and experience in the insurance market of Hong Kong and is always ready to help.’

Key clients

AIG


Allianz


AXA China Region Insurance Company Limited


Chubb Life Insurance Company Limited


FTLife Insurance Company Limited


Prudential Hong Kong Limited


Motor Insurers’ Bureau


Employees Compensation Insurer Insolvency Bureau


Mayer Brown

The ‘very strong’ team at Mayer Brown draws upon an ‘in-depth knowledge of insurance law’, ensuring that it is well-placed to advise on disputes across financial lines products (including D&O and professional indemnity claims), personal injury and public liability. Angela Yim regularly takes the lead on major insurance litigation, including casualty claims relating to high-profile automotive accidents which have involved issues of liability/quantum and sensitive handling of claims handling. Tow Lu Lim is praised for his ability to provide ‘creative and feasible solutions’ in claims against professionals across a variety of industry sectors, as well as advising on regulatory issues and having niche cybersecurity incident response expertise. Marina Fung co-heads the team alongside Yim and Lim and is noted for her expertise at handling insurance litigation regarding motor liability, public liability and employee compensation claims.

Practice head(s):

Angela Yim; Tow Lu Lim; Marina Fung


Other key lawyers:

Jenny Yu


Testimonials

‘It is a very strong team with in-depth knowledge of insurance law and insurance agency law.’

‘The responsive Tow Lu Lim comes up with creative and feasible solutions to address client needs.’

‘Responsive, extremely efficient and was able to understand and expertly advise on client’s cross territorial challenges and contractual governing law. It was immensely valuable to have an immediate overview and honest assessment of the legal options.’

‘Tow Lu Lim was a stand-out. He was able to assess the case efficiently and provide outstanding advice on the legal options.’

Key clients

AXA


AIG


Motor Vehicle insurers of Citybus


Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Hong Kong


Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau


Medix


Markel


Prudential


Chubb Life


Manulife


Various HNW Insurance Brokers (Mercer PCS, IPG, Charles Monat)


QBE UK


The Employees Compensation Insurer Insolvency Bureau


Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Combining regulatory and corporate capabilities, the ‘strong and capable’ team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP excels in advising insurance companies on transactional work throughout APAC, running the gamut from advice on M&A in the sector, through to advice on distribution agreements. ‘Intelligent and savvy’ team head Edwin Northover has a ‘good understanding of the market’, regularly taking the lead on key strategic transactional work for key global and Asia-based insurance entities, including AIA and Prudential Financial. International counsel Jan Buschmannknows his way around the insurance ordinance and the HKIA requirements very well’ and regularly advises on standalone regulatory questions, as well as in the context of insurance-related transactional work.

Practice head(s):

Edwin Northover


Other key lawyers:

Jan Buschmann; Monisha D’Souza


Testimonials

‘It is a strong and capable team.’

They have been invaluable in our insurance deals, bringing with them strong negotiation skills and a deep understanding of the insurance M&A/ bancassurance deals.’

‘Edwin Northover is absolutely superb and our go-to partner for insurance deals. He is an intelligent and savvy lawyer with a good understanding of the market, fantastic in negotiations, and extremely thorough in his work, leaving no stone unturned.’

Jan Bushmann who knows his way around the insurance ordinance and the HKIA requirements very well, and is becoming a go-to lawyer for not only transactional work but also general regulatory advice.’

Key clients

AIA


Sun Life


Chubb


Prudential Financial


FWD


Work highlights


  • Advised AIA in connection with the establishment of a pan-Asian health insurtech business and joint venture with Discovery Group.
  • Advising Sun Life in its 15-year exclusive bancassurance partnership with Dah Sing Bank.
  • Advising Chubb in its 15-year exclusive general insurance distribution agreement with Hang Seng Bank.

RPC

As a cornerstone industry sector of the firm as whole, insurance is in the DNA of RPC and consequently the firm’s well-established Hong Kong office is not only able to draw from deep local knowledge but also to leverage the firm’s market-leading London office on cross-border matters. This manifests itself most visibly in relation to the firm’s contentious work, which covers work relating to construction disputes, financial lines, cyber and professional indemnity. Team head Antony Sassi acts as defence and coverage counsel across various lines of business and has a particular focus on defending professionals across a myriad of tortious and contractual claims, as well as in regulatory investigations and disciplinary matters. Carmel Green, who splits her time between Hong Kong and Singapore, has expertise in the insurance and reinsurance space and as well as defending insureds in liability claims (including with regard to cyber incidents), also regularly acts as monitoring counsel on behalf of insurers on claims around the world. Andrew Carpenter is the main contact for non-contentious matters with work encompassing regulatory advisory and corporate insurance support.

Practice head(s):

Antony Sassi


Other key lawyers:

David Smyth; Carmel Green; Samuel Hung; Andrew Carpenter; Rebecca Wong


Key clients

AIG


Allianz


Allied World


Chubb


ESSAR (solicitors’ professional indemnity) insurance scheme


Generali


Liberty


Markel


QBE


Zurich


Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie provides ‘high quality and commercially sensible advice’ to major insurers, including Allianz and Zurich, across a range of standalone regulatory matters and transactions. Up-to-date on industry trends, team head Martin Tam provides ‘valuable insights into regulatory matters’, ensuring that he is able to provide very effective advice to clients on his own, as well as in collaboration with other practitioners throughout the international if necessary on cross-border matters. As well as working alongside the corporate team on insurance-related M&A, and having proficiency in relation to distribution and bancassurance, Tam is also regularly instructed on regulatory investigations. As part of his overarching contentious financial services prowess, Bryan Ng is also a key resource to insurance clients on litigation they may face.

Practice head(s):

Martin Tam


Other key lawyers:

Bryan Ng; Tina Li


Testimonials

They provide high quality and commercially sensible advice.’

Martin Tam provides valuable insights into regulatory matters.’

Martin Tam is very hands-on and can provide instant and preliminary advice to his clients which proves that Martin stays on top of what is going on in Hong Kong insurance industry.’

Key clients

Allianz


Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region


MetLife


Standard Chartered Bank


Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd.


Zurich Insurance


Work highlights


  • Acting for Cigna in the disposal of its life and accident insurance business in Hong Kong and five other jurisdictions to Chubb, and successfully assisted both Cigna and Chubb to obtain the regulatory approval in Hong Kong.
  • Acting for China Merchants Insurance and CMB Wing Lung Insurance in the restructuring of their insurance businesses including an insurance portfolio transfer from China Merchants Insurance to CMB Wing Lung Insurance and consolidation of their insurance business
  • Post M&A integration of the life insurance business of AIA and Blue Cross involving the transfer of the life insurance portfolio from Blue Cross to AIA and obtaining approvals from the Hong Kong Insurance Authority and the Hong Kong High Court.

Howse Williams

Drawing upon an ‘excellent knowledge’ of the sector, Howse Williams provides ‘high-quality legal services with a customer-oriented attitude’ to insurers in relation to a range of primarily contentious matters. In this context, the firm has developed a strong reputation over the years in relation to professional indemnity matters, including as it flows from claims brought against medical professionals. Indeed, in the healthcare sector, the firm benefits not only from legal expertise but also subject matter knowledge imbued as a result of a number of practitioners who are dual qualified as solicitors and medical doctors. David Kan is one such lawyer and alongside Chris Howse spearheads a strong healthcare offering that has garnered a strong reputation defending private medical professionals in clinical negligence claims. The ‘hardworking’ William Leung is also a key member of the team and is noted, in particular, for his ability to provide ‘pragmatic and solutions-oriented advice’ in marine insurance matters.

Practice head(s):

Chris Howse; David Kan; David Coogans; Michael Withington


Other key lawyers:

William Leung; Oonagh Toner; Bernard Murphy; Alison Scott; Maureen Liu; Carmen Fung; Gary Chow; Hiu Yee Chung; Tony Leung


Testimonials

‘The firm has excellent knowledge of the sector and provides high-quality legal services with a customer-oriented attitude.’

‘The hardworking William Leung provides pragmatic and solutions-oriented advice.’

‘Gary Chow is an excellent and professional lawyer who knows how to communicate with clients and express legal opinions and suggestions clearly.’

Ince & Co

Combining deep subject and substantive law matter knowledge across the transportation sector with underlying insurance sector expertise across a myriad product lines, Ince & Co is regularly engaged in large-ticket liability defence work, particularly within the maritime space. Rosita Lau is key to the firm’s success in the sector and draws upon a deep well of expertise advising the leading P&I clubs across a range of disputes, in addition to some work on policy drafting and regulatory advice. Kelvin Lee's practice extends beyond the transportation sector, where he is known for his work for insurers and reinsurers in coverage disputes.

Practice head(s):

Kelvin Lee; Rosita Lau


Testimonials

‘Ince and Co Hong Kong is reputable and popular by clients in shipping, logistics and transportation industry. Ince & Co specialises in all aspects of shipping law, insurance law and all transportation related legal practice.’

‘Rosita Lau is competent and skilful in formulating strategies that scare away her clients’ opponents. A formidable litigator, always accurate and brilliant in her legal argument, both in writing and in her advocacy.’

Key clients

Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.


PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited


China Re


China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure)


China Taiping Insurance Holdings Company Limited


AXA XL / AXA General Insurance


Zurich Insurance


Global Aerospace of Lloyd’s


Willis Towers Watson Hong Kong


Standard North P & I Club


Swedish P & I Club


Donghai Insurance Company Limited, China


CM Houlder Insurance Brokers


Linklaters

Drawing upon a ‘very sound knowledge of the law’ and a commercial mindset developed over many years’ experience handling work in the sector, Linklaters can provide ‘very practical legal advice' to banks and insurance companies across a wide range of transactional and advisory work in the space. Team head Matthew Middleditch regularly handles M&A in the sector and has also developed a strong reputation advising on regional multi-jurisdictional bancassurance transactions, often working in collaboration with lawyers in key local offices including Singapore. Christopher Yip is also a key member of the multi-disciplinary team and regularly handles M&A, commercial and capital markets work in the sector.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Middleditch


Other key lawyers:

Christopher Yip; Tiffany Yan


Testimonials

The team has a very sound knowledge of the law and is therefore able to give very practical legal advice.’

Key clients

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited


The Bank of East Asia Limited


FWD Group Holdings Limited


Dah Sing Bank, Limited


Affin Bank Berhad


AXA


Lien Viet Post Joint Stock Commercial Bank


Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank


Vietnam Prosperity Joint-Stock Commercial Bank


Work highlights


  • Advised HSBC on its negotiation of a 15-year term bancassurance partnership with Allianz SE covering six Asian jurisdictions including China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka, pursuant to which HSBC will act as Allianz’s distributor for life and/or non-life insurance products in the jurisdictions.
  • Advised the Bank of East Asia on the sale of its general insurance unit, Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited, and its interest in a joint venture carrying on healthcare services provider business, Blue Care JV (BVI) Holdings Limited, to AIA and the formation of a 15-year exclusive bancassurance partnership with Blue Cross for Hong Kong.
  • Advised Dah Sing Bank on the entry into a new 15-year exclusive bancassurance partnership in Hong Kong with Sun Life, pursuant to which Sun Life will be the exclusive provider of life insurance solutions to Dah Sing Bank’s retail banking customers.

Deacons

The ‘strong team’ at Deacons provides ‘high-quality and efficient legal services’ to local and regional insurance companies across a range of litigation, running the gamut from casualty claims, public liability and third party motor claims, as well as general claims. Alfred Tamis an active and invaluable insurance lawyer with a commercial mindset’. He heads up the team that also houses Gere Sit, whose broad ranging offering has included work for insurers/insureds on disaster cases, and Linda Lee , who is adept at handling policy disputes and personal injury and professional indemnity matters.

Practice head(s):

Alfred Tam


Other key lawyers:

Linda Lee; Gary Lui; Gere Sit


Testimonials

It is a strong team which provides high-quality and efficient legal services.’

They have impeccable experience in defending claims and handling contentious insurance-related matters.’

Alfred Tam provides a tailor-made service with effective communication.’

‘Alfred Tam is an active and invaluable insurance lawyer with a commercial mindset. We appreciate his solid knowledge of the industry and experience in handling complex cases.’

Herbert Smith Freehills

Acting on its own and also able to leverage resources throughout the firm’s international network of offices, Herbert Smith Freehills is well-placed to advise insurance clients engaged in domestic, pan-Asian and multi-jurisdictional mandates with an Asian nexus. Although it does handle some regulatory compliance work, the bulk of the workflow relates to contentious matters, where clients benefit from the firm’s strong overarching litigation pedigree and knowledge of the sector. ‘No-nonsense’ commercial litigator Gareth Thomas is the main contact for this and provides ‘clear advice’ in relation to professional negligence cases and policy disputes. Corporate partner Tommy Tong heads the team alongside Thomas and has some experience of handling transactional work in the sector.

Practice head(s):

Gareth Thomas; Tommy Tong


Testimonials

‘They have strong Australian links and are able litigators.’

‘Gareth Thomas is a no-nonsense lawyer who provides clear advice.’

HFW

HFW combines an ‘incredible professionalism with an unparalleled dedication’ on behalf of clients within the aviation sector across a range of contentious insurance matters, including matters of the utmost severity. Team head Gordon Gardiner is ‘a very safe pair of hands and provides user-friendly advice’ for a number of major stakeholders in the industry, including Cathay Pacific Group, which he defends on their liability claims globally.

Practice head(s):

Gordon Gardiner


Other key lawyers:

Lee Tam; Vivien Wong; Sammy Beedan


Testimonials

They have strength-in-depth in the aviation sector.’

They blend incredible professionalism with an unparalleled dedication for the client.’

Gordon Gardiner is a very safe pair of hands and provides user-friendly advice.’

Key clients

Cathay Pacific Group


Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright handles contentious and non-contentious insurance-related work as a function of its broader corporate and commercial litigation offerings. On the contentious front, senior associate Charlton Lin has played a more visible role on insurance matters since the recent relocation of Declan McDaid to London, including advice on policy coverage and defending claims against the insured. Capital markets expert Harold Tin also handles intermittent issuances for insurance companies, as well as work at the intersection of insurance and finance as part of his fintech expertise.

Practice head(s):

Psyche Tai; Daniel Ng


Other key lawyers:

Charlton Lin


Key clients

AWP Health & Life SA (part of the Allianz group)


Beazley


China Taiping Insurance Holdings Company Limited


Fusion Specialty


Gen Re


Hong Kong Baptist Hospital


Work highlights


  • Advised China Taiping on the offering and listing of $2bn perpetual subordinated capital securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
  • Acted for a matrimonial law firm in Hong Kong in defending a professional negligence claim from their former client, which then triggered a counter-claim for HK$1.6m unpaid legal fees against the former client.
  • Advised various underwriters including Fusion Specialty, AIG and Beazley in putting in place buy-and-sell-side warranty and indemnity insurance policies in relation to various M&A transactions.

Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP

Led by Asha Sharma, Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP provides ‘cost-effective and commercial advice’ across a range of contentious and non-contentious matters including professional negligence cases, investigations, disciplinary proceedings and policy issues. A corollary of the firm’s strong shipping practice, the firm is also adept at handling insurers and P&I clubs throughout Greater China. Steve Tam is also a key member of the team in relation to contentious matters and has a strong focus on regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Practice head(s):

Asha Sharma


Other key lawyers:

Mark West; Steve Tam; Clara Fung; Angus Yu


Testimonials

The team provides cost-effective and commercial advice.’