Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Insurance

Estudio Bunge’s insurance practice supports clients in the sector on operational and regulatory matters, including the sale, incorporation and acquisition of local insurers; Nicolás Repila, Eduardo Luchia Puig, and younger partner Juan Cornejo, are the key points of contact.
DAC Beachcroft raided Allende & Brea's market leading insurance practice - hiring former practice head Martín Argañaraz along with semi-senior associate María Agustina Diaz, junior Alejandro Gómez and former paralegal Oliver Peebles - to launch DAC Beachcroft Argentina, which opened its doors in August 2023 and undertakes the full range of insurance specialisations. Independent insurance expert María José Sánchez (who arrives as a partner) and associate Fernando Mondelli complete the team.
International player Kennedys Argentine office works with insurers and reinsurers on policy wording, regulatory matters and disputes; experienced insurance lawyer Alberto Bunge leads the practice.

Insurance in Argentina

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

Marval O’Farrell Mairal handles the complete range of insurance and reinsurance work, including major disputes and administrative claims, regulatory advice, reinsurance claims, M&A, marine and aviation insurance, and product liability. Insurers also turn to the specialist 12-strong team for advice on day-to-day corporate matters and transactions. The team’s expertise defending insurance companies in collective and class actions and other types of mass litigation is also widely recognised in the market. Insurance expert and market reference Pablo Cereijido leads the practice and has more than 25 years' experience in the sector. The well-reviewed Elias Bestani, a specialist in insurance, reinsurance and maritime and aviation law, is another stand out senior name; additionally, the team can call on the vast experience of former practice head and of-counsel Albert Cappagli, a 40-year insurance-sector veteran. A capable second line is led by disputes, shipping and admiralty specialist María Victoria Rodríguez Mamberti; and Matias Acrogliano, who covers claims and regulatory work.

Practice head(s):

Pablo Cereijido


Testimonials

Marval’s insurance and reinsurance team is excellent. Lawyers who stand out from their competitors for depth of analysis, business knowledge and flexibility.

Outstanding professionalism  and responsiveness.

The team is unique in that it fully understands and integrates with the London insurance and reinsurance market. This means that, in addition to providing swift, accurate advice on Argentinean law, it is able to apply that to the commercial realities of the London market.

Elias Bestani stands for his advice to London reinsurers and his ability to strategise to the benefit of his clients. He is approachable, always available, and enthusiastic about achieving the best result for clients.

Marval O’Farrell Mairal’s service has been top-notch. They have consistently been strong technically, easy to work with, provided high quality work product and clear, relevant and responsive advice.

Key clients

XL Catlin


Allianz


The Zurich Group


Mapfre


Marsh – Guy Carpenter & Company


Assurant Argentina Compañía de Seguros


RSA


IRB Brasil Re


Scor


Generali


Hanseatica Compañía de Seguros


QBE Europe – QBE Management Ireland


Andina ART


BNP Paribas Cardif


La Meridional Compañía de Seguros


Work highlights


  • Advising reinsurer XL Catlin on a high-profile insurance and reinsurance claim concerning the collision of two public helicopters during the filming of a French TV show that caused the death of all 10 Argentine and foreign citizens onboard and the total loss of both helicopters.
  • Advising Zurich Argentina Compañía de Seguros on negotiating and executing a highly significant 10-year bancassurance distribution contract with HSBC Bank.
  • Representing international reinsurer Royal & Sun Alliance in a complex judicial coverage dispute brought against it by Sancor (insurer) and Punto Sur (Sancor’s local reinsurer).

Beccar Varela

Beccar Varela advises local and international insurers, reinsurers and brokers on the formation, acquisition and divestment of insurance companies and the transfer and sale of customer portfolios. The team also handles regulatory matters; premium collection agreements; claims reports and contentious matters and litigation; and is a "go-to" adviser for online marketplace operators moving into the insurance sector. Insurance specialist Daniel Seoane leads the practice and draws on deep experience as both an in-house lawyer with global insurers and as private practice counsel. Agustín Luis Duarte, who represents insurers and brokers in judicial proceedings related to major accidents and class actions; and Daiana Mari (regulatory issues and claims reports), are the key names at senior associate level.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Seoane


Testimonials

Agustin Duarte is always available to answer all the issues we have regarding insurance.

A very solid professional team that presents effective solutions in a timely manner.

Excellent understanding of client needs and the provision of  tailored solutions on time and in the right way.

The team is made up of lawyers with a lot of experience working with insurers, reinsurers and brokers. Advice is personalised and gives peace of mind.

I think what makes Daniel and Daiana stand out is their closeness to the client and their creativity and innovation when it comes to overcoming obstacles and generating business possibilities.

Key clients

Grupo Sura


Mercado Libre


Galicia Seguros


Supervielle Group/Supervielle Seguros


International Credit Insurance Broker


Inmobal Nutrer


Cardif Seguros


Invap


Allianz Argentina Compañía de Seguros


Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance


Work highlights


  • Advised Grupo Sura on the sale of its surety insurance business unit ACG (Aseguradora de Créditos y Garantías) to Argentine investors Marcelo Figueiras, José Urtubey and Alberto Serventich.
  • Advised Mercado Libre on obtaining authorisation to operate as a representative of insurers and sell insurance products on its platform.
  • Provided comprehensive legal advice to Galicia Seguros to obtain the authorisation to sell its corporate building; the matter was complex due to a regulatory restriction on the building that had to be withdrawn.

Lopez Saavedra & Villarroel

Lopez Saavedra & Villarroel handles non-contentious and contentious matters for domestic and international insurers and reinsurers, covering the full spectrum of claims, mediation, and judicial and arbitration proceedings. The practice also covers regulatory advice, representation before national agencies, malpractice, product liability and out-of-court third party claims. The experienced insurance and reinsurance specialist Diego López Saavedra, who also undertakes maritime and aviation law, and contractual and extra-contractual disputes, heads the team alongside fellow insurance and reinsurance practitioner Mariano López Saavedra, and Ignacio Villarroel, whose insurance practice also includes maritime and aeronautical law.

Practice head(s):

Diego López Saavedra; Mariano Lopez Saavedra; Ignacio Villarroel


Nicholson y Cano Abogados

Nicholson y Cano Abogados advises insurers and reinsurers on corporate and regulatory issues, product approvals, reinsurance agreements, contracts with brokers and other distributors, claims management and disputes. Other areas of specialist sector expertise include M&A and portfolio issues, the development of life and annuities insurance products, the handling of workers’ compensation insurance portfolios, and the bancassurance legal framework. Practice co-head María Fraguas leads on all regulatory, corporate and contractual work, while fellow co-head Juan Carlos Etchebehere handles large claims portfolio matters. Partner Marcela Botta and associates Paola Pizzini and Ezequiel Matías Marcos, provide key support.

Practice head(s):

Maria Fraguas; Juan Carlos Etchebehere


Testimonials

Legal knowledge and experience is what sets this team apart.

María Fraguas is an excellent professional and very knowledgeable in insurance matters.

Key clients

Zurich Cía. de Seguros


Prudential Seguros


Avira


HSBC Seguros


CNP Assurances


Provincia Seguros


SMG Seguros – SMG ART


Chubb Group


Allianz Argentina


La Caja


Work highlights


  • Advised HSBC Bank Argentina on an exclusive distribution agreement with Zurich Group for the distribution of non-life insurance products to banking customers.
  • Advised Zurich Argentina Cía de Seguros in a proceeding initiated by the Superintendency of Insurance against the company regarding an alleged regulatory breach in connection with automobile claims.
  • Representing CNP Assurances in a class action filed by consumer association ADACU alleging CNP has failed to provide insurance certificates to the insured in life group policies.

Bomchil

Bomchil focuses on providing corporate advice to insurance and reinsurance clients, but also acts for underwriters, brokers and insured parties. The practice additionally handles litigation, unfair competition clauses, regulation and commercial matters. Corporate and M&A partner Maximo Bomchil leads the team alongside of-counsel and banking and finance veteran Néstor Belgrano, who advises insurers on product structuring, joint ventures, litigation and regulation, providing additional senior support.

Practice head(s):

Máximo José Bomchil; Néstor Belgrano


Bulló Abogados

Insurance and reinsurance is a core specialism for Bulló Abogados, which represents major insurance and reinsurance clients in contentious matters, including  high-volume claims management, complex class actions and arbitration. Insurance litigation veteran Carlos Estebenet leads the team with Javier Augusto Santiere and Daniel Bautista Guffanti providing further partner-level support.

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen

Insurers, reinsurers and brokers call on Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen for advice on M&A transactions as well as representation in class actions brought forward by consumer associations. The practice also acts for clients with claims against insurance companies for insured events, from their initial stages through to judicial claims. Name partner Mariano Grondona -who handles transactions and litigation in the sector- leads the practice, with senior associate Lucila Guerrero, an aeronautical and insurance expert, providing key support. Since publication, Guerrero (whose practice also takes in commercial and aviation matters), has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Practice head(s):

Mariano Grondona


Testimonials

Excellent multidisciplinary team; they’re all excellent professionals.

Zapiola Guerrico & Asociados

Zapiola Guerrico & Asociados is focused primarily on disputes involving insurers, with the ‘insurtech’ sub-sector - and associated personal data, algorithm bias, discrimination and civil liability issues - a particularly busy area. Litigation expert and firm founder Martin Zapiola Guerrico heads the practice with support coming from litigation-focused senior associate Gonzalo Giussani.

Practice head(s):

Martín Zapiola Guerrico


Key clients

La Meridional


Zurich Argentina


Zurich International Life (Argentina)


Asociart


Nación Seguros


Colón


Experta


Work highlights


  • Represented insurance company La Meridional in an extraordinary appeal to the National Supreme Court, against a final ruling from the the Appeals Court in Civil Matters that declared that a policy limit null and void and therefore cannot be used to oppose the claimants in a civil liability claim (against an educational institution).

Allende & Brea

The formerly market leading practice at Allende & Brea has undergone a remarkably rapid liquidation with the February 2023 departure of associate Sebastian Bonina (to Accenture Argentina), superceded by the wholesale August 2023 departure of practice head Martín Argañaraz, key associate María Agustina Diaz (plus a junior associate and a paralegal) to establish new office, DAC Beachcroft Argentina. Following the earlier (April 2022) departure of Laura Santanatoglia, who moved in house at Zurich Santander Seguros America, this leaves Santiago Sturla - who practices insurance and reinsurance as part of a broader practice that takes in corporate, contractual and company law - heading the department as the firm seeks to rebuild its capabilities; he is supported by intermediate associate Florencia L Marino.

 

Practice head(s):

Santiago Sturla


Key clients

AXA XL


Assicurazioni Generali


AXA XL Resseguros


AON


Cover Genius


Fairfax


Lloyd’s of London


Munich Re


Metlife


Scor


Lockton


Korean Re


Sompo


Zurich


QBE


Swiss Re


Atradius Reinsurance


Beazley


Mapfre