Leading Individuals

Rising Stars

Insurance and pensions in Isle Of Man

Appleby

Appleby provides a full service offering across all aspects of insurance and pensions. The insurance and reinsurance practice represent a variety of multinational financial groups with regulatory compliance and business operations, including high-profile M&A. On the pensions side, the firm acts for large corporate clients on pensions advisory work in conjunction with teams across other Crown Dependencies. Juan Thornley is experienced in handling complex transactional and advisory work with a particular focus on the financial services sector. Garry Manley is an expert in insurance law, advising major international groups on a range of transformational transactions. other key names on the team are Michelle Brook and Katherine Garrood.

Practice head(s):

Juan Thornley; Garry Manley


Other key lawyers:

Michelle Brook; Katherine Garrood


Testimonials

Garry Manley is technically very strong, capable and confident. His input has been invaluable.’

‘Garry Manley is proactive, attention to detail, informed, articulate and explains technical legal principles well in laymans terms. Importantly has a strong understanding of insurance.’

Key clients

Quilter plc


Monument Re


International Financial Group Limited


Utmost International


Zurich International Life Limited


Work highlights


  • Acted as lead counsel to Utmost International on the court-sanctioned transfer of the entire long-term insurance business of Utmost Limited to Utmost International Isle of Man Limited.
  • Acting for Zurich on the sale of its Singapore life insurance business to Monument Group.
  • Acted as lead counsel to Monument Re on the court-sanctioned transfer of the entire long-term insurance business of its Guernsey subsidiary to its Isle of Man subsidiary.

Cains

The insurance and reinsurance team at Cains provides the full spectrum of regulatory and transactional assistance to some of the biggest names in the industry. members of the team are equipped to handle the biggest transactions in the sector, both on a domestic and multijurisdictional level. Tristan Head regularly supports clients with regulatory matters in addition to handling international transactions involving Isle of Man businesses. Jonathan Latham handles a wide range of insurance matters, including complex multijurisdictional reorganisations of groups of insurance companies. Lindsey Bermingham has significant litigation experience, while Scott Leonard-Morgan has a strong reputation for insurance transactional work.

Practice head(s):

Tristan Head; Jonathan Latham; Lindsey Bermingham


Other key lawyers:

Scott Leonard-Morgan


Testimonials

‘Their people are knowledgeable about their areas of practice.’

‘Jonathan Latham is attentive, responsive and knowledgeable.’

‘Cains are strong in insurance regulatory work. I am comfortable going to them for all such questions and have been satisfied with what they have done.’

‘Jonathan Latham is efficient, responsive and is a good representative of the firm. His advice is clear and needs little comment or input.’

‘They are very responsive and helpful. they have a good network to provide further contacts’

‘Jonathan Latham advised us on Insurance wrappers. He has an excellent knowledge of the topic and pointed a few things out to us that were very helpful.’

‘Availability of staff, professionalism & response time, subject matter expertise.’

‘Jonathan Latham and Tristan Head are a pleasure to work with and are the “go to” people in the Isle of Man for Insurance and Commercial matters.’

DQ

DQ‘s insurance and pensions team is experienced in handling a broad range of pensions matters, advising a number of local and international clients on insurance and pensions matter. In addition, the team often works with the dispute resolution team to support clients with insurance litigation. Practice head Annemarie Hughes is ‘a talented and knowledgeable lawyer’ and recognised specialist in the pensions industry. Andrew Harding is experienced in financial services regulation, particularly when acting on behalf of insurers.

Practice head(s):

Annemarie Hughes


Other key lawyers:

Andrew Harding


Testimonials

‘DQ is one of only two law firms on the IOM that have a strategic focus on supporting the pensions industry and associated trustees. They are open to collaborate with industry to help raise the profile and educate the market on what is possible and necessary.’

‘Annemarie Hughes is a talented and knowledgeable lawyer with particular expertise in the pension / pension trust field. She is always willing to participate in external events and committees to help raise awareness of the pensions sector and has become one of only two go to pension lawyers on the Island.’

‘They have an excellent knowledge of pensions.’

‘Very helpful, efficient and prompt.’

Keystone Law

With support from the firm’s litigators and employment lawyers, Keystone Law are able to provide a full-service offering across insurance, pensions and incentives domestically and internationally. Ben Hughes is a ‘technically without challenge’ pensions specialist with extensive experience in occupational and personal pension schemes while also providing legal counsel on major corporate transactions concerning pensions schemes. He is supported by William Margot, who handles various regulatory matters on the Isle of Man and beyond.

Other key lawyers:

Ben Hughes; William Margot


Testimonials

‘Ben Hughes is technically without challenge on Manx pension law and regulations.’

‘Ben Hughes was pragmatic in the advice provided and in his communications. He always set out clearly the decisions that needed to be taken and the risk of a particular decision.’

Key clients

Bank of Ireland


Trustees of the Steam Packet Company Limited Staff Pension Fund


BRAL Trustees (IOM) Limited


Boal & Co (Pensions) Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising the trustee of the British Regional Airlines Group Pension Scheme on all aspects of the winding up and insured buy-out of the scheme following the collapse of Flybe Limited.
  • Acts as general Isle of Man legal counsel to the trustees of the Steam Packet Company Limited Staff Pension Fund.
  • Advised the trustee in respect of the negotiation and completion of a complex winding up and insured buy-out of the Bank’s Isle of Man occupational pension scheme.

Simcocks

Simcocks offers particular specialisms in life insurance business, reinsurance and the creation of captive insurance companies, while acting on behalf of insurers and reinsurers across all aspects of the sector. On the pensions side, the firm advises corporate clients on a range of contentious and non-contentious issues. David Spencer leads the insurance practice, with a particular expertise in marine mutual insurance. Meanwhile, Phil Games leads the pensions practice, regularly handling international pensions matters. Elizabeth Simpson is another key name who focuses on heavyweight commercial litigation.

Practice head(s):

David Spencer; Phil Games


Other key lawyers:

Kevin O’Loughlin; Elizabeth Simpson


Testimonials

‘Elizabeth Simpson is excellent – great attention to detail, great client skills.’

‘Simcocks, and Elizabeth Simpson in particular, has a strong working knowledge of the insurance industry particularly the life insurance industry which we consider to be a key strength of instructing the firm.’

‘Elizabeth Simpson has a strong practical knowledge of the insurance industry which is demonstrated in the way that she approaches litigation and disputes. She is holistic in her approach and also readily available for any last minute questions and queries.’