Peru > Insurance > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

‘Best by miles’, according to one client, Kennedys Peru has established a firm footing in the Peruvian market due to its ‘excellent advice that is clear, concise and easy to follow’, ‘local expertise’ and ‘understanding of the Lloyd’s market structure and its needs’. ‘Expert’ Marco Rivera Noya has vast experience and ‘doesn’t take the traditional pro-insured view in Peru’. The team is providing coverage analysis for Munich Re in respect of a $300m claim by Samay and representing XL Catlin and Renaissance Re in claims brought by insured Graña y Montero concerning the Lava Jato criminal investigations and class actions. Indicative of the firm’s growth, Tabata Arteta and her team of three associates joined from Barrios & Fuentes, Abogados.

Osterling Abogados ‘knows the insurance market’, is a ‘sophisticated law firm, perfectly able to work with foreign clients and foreign colleagues’ and a ‘safe bet in Peru’. It acts for a raft of global insurers and reinsurers with business locally: it is assisting AXA Brasil to register as a foreign reinsurer with regulator the Superindendency of Banking and Insurance (SBS), and recently concluded a $60m claim in the construction sector on behalf of another well-known international reinsurer. The firm’s premier reputation in this field is largely the result of Enrique Ferrando, who is ‘very well known in international forums’. He is supported by capable senior associates Gabriel Loli León and Rabeth Pareja Torres. The firm has ‘good people to work within international teams’ and is ‘ready to respond’.

The ‘excellent’ Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados stands out for its ‘very commercial and flexible’ advice, ‘understanding of clients’ needs’ and ‘very responsive’ service. It is the firm of choice for several leading UK-based insurance law firms requiring Peruvian advice and attracts a client base of household-name global insurers and reinsurers. The firm is currently representing insurers in a diverse array of claims, from the aviation sector to construction, for example. Department head Jorge Velarde is widely respected by the insurance industry for both his advisory and dispute resolution capability; he is supported by leading finance lawyer Jean Paul Chabaneix and top-rated litigator Luis Bedoya, while specialist senior associate Fernando Hurtado de Mendoza is ‘very commercial and aware of clients’ needs’.

Miranda & Amado fields a strong team in this area, which provides ‘very solid advice and expertise’ and is closely linked to its market-leading finance practice. Rafael Corzo has ‘deep knowledge’ and leads the practice alongside Anahi Com; while of counsel Eduardo Wiese and associate José Villafuerte provide regulatory know-how. The team is lead counsel to one of the two most dominant insurers in the Peruvian market, RIMAC Seguros, and gained Intercorp Financial Services/Interseguro Compañía de Seguros and Belcorp International as new clients this year. Matters included assisting the Peruvian Association of Insurance Companies (APESEG) with the drafting of new regulations for insurance coverage of the private pension system.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uria has a good reputation in the field under the guidance of department head Raúl Ferrero, who is respected by clients and peers alike. With five capable associates, including standout individual Omar Alfaro, the team acts for a number of key market players including Peruvian Association of Insurance Companies (APESEG), SECREX Compañía de Seguros de Crédito y Garantías and BNP Paribas Cardif Perú. The team recently advised Chile’s Mall Aventura on the tender process for insurance protection of its Latin American shopping malls.

Estudio Echecopar member firm of Baker McKenzie International acts for Zurich, HDI Seguros and Willis Corredores de Seguros, and advised Chubb Perú Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros on a $200m letter of guarantee in favour of the Ministry of Energy and Mines to secure the Gasoducto Sur Peruano. It has ‘the man power to handle bigger deals’ and a track record of establishing new insurance companies in Peru. Head of banking and finance Rafael Picasso leads the practice.

Lazo, De Romaña & CMB Abogados fields a multidisciplinary team led by leading finance lawyer Fátima De Romaña who bring regulatory, dispute resolution and corporate know-how to the insurance sector. The team handles investment and compliance matters for both Rímac Seguros y Reaseguros and Pacífico Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros, while other clients include BNP Paribas Cardif Peru and Gallagher Jao Corredores de Reaseguros.

Key clients at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados include Avla Peru Compañía de Seguros, Marsh Rehder Corredores de Seguros and Guy Carpenter. The firm advises on the full range of regulatory and contentious matters, such as advice to Zelle International on a reinsurance adjustment claim, valued at $650m. Banking and finance partner Andrés Kuan-Veng heads a practice that is distinguished by its ‘very substantial "in the trenches" litigation experience’.

Estudio Olaechea has a significant practice, distinguished by its full-time insurance team led by the very experienced Jesús Matos. As a result, the firm attracts multiple international players in the industry, from global insurers and reinsurers to banks and other financial institutions, as well as corporates. They include ABN Amro Life, Marsh Rehder Corredores de Seguros, Rigel Peru Compañia de Seguros de Vida and Caterpillar International Services del Perú.

Quiroga & Barton Abogados is a new entrant to the market, the practice formed in 2018 following Manuel Quiroga Suito’s departure from Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados where he had previously led the practice. An impressive array of clients now instruct the fledgling firm, such as Marsh Rehder Corredores de Seguros, which the firm advised on a $1.7m claim concerning Volcan Compañía Minera’s machinery losses; other clients include Willis Corredores de Seguros and Aon Graña Peru Corredores de Seguros.

Torres Carpio Portocarrero & Richter Abogados handles a healthy flow of insurance instructions, with notable name partner Pedro Richter leading on the work. Clients of the firm include MAPFRE España Compañia de Seguros y Reaseguros, Pacifico Vida Cia. de Seguros and RIMAC Internacional Cia. de Aseguros.