Insurance: non-contentious in United States

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP excels in supporting transactions in the insurance market, representing insurers, reinsurers and private equity funds involved in high value M&A and financing deals, while also offering assistance with complex pension risk transfers and cross-border deals. Regulatory issues, including insurance regulator and attorneys general investigations, are also among the practice’s areas of focus. Marilyn Lion and Nicholas F. Potter lead the practice, with both being noted for their expertise in advising on insurance industry transactions, including M&A and financing transactions. Alexander Cochran handles M&A, financing and pension risk transfer deals, while David Grosgold is valued by clients for his expertise in overseeing international M&A, joint venture, reinsurance and bancassurance transactions between the USA, Latin America and Asia. John M. Vasily retired in 2022. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.


Practice head(s):

Marilyn Lion; Nicholas F. Potter


Other key lawyers:

Alexander Cochran; David Grosgold


Testimonials

‘The Debevoise team has worked closely with various teams within the organization and have become our trusted legal advisors. The level of service provided and interactions are more akin to the team being a de facto internal legal team, stepping up to support the internal teams whenever needed with exceptional service, turnaround times and in-depth knowledge of the industry providing commercial, pragmatic and practical advice.’

Key clients

American International Group


Axar Capital Management LP


Constellation Insurance Holdings


Covéa Mutual Insurance Group


Fortitude Group Holdings LLC


Global Atlantic Financial Group


James River Group Holdings, Ltd.


John Hancock Life Insurance Company


LIBERTY Dental Plan Corporation


Manulife Financial


Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.


Prudential Financial Inc.


Resolution Life US Matters


Sun Life Financial Inc.


The Blackstone Group


The Travelers Companies, Inc.


Wilton Re Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Global Atlantic Financial Group in connection with its $10 billion annuity reinsurance transaction with Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company to reinsure a portion of its group retirement annuities.
  • Advised Blackstone on the sale of the U.S. operations of Lombard International.
  • Advised Prudential Financial in a pension risk transfer deal with IBM.

Eversheds Sutherland

Eversheds Sutherland advises clients on major cross-border transactions and is well-versed in handling regulatory issues, including representing clients before numerous federal bodies. In addition to representing clients involved in mergers and acquisitions, the firm handles complex pension risk transfers and reinsurance deals, assisting clients in managing their plans’ liabilities. The practice leadership is based in New York and consists of regulatory compliance, acquisitions, dispositions and restructurings specialist John S. Pruitt, M&A expert Bert Adams and Ling Ling, who splits her time between New York and Washington D.C., advising on insurance, reinsurance and financing transactions. Cynthia R. Shoss is an experienced regulatory specialist, while Jim Dwyer supports clients with the full spectrum of insurance-related transactions. Dan Brown joined the firm from McDermott Will & Emery LLP in August 2022, advising on corporate and regulatory insurance issues out of the firm’s newly opened San Francisco office.

Practice head(s):

John S. Pruitt; Bert Adams; Ling Ling


Other key lawyers:

Cynthia R. Adams: Jim Dwyer; Daren Moreira; Dan Brown


Key clients

Allianz


Allstate


Arch Capital Group


Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services


Capital One


Columbian Mutual Life Insurance


Empower Retirement


Fairfax Financial


Further Global


GIC


Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance


Horace Mann Educators


Legal & General


MassMutual


MunichRe and Munich America Reassurance Corporation


Mutual of America Life Insurance


National Western Life Insurance


Pacific Life


Pan American Life


Pension Insurance Corporation


Phoenix Life


Resolution Life


Royal & Sun Alliance


Security Benefit Life


Symetra Financial Corporation


Talcott Resolution


Unum


Venerable Annuity


Voya Financial


Western & Southern Life


Wilton Re


Zurich Insurance Group


Work highlights


  • Represented Allianz on a competitive auction process, entering into a transaction to reinsure a US$35-billion fixed index annuity portfolio that its subsidiary Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has written.
  • Advised Empower on its acquisition of Prudential’s full-service retirement plan recordkeeping and administration business for a total transaction value of US$3.55 billion.
  • Advised Resolution Life’s board of directors on entering into a strategic partnership with Blackstone.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP handles a broad spectrum of insurance-related transactions, advising life and property-casualty insurers and reinsurers, private equity investors and banks on mergers and acquisitions and restructuring matters, but with particular strengths in the capital markets and alternative risk transfer fields. The practice is also well-versed in insurance security offerings and offers a strong regulatory service. The team is led by Alexander Dye, who advises on insurance-related M&A and capital market deals in addition to reinsurance matters, and John Schwolsky, who specializes in M&A and demutualization transactions and restructuring matters. Michael Groll is an experienced corporate and securities practitioner, handling public and private securities offerings. Kara Baysinger, who splits time between the San Francisco and Chicago offices, handles regulatory matters including compliance and investigations. All lawyers are New York-based unless otherwise specified.

 

 

Practice head(s):

Alexander Dye; John Schwolsky


Other key lawyers:

Michael Groll; Kara Baysinger


Testimonials

‘The WFG Corporate/Insurance team has a great range of knowledge and depth of experience; they are commercial and pragmatic; responsive and a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Willkie’s insurance practice, headed by John Schwolsky, is easily the best I have worked with over many years. John and his team at Willkie have been involved in most of the major insurance M&A transactions in recent years and this has enabled them to bring a level of experience, knowledge and judgment unmatched by other firms.’

‘John Schwolsky has been a leader in the non-contentious insurance practice world for many years, and his judgment, knowledge, and business and legal sophistication all reflect this. John is highly responsive, always available, an analytical and yet pragmatic thinker, and a genuinely collaborative partner. I cannot recommend him highly enough.’

Key clients

Alleghany Corporation


Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd


Aquiline Capital Partners


Assured Guaranty


California State Automobile Association


CNO Financial


CVS/Aetna


Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company


eHealth


Fidelity National Financial, Inc.


First American Financial Corporation


FIS


General Motors/OnStar Insurance


Generali


KKR & Co.


MetLife, Inc.


Metromile


Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co.


Mutual of Omaha


Nationwide


New York Life


Next Insurance


NORCAL Mutual


Protective Life Corporation


QBE Insurance


Rhino Insurance


Sixth Street


Spinnaker Insurance Company


Stone Point Capital


Telenav


TigerRisk Partners LLC


Travelers


Truist Insurance Holdings, Inc.


Trupanion


Velocity Risk


Versant Health


Volante Global


Voya Financial, Inc.


W.R. Berkley Corporation


Zurich Insurance Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Alleghany Corporation on its $11.6 billion acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway.
  • Represented Sixth Street in its agreement alongside Resolution Life to reinsure a $35 billion fixed index annuity portfolio of Allianz Life.

Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins strengthened its insurance practice with the June 2022 additions from Clifford Chance of reinsurance and insurance capital raising expert Gary Boss, who heads the team, insurer investments and alternative capital specialist Analisa Dillingham and Kirsten Gaeta, who focuses her practice on M&A and capital market transactions in addition to joint ventures. Counsel Dean Agnos supports clients engaged in public and private mergers, stock and asset transactions and start-ups. At associate level, Lily Phan advises property and casualty, life and health insurers on a variety of transactions and corporate matters. The practice advises insurers, reinsurers and private equity investors on complex transactions, including reinsurance and restructuring matters that have ties to markets in Bermuda and the UK among others. Furthermore, the practice has extensive experience handling the establishment of new insurance companies, in particular with regard to alternative capital strategies. On the regulatory front, the firm is active in advising on governance and licensing issues. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Gary Boss


Other key lawyers:

Analisa Dillingham; Kirsten Gaeta; Dean Agnos; Benjamin Lee; Lily Phan


Testimonials

‘Very knowledgeable and practical team who are aware of current regulatory developments and can proactively provide insight relevant to the business. Quite different than many I have worked with who just respond to questions. Responsive, thoughtful and nice people to work with.’

‘Gary Boss is very in tune with insurance market developments, regulatory matters and the perspective of investors in the insurance space. Using this, he is very helpful in identifying market developments might create opportunities for the firm and how we might take advantage of those opportunities. Again, proactive thinking as opposed to reactive. Very available, upfront and honest.’

‘This team offers real expertise in credit insurance, which is not something that all firms with an insurance practice can provide.’

‘Benjamin Lee is incredibly knowledgeable about credit insurance and has provided us with valuable insights in drafting insurance policy language. Whenever an issue arises, he is quick to offer a solution, and makes himself available when needed. Even when we have short time deadlines, Benjamin is always very responsive. He is always willing to take time to discuss and talk through issues and solutions. We certainly always feel like valued clients when we work with Benjamin.’

‘Gary Boss has an outstanding industry knowledge and has been supporting our company for a number of years. He is able to advise in a functional and pragmatic manner on a number of operational and legal issues. His team is excellent too with an impressive response speed and quality of product.’

‘Excellent knowledge of the legal laws and regulations as well as the regulatory environment of the insurance industry in the US and Bermuda.’

‘Gary Boss and Analisa Dillingham are both excellent partners.’

‘Gary Boss has an amazing ability to synthesize complex issues and get directly to the critical matters. He is not afraid to make recommendations. He is also one of the most pleasant people (not just limited to lawyers) that I have ever worked with. Analisa Dillingham is incredibly efficient and knowledgeable on all regulatory matters. When she tells us something, I have 100% confidence in the answer.’

Key clients

Apollo Management, L.P.


Aquiline


Sedgwick


Somers Group Holdings Ltd and Somers Re Ltd.


Harrington Reinsurance Holdings Limited and Harrington Re Ltd.


Reinsurance Group of America


Fortitude


Stone Point


Bayview


Partners Group


Work highlights


Mayer Brown

The ‘flexible and adaptable’ Mayer Brown team works with the firm’s offices around the world to support clients with transactional, regulatory and compliance matters in the insurance market. In addition, the practice has experience advising on capital raising, product development and technological transformations. The team is led by David Alberts, advising on M&A, life and non-life reinsurance, regulatory issues and heading the firm’s insurtech initiative, and Stephen Rooney, who assists with securities offerings, structured finance and M&A deals; both are New York-based. Insurance transactions specialist Vikram Sidhu, also based in New York, rejoined the firm from Clyde & Co in May 2022, focusing his practice on the sale and acquisition of insurance and reinsurance companies in addition to regulatory matters.


Practice head(s):

David Alberts; Stephen Rooney


Other key lawyers:

Vikram Sidhu


Testimonials

‘I have found the Mayer Brown team to be flexible and adaptable. I appreciate that they are able to adjust their communications to suit whatever is best for their clients. They have a well-rounded understanding of the insurance transactional landscape. They have also been able to leverage the firm’s incredible expertise in other subject matters to provide well-rounded support for transactions.’

‘Vikram Sidhu is wonderful to work with. He is easy to communicate with and always responds quickly. His work is high quality and he is a great partner who is able to evaluate things from both a legal and commercial perspective and provide good advice with both considerations.’

The Mayer Brown insurance team is one of the best in the country. They have a wonderful level of knowledge of the ins and outs of the insurance industry, and they are able to apply that knowledge in delivering practical and commercially feasible advice.

Key clients

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.


Beazley Group


Equitable


AIG


Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company


Tokio Marine


Munich Re


Partner Re


Chubb


QBE


Work highlights


  • Represented QBE in the sale of its book of North American excess and surplus lines insurance business.
  • Advised clients on significant insurance-linked securities offerings, including acting on 29 catastrophe bond transactions since November 2021, raising in aggregate approximately US $6.733 billion of risk capital.
  • Represented Chubb in connection with $1.6 billion offering of senior notes.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Insurers, reinsurers and private equity firms trust Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP for advice on regulatory and transactional insurance matters, including national and cross-border deals, in addition to financial and operational concerns. The practice includes integrated tax and regulatory teams, allowing the firm to advise on all aspects of complex deals, ranging from acquisitions and dispositions of insurance brokers, third party administrators and MGAs, joint ventures and reinsurance transactions. The New York-based team is led by Todd E. Freed, whose practice focuses on assisting insurance companies and private equity firms with high value transactions, Elena M. Coyle, who advises life and annuity, health, long-term care, property and casualty and surety market clients on M&A, reinsurance matters and regulatory issues and M&A and private equity specialist Jon A. Hlafter. Patrick J. Lewis, elected partner in April 2022, is noted for his representation of clients involved in high value M&A.

 

 

 


Practice head(s):

Todd E. Freed; Elena M. Coyle; Jon A. Hlafter


Other key lawyers:

Patrick J. Lewis


Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

In addition to advising insurers, private equity funds and capital market clients on insurance, reinsurance and M&A, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner also supports clients with navigating regulatory frameworks and dealing with emerging insurtech. The practice also assists with the formation of new companies and innovative insurance products, including reinsurance policies and financing, captive insurance solutions and alternative insurance distribution arrangements. In Kansas City, Jodi Adolf is an experienced regulatory specialist, supporting a wide range of sectors including life, health and property insurers and is also called upon by state regulators to handle insurance receiverships and runoffs.

Practice head(s):

Ken Achenbach; Brent Vincent; Robert Brunner


Other key lawyers:

Jodi Adolf


Key clients

Google, Inc.


McCarthy Capital


ReAlign Insurance Holdings, LLC


Fidelity Security Assurance Company


Buckle Holdings, Inc.


Accelerant Holdings


Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance in Receivership


Fleming Reinsurance Ltd.


Embark General Insurance Agency and Nations General Insurance Agency


EyeMed Vision Care LLC


Acrisure Holdings, Inc.


QBE


Altamont Capital Partners


Aflac


Reinsurance Group of America (RGA)


BCS Financial


Fidelity Security Life Insurance Company


Berkshire Hathaway


The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company


The Progressive Group


RiverStone Resources


TIG Insurance Company


Clear Spring Property & Casualty Company


James River Group Holdings Ltd.


FB Corporation/First Bank


RiverStone International


Quility Holding, LLC


Work highlights


  • Represented the Missouri Liquidator for Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance in the resolution of the ownership of large deductible recoveries arising from claims paid by state insurance guaranty associations on large deductible worker’s compensation policies.
  • Advised EyeMed regarding a major phishing-related data breach.
  • Represented James River Group Re in a Loss Portfolio Transfer Retrocession Agreement valued at approximately $335 million.

DLA Piper LLP (US)

DLA Piper LLP (US) is valued by clients for its ‘deep industry knowledge,’ advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and reorganizations in addition to providing corporate support. On the regulatory front, the team assists clients with state, federal, and international insurance and reinsurance compliance. New York-based practice head Aidan McCormack is the global co-chair of the firm’s insurance practice, advising on cross-border transactional and regulatory issues. Chicago’s David Mendelsohn‘s practice centers on transactional and regulatory matters, while Stephen Schwab, also in Chicago, specializes in international insurance and reinsurance regulation and compliance.

Practice head(s):

Aidan McCormack


Other key lawyers:

David Mendelsohn; Stephen Schwab


Testimonials

‘Deep industry knowledge and the ability to service clients cross border on complex deals and matters using the extensive DLA network.’

‘David Mendelsohn – experienced, reassuring and great to work with on both a professional and individual level.’

Key clients

NextLevel Health Partners


Trustmark Companies


The Horton Group


Delaware Life Insurance Company


Clear Springs Life Assurance Company


HUB International


American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.


Capital & Co. Insurance Services LLC


EquiTrust Life Insurance Company


King & Spalding LLP

King & Spalding LLP represents clients involved in insurance and reinsurance transactions, including M&A and associated regulatory matters, working alongside the firm’s corporate and private equity practices to advise on national and international acquisitions and investments. The practice is led by Bernhardt Nadell in New York, who advises on insurance industry mergers and acquisitions, insurance-related securities transactions, reinsurance matters, insurance law and regulation and corporate issues. Counsel Gary Ho, also based in New York, assists with insurance transactions.

Practice head(s):

Bernhardt Nadell


Other key lawyers:

Gary Ho


Key clients

T&D Holdings, Inc./T&D United Capital North America Inc.


Atlas Merchant Capital


Vida Capital Inc.


Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank


Capital One


MAG Mutual Insurance Company


Nomura Holdings, Inc.


Catalina Holdings (Bermuda) Ltd


Arrowpoint Capital Corp.


Munich RE


ACON Investments


Trive Capital


CURO Group Holdings Corp.


Taiyo Life Insurance Company


T&D Financial Life Insurance Company


Afiniti, Inc.


Paceline Equity Partners


Work highlights


  • Represented T&D United Capital Co., Ltd in a $2.1 billion co-investment transaction with Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, various other sovereign wealth funds and pension plans, and The Carlyle Group.
  • Represented a leading Japanese life insurance company in a $2 billion reinsurance transaction with Fortitude International Reinsurance Company Ltd.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP advises insurers, reinsurers and private equity funds on a variety of insurance-related transactions ranging from M&A, reinsurance, joint ventures and securities offerings. Furthermore, the firm offers support in regard to the regulatory aspect of transactions, and is also increasingly active in representing insurtech firms. Rajab Abbassi has significant experience in handling complex cross-border transactions including strategic investments and is also called upon to advise boards of directors on governance issues. Regulatory matters are the domain of Parimah Hassouri, who supports clients across the the life, health, property and casualty, financial guaranty, mortgage guaranty and title insurance industries with the regulatory aspects of transactions, formation and licensing of new companies, governance and compliance. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Other key lawyers:

Rajab Abbassi; Parimah Hassouri


Key clients

Martello Re


Wilton Re Limited


ORIX USA


Metromile


Centerbridge Partners


Root, Inc.


Insurance Supermarket


Special Committee of the Board of Directors of State Auto


Financial Corp.


Thomas H. Lee Partners and AmeriLife


GI Partners


AssuredPartners, Inc.


Flexpoint Ford, LLC


VSP Vision


Doma Holdings Inc.


Work highlights


  • Advised Centerbridge Partners and Martello Re Limited on the launch of Martello Re.
  • Advised Wilton Re on its acquisition of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York.
  • Advised Metromile on its agreement to be acquired by insurance company Lemonade in an all-stock transaction.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Cross-border insurance M&A is the focus for the team at McDermott Will & Emery LLP, which advises insurers, private equity investors and holding companies on the sales, purchases and mergers of insurance companies, in addition to providing regulatory support. The firm is also well-versed in handling insurtech matters, assisting both new and established clients with corporate, tax and regulatory issues. Practice head Michael Halsband is a highly experienced insurance and reinsurance industry specialist, with particular expertise in transactional mandates. Michael Byrne is the team’s insurtech specialist, also handling transactional and regulatory matters. All lawyers mentioned are New York-based.

Practice head(s):

Michael Halsband


Other key lawyers:

Michael Byrne; Thomas Dawson


Key clients

Transverse Insurance Group LLC


United Services Automobile Association


Team Focus Insurance Group


M.J. Hall & Co., Inc. and M.J. Hall & Company of Alaska, Inc.


Tarmika, Inc.


Panorama Insurance Group


WeSure Digital Insurance Service


Volery Capital Partners


Swiss Re Group


CHW Acquisition Corporation


Comvest Partners/Robbins


Crouse and Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Represented Transverse Insurance Group LLC in its acquisition by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group.
  • Assisted United Services Automobile Association in its acquisition of California-based insurtech firm Noblr, Inc.
  • Represented Team Focus Insurance Group in its sale to PEAK6 InsurTech, a subsidiary of Chicago-based financial technology business PEAK6.