The multidisciplinary practice at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s insurance team offers a comprehensive range of services spanning complex transactions, representation for insurers, reinsurers, and private equity funds in high-value M&A and financing endeavors, as well as assistance with intricate pension risk transfers and cross-border deals. Led by seasoned corporate partners Marilyn Lion and Nicholas Potter, based in New York, the practice boasts a diverse group of lawyers dedicated to M&A, finance, capital markets, regulatory compliance, taxation, and litigation. Further notable figures in New York include Alexander Cochran, specializing in insurance industry transactions and David Grosgold offering expertise in domestic and international corporate transactions. Additionally, Drew Dutton heads the firm’s private funds transactions group, bringing valuable experience in anchor investments, co-investments, joint ventures, and secondaries transactions; while Eric Dinallo, chairs the insurance regulatory practice. Notably, this year saw recent additions to the practice’s partner ranks, including Andrew Jamieson, promoted to partner in 2022, focusing on advising private equity firms and corporate clients on intricate transactions and Kristen Matthews, elevated to partner in May 2023, both based in New York.

 

With both domestic and international strength, Eversheds Sutherland’s insurance team offers experience across various sectors, including life and annuity, property and casualty insurance, reinsurance transactions, Bermuda platform establishment, third-party capital investments, insurance asset management and regulation. Particularly notable is their proficiency in pension risk transfer transactions and developing, registering, and ensuring compliance with 1940 Act registered UIT/separate accounts funded variable insurance products. Bert Adams, bringing significant experience in advising on complex corporate insurance sector mergers and acquisitions, and Ling Ling, a recognized expert in insurance, reinsurance, and financing transactions co-head the practice from New York. Alongside them, John S. Pruitt, the deputy practice group leader, offers deep experience, focusing on reinsurance, insurance regulation, and emerging issues. Other key contacts in New York include Cynthia R. Shoss, with extensive experience in insurance regulation; Jim Dwyer, experienced in representing major insurers in various transactions including acquisitions, demutualization, and restructurings and Kevin Finnegan, an expert in financial services transactions. Michele Spencer, based in Washington DC, handles issues related to mergers, acquisitions, and regulatory compliance. Notably, the practice saw a number of new partner hires in 2023, including Rachel Reid in Atlanta from an in-house role, Renée Dailey in New York from Akin, and Dan Brown in California from McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

 

 

Described as ‘highly responsive, very experienced and a pleasure to deal with,’ Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP‘s insurance transactional and regulatory practice is renowned for its handling of significant M&A, capital markets, and ILS/alternative risk transfer transactional matters within the insurance industry. The practice boasts a unique strength in alternative risk transfer reinsurance cessions, catering to both risk sellers and buyers. Co-headed by Alexander Dye and John Schwolsky in New York, the practice focuses on M&A, capital markets insurance transactions, and the restructuring of troubled insurers, alongside demutualization transactions. Other key figures in the New York practice include corporate and securities law specialist Michael Groll, reinsurance transactions expert Elizabeth Bannigan, and Allison Tam, co-chair of the insurance regulatory group, renowned for her strong national and international restructuring transaction expertise. Kara Baysinger, based in San Francisco, serves as co-chair of the firm’s insurance regulatory and insurtech groups, representing national and international insurance and reinsurance companies, insurtech, and technology companies on a wide array of regulatory, compliance, and strategic matters.

Supported by the addition of Gary Boss and his team from Clifford Chance, Latham’s insurance practice represents some of the largest global insurers and reinsurers, private equity firms, top-tier asset managers, and financial investors in the insurance and broader financial services sectors. This client portfolio complements Latham’s existing strong insurance and private equity client base, bolstering the firm’s position as a comprehensive solution provider for clients seeking guidance on intricate transactions. Based in New York, Boss specializes in private equity insurance M&A and the establishment of capital raises for new companies in the insurance and reinsurance sectors. He adeptly advises clients and their portfolio companies on navigating today’s highly regulated markets, both locally and internationally. Other key figures in the practice include Analisa Dillingham, based in New York, who focuses on alternative capital work, insurer investments, Insurtech, and insurance regulatory matters. Meanwhile, also in New York, Kirsten Gaeta brings her expertise in corporate and transactional matters alongside regulatory expert Benjamin Lee and Teresa Wendel offering extensive experience working with major P&C and life and health insurers and reinsurers. Additionally, counsels Alexander Traum and Dean Agnos, also based in New York, further strengthen the practice.

 

Praised for their ‘excellent credentials, breadth, and depth in their coverage,’ Mayer Brown offers closely integrated cross-border teams that advise on some of the most significant deals in the market. Leading the practice from New York, David Alberts and Stephen Rooney co-head the team, with Alberts specializing in work for both the life and non-life insurance sectors, while Rooney represents insurers and underwriters in domestic and international offerings of debt, equity, and hybrid securities. Other key figures in the New York practice include Vikram Sidhu, who brings extensive experience in transactions involving both US and non-US entities across various lines of insurance, and Yuliya Feldman, renowned for her assistance to clients in formation and licensing, product and program development, (re)insurance transactions, cybersecurity compliance and insurance regulatory filings associated with corporate changes. Additionally, with the recent additions of partners Jared Wilner from Locke Lord LLP, former NY Department of Financial Services partner Justin Herring, and Allison Lee from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, the firm has further strengthened in New York.

DLA Piper LLP (US), led by Aidan McCormack in New York, encompasses a multidisciplinary team proficient in all facets of transactions involving insurers, reinsurers, MGAs, brokers, and insurtech companies. In addition to transactional work, the practice aids fund managers and insurance companies in establishing insurance-focused funds and investments. Leveraging their global reach, the team is adept at supporting clients in intricate cross-border engagements, often advising on global M&A, private equity/venture capital, corporate, and finance attorneys to offer comprehensive advice. In Chicago, Stephen Schwab focuses on international trade, particularly in insurance and reinsurance regulation, compliance, transactions, dispute resolution, and receiverships, while David Mendelsohn brings extensive experience representing insurers, reinsurers, brokers, and other clients in various transactions, including complex regulatory matters and mergers and acquisitions. Furthermore, key figures such as Matthew Gorra, based in Baltimore, offer transactional expertise across a broad range of industries, advising both private and public clients from both seller and buyer perspectives.

King & Spalding LLP combines transactional and regulatory expertise, handling complex, interdisciplinary domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, reinsurance, and other transactions, bolstered by the team’s close collaboration with the firm’s international corporate and private equity practices. Bernhardt Nadell, based in New York, leads the practice, focusing on insurance industry mergers and acquisitions, insurance-linked securities transactions, reinsurance, insurance law and regulation, and general corporate matters. He also represents insurers and reinsurers in corporate and regulatory affairs. Supporting Nadell in New York is Gary Ho, who brings extensive experience representing acquirers and sellers, including private equity firms, insurers, reinsurers, and international financial firms, in various complex insurance-related transactions, including acquisitions of run-off companies, insurance producers, claim adjusters, annuity business, and sponsored demutualizations.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP‘s insurance practice offers comprehensive guidance on a variety of high-profile transactions, including M&A, reinsurance, joint ventures, securities offerings, and regulatory matters. Serving a diverse clientele that includes insurers, reinsurers, private equity firms, InsurTech firms, and other participants in the insurance industry, the firm provides tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of each client. Based in New York, Rajab Abbassi brings extensive experience in corporate transactions within the insurance sector, as well as expertise in strategic and governance matters. Parimah Hassouri, also in New York, complements the practice with a focus on insurance regulatory matters, providing regular counsel to both US and international insurers on a wide range of regulatory and corporate issues across various insurance sectors. Her client base encompasses entities operating in life, health, property and casualty, and title insurance industries, as well as private equity funds and other sponsors. Another key member, Kimberly Meng Han, also operating from New York, specializes in representing public companies, private equity sponsors, and private entities in a diverse array of complex business transactions, with a particular emphasis on the insurance industry.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s insurance team brings seasoned expertise to transactional, regulatory, and dispute resolution matters. Supported by a cross-border team, it offers practical support to insurers, private equity investors, and holding companies, guiding them through sales, purchases, and mergers while navigating regulatory complexities. The team also specializes in insurtech, tackling challenges such as multi-state regulatory approvals, cybersecurity, social media, intellectual property, and big data ownership. Based in New York, Michael Halsband leads the practice, bringing deep experience covering a wide array of areas within the insurance industry, from insurance broker and carrier M&A to new company formation, capital raises, complex structured transactions, and insurance-linked securities. Supporting the practice from New York, Michael Byrne represents domestic and international clients in change of control transactions, licensing and structuring, product development, and regulatory approvals, while also being a recognized leader in the insurtech space. Additionally, Thomas Dawson serves as a trusted advisor on regulatory approvals and compliance matters, with a particular focus on ESG issues, further enhancing the team’s capabilities.