Jennifer Tait > Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

US firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP‘s London team supports clients across the full spectrum of the insurance corporate and regulatory sector, including on cross-border M&A, longevity reinsurance transactions, ILS structures, regulatory advice and restructurings. The team also handles bancassurance and international distribution transactions, insurance portfolio transfers and legacy deals as well as private equity investments in insurance. The London team dovetails effectively with US-based colleagues in New York and San Francisco. Hugely experienced practice head Joseph Ferraro is recommended for handling corporate insurance issues. Andrew Tromans acts for life and non-life insurance companies, often working on Part VII transfers, policy wordings, FSA and EU regulatory matters. Nicholas Bugler, Kirsty Maclean and Jennifer Tait are further key team members. The practice has been bolstered by the arrivals of Melanie James and Tim Baumgartner from DLA Piper in January 2022.

Known for its insurance sector strength, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP is particularly active in the insurance capital markets space, as well as handling SPACs, private equity and fund work. The firm has experience across various global exchanges, aided by its strong US network. Dual qualified in the UK and NY, Jennifer Tait represents issuers and underwriters in capital markets transactions in the US and Europe in public and private offerings. She co-leads the practice with corporate insurance capital markets specialist Joseph Ferraro.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP climbs the rankings on the strength of its presence in key market niches. The practice acts for private equity sponsors, corporate issuers and financial institutions on the full spectrum of capital markets transactions in the UK, Europe and the US, but it is particularly strong in Rule 144A and Regulation S debt transactions, liability management transactions and insurance-linked debt instruments. The firm’s deep knowledge of regulatory and rating agency capital adequacy criteria and capital markets structures and processes make it a prominent adviser on complex insurance industry capital raisings involving Solvency II and BMA Tier 1, 2, and 3 regulatory capital requirements. London head of capital markets Jennifer Tait and head of corporate insurance capital markets Joseph Ferraro are the key practitioners. They acted for Lancashire Holdings Limited in its $450m offering of notes listed on the London Stock Exchange. Associate David Griffiths in the insurance transactional and regulatory practice is a key adviser on insurance-linked securities.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP acts predominantly for private equity sponsors and has a growing presence in that sector of the market. London head of capital markets Jennifer Tait and head of corporate insurance capital markets Joseph Ferraro lead a group that also works for corporate issuers and financial institutions, advising on the UK and US aspects of the full range of capital markets transactions. A key focus is Rule 144A and Regulation S debt transactions, with a particular on high yield bond offerings, as well as other private placements.