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

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP leverages its market-leading position in the US to provide client of its London office with a particularly strong offering in relation to transatlantic mandates in the insurance sector. With capabilities that cover the full gamut of M&A, Part VII transfers, reinsurance, de-risking, and Lloyd’s market, the firm combines sector expertise with the capacity to handle complex, cross-border corporate matters. Joseph Ferraro heads the insurance practice, with an established reputation in handling M&A and corporate finance work in the insurance space. Melanie James has an insurance expertise that covers the full range of non-contentious mandates, while Nicholas Bugler  has a specialism in the intersection of reinsurance and capital markets. Jennifer Tait has experience in insurance-linked security transactions, Kirsty Maclean is involved in longevity reinsurance, and Andrew Tromans advises insurance and financial institution clients on company matters, M&A, joint ventures, and outsourcings. Tim Baumgartner covers the full scope of general corporate and insurance-specific transactions, as does associate Eilidh Brown who has an emphasis on risk transfer transactions in the life insurance sector.

The capital market group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP is known for its ‘expertise and proactivity‘ and clients note that the high yield partners are ‘seasoned professionals, who keep calm and are able to step back and find another way, if needed‘. London head of capital markets Jennifer Tait and head of corporate insurance capital markets Joseph Ferraro are the main practitioners handling a broad range of work from IPOs to high yield and investment grade bond issuance. Tait and associate David Griffiths acted as financing counsel to Platinum Equity and Solenis in the $5.25bn acquisition of Clearon, which included the issuance of $325m in high yield notes.

One client of Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP remarks that ‘the technical brilliance of this practice is second to none‘. The firm has notable expertise in the insurance capital markets, though it also handles investment grade issuance for corporates and sponsors. London head of capital markets Jennifer Tait and head of corporate insurance capital markets Joseph Ferraro are the principal partners, and both are ‘technically very able and efficient‘. They acted for Herbie Re Ltd in the issuance of $80m in variable rate notes. The transaction was sponsored by Fidelis Insurance Bermuda, which provides Fidelis with reinsurance protection against losses from earthquakes in peak regions in North America. The group also assisted SCOR SE with its $240m offering of notes. Associate David Griffiths is a key adviser on insurance-linked securities and ‘an absolute technician who knows his subject matter inside and out‘.

Praised by clients for its ‘pragmatic approach‘ and ‘responsive and effective service’, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP is also noted for the strength of its securities offering, particularly in relation to US law aspects. The team’s advice includes offerings by public companies, the issuances of high-yield and investment grade bonds, and common and preferred stock in the UK, US and foreign markets. Jennifer Tait and Joseph Ferraro co-lead the team.