Co-led by Marilyn Lion and Nicholas Potter, the insurance practice at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP regularly acts for clients including insurers, reinsurers and asset management funds. The team’s expertise spans regulatory guidance, advising on sales and M&A in the insurance industry, and supporting clients on reinsurance transactions. Potter focuses on transactional matters, often representing insurance companies, while Lion is well versed in insurance and reinsurance regulatory issues. Alexander Cochran is known for his strong knowledge of pension risk transfer transactions, while David Grosgold regularly leads domestic and cross-border corporate mandates. Other notable members of the team include Andrew Jamieson, who supports global investment firms in the insurance sector, and Kristen Matthews, who advises life insurance companies. Since being promoted to partner in July 2024, Paulina Stanfel assists on a range of reinsurance matters. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Incredibly knowledgeable team about insurance related M&A. Because they have so much experience in the area, they understand all the potential issues in the deal and are incredibly efficient at getting to an agreement.’
‘Andrew Jamieson is an incredibly capable lawyer who does a great job distilling legal issues for business teams.’
‘A wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as an incredibly deep bench.’
‘Debevoise has an incredibly deep bench with leading practitioners in the non-contentious insurance space. Partners include Nicholas F. Potter, David Grosgold, Alexander Cochran and Andrew Jamieson.’
'Debevoise & Plimpton has the premier global non-contentious insurance practice. They are the single best law firm in this space on a global basis with a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as an incredibly deep bench.'
Key clients
- American International Group
- Bain Capital LLC
- Brighthouse Financial
- Corebridge Financial
- Elliott Investment Management
- Guardian Life
- Manulife Financial
- Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company
- MetLife Insurance Company
- Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd.
- Northwestern Mutual
- Prudential Financial Inc.
- Prosperity Life Insurance Company
- Resolution Life Group Holdings Ltd
- RSC Insurance Brokerage, Inc.
- StanCorp Financial Group
- Talcott Resolution
- Unum Life Insurance Company
- Velocity Risk Underwriters
- Voya Financial
Work highlights
Advising Resolution Life in the acquisition of 100% of its shares by Nippon Life Insurance Company (Nippon Life) at a valuation of $10.6 billion.
Advising Resolution Life in its $9.7 billion strategic reinsurance agreement with Protective, a U.S. subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings.
Advising Bain Capital in its $825 million strategic growth investment in Lincoln Financial (NYSE: LNC).
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Marilyn Lion; Nicholas F. Potter
Other key lawyers
Alexander Cochran; David Grosgold; Andrew Jamieson; Kristen Matthew; Paulina Stanfel