Sidley Austin LLP is well-established in the insurance and reinsurance game and trusted by insurers, reinsurers, PE firms, and other interested parties to lead them through various complex and emerging transactional and regulatory matters pertinent in the space. Routinely advising on high-value deals at the top end of the market, the team specializes in alternative forms of insurance such as mutuals, lead-on conversions, asset-intensive insurance matters, and reciprocal transactions, enjoying a global reach and working in dialogue particularly with the firm’s London outpost to handle matters involving Japanese life insurers, Bermuda-based entities, and various other international players. The group is led by a team of four, including veteran Chicago-based practitioner Perry Shwachman, New York-based Jonathan Kelly, who handles regulatory, capital markets, and fundraising-related work, Chicago-based Amanda Todd, who specializes in life insurance acquisitions and reinsurance transactions, and transactional, governance, and regulatory-focused Sean Carney, who also sits in the Chicago office.
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Key clients

  • Aflac
  • Altamont Capital Partners
  • American International Group
  • American National Group
  • Aon
  • Apollo Global Management
  • Arthur J. Gallagher
  • Aspen Insurance
  • Athene Holding
  • Brookfield Asset Management

Work highlights

Representing Sentry Insurance in the pending acquisition of non-standard auto insurer The General® from American Family Insurance for a total transaction value of US$1.7 billion.
Represented National Western Life in its US$1.9 billion acquisition by an affiliate of Prosperity Life.
Represented National Life Group in a US$4.9 billion flow and block annuity reinsurance transaction with 26North.

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.

Practice head

Perry Shwachman; Jonathan J. Kelly; Amanda Todd; Sean Carney