Both based in New York, Alexander Dye and John Schwolsky lead the insurance team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, which specializes in transactional and regulatory matters. The team is known for representing clients in M&A, reinsurance and alternative risk transfer transactions. It has experience acting for life, health and home insurance companies. Dye and Schwolsky have specialized knowledge of reinsurance transactions. The team is further joined by New York-based Michael Groll, who has experience representing underwriters in acquisitions. Also based in New York, Allison Tam advises reinsurance platforms on market entry, while Elizabeth Bannigan handles the sale of insurance companies. Howard Block has strong expertise in insurtech acquisitions and is also active in the firm’s New York office. In San Francisco, Kara Baysinger acts for clients on regulatory and compliance matters in the insurance industry.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The Willkie insurance practice group is the strongest I have worked with. They are consistently involved in many of the most high-profile insurance transactions because of their deep expertise, outstanding legal and business acumen, and superb client focus. The group is headed by John Schwolsky, who is the strongest corporate insurance lawyer with whom I have ever worked.’
- ‘John Schwolsky is, hands down, the strongest, most experienced and most knowledgeable corporate insurance lawyer with whom I have ever had the privilege to work. He is unfailingly helpful, thoughtful and pragmatic, a shrewd negotiator and highly capable draftsperson, and consistently responsive to his clients. I would recommend him unconditionally.’
- ‘Expertise, years of experience, and a strong grasp of the insurance regulatory environment.’
- ‘This team, and in particular John Schwolsky and Alex Dye, bridges many disciplines to form the finest insurance industry law practice in America.'
- 'They are as strong in securities regulation as in M&A, state insurance regulation and federal litigation. Their capabilities are head and shoulders above their peers.’
- ‘John Schwolsky in particular is the finest all-around insurance industry lawyer I have ever worked with. He combines peerless industry expertise with first-rate securities and M&A skills, outstanding negotiating results and highly commercial judgment.’
- ‘They are the absolute leader in MI CRT.’
- ‘Matt Stern is knowledgeable, efficient and has keen insight.’
Work highlights
Representing Corebridge Financial, Inc. (Corebridge) regarding an announcement that certain of its subsidiaries entered into an agreement with CS Life Re, a subsidiary of Venerable Holdings, Inc. to reinsure all the variable annuities of its Individual Retirement business, with account value totaling $51 billion.
Representing Equitable Financial in connection with the sale of 75 percent of its individual life insurance business to Reinsurance Group of America for a purchase price of over $2 billion.
Advised Protective Life Corporation, a US subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc., on its strategic reinsurance agreement with Resolution Life, a global life insurance group.
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.
Practice head
Alexander Dye; John Schwolsky
Other key lawyers
Michael Groll; Elizabeth Bannigan; Kara Baysinger; Allison Tam; Howard Block; Matthew Stern