Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP‘s New York-based group offers comprehensive services to a wide range of global insurance industry stakeholders, including life insurers, P&C insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries, Insurtechs, mortgage and financial guaranty insurers, PE and asset manager sponsors, to name a few. Headed by Alexander Dye and John Schwolsky, who both bring several decades of experience in insurance corporate transactions to the table, the team is equipped to advise on matters including M&A, capital markets, ILS/alternative risk transfers and insurance-linked securities, sidecar transactions, complex industry financing structures, offerings, and more. Other integral team members include; Elizabeth Bannigan, whose agile practice encompasses M&A, transactions such as loss portfolio transfers, and regulatory counsel; Laura Delanoy, who is dedicated to M&A; Michael Groll, a partner notably well-versed in public and private securities offerings as well as M&A; and David Luce, who splits his talents across capital markets, M&A, and reinsurance matters. Regulatory-focused Allison Tam is another name to note, as is Vladimir Nicenko , who covers an array of insurance and reinsurance transactions.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘John Schwolsky, Alex Dye and his partners and associates are, simply put, the finest insurance industry-focused, full-service legal team in the world. Their knowledge of the industry, their ability to provide valuable strategic advice, and their unparalleled capacity to support securities regulation, state insurance regulation, and mergers and acquisitions matters equally well are wonderful points of differentiation in a crowded field. John in particular is, in my view, the best all-round insurance regulatory, securities, mergers and acquisitions, and insurance lawyer of whom I am aware.’
‘Ben Nixon and Howard Block, two very talented more junior colleagues of John and Alex, also deserve mention as outstanding professionals.’
‘Willkie's corporate insurance practice is, in my experience, the best there is. The team is involved in most corporate insurance transactions of any size. They are highly knowledgeable, universally well-respected, extraordinarily client service-focused, and simply excellent at what they do.’
‘John Schwolsky is one of the leaders of the team. His combination of experience, knowledge, client service, and general corporate ability is, in my view, unparalleled. He is a pleasure to work with (not something to be said for all lawyers!).’
Key clients
- Alleghany Corporation
- Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd
- Aquiline Capital Partners
- American Family Insurance Group
- Arch Insurance North America
- Assured Guaranty
- Bamboo Ide8 Insurance Services, LLC
- California State Automobile Association
- CNO Financial
- CVS/Aetna
Work highlights
Advising Arch Insurance North America on Acquisition of Allianz’s U.S. MidCorp and Entertainment Insurance Businesses.
Advising American Family Insurance Group on its entrance into a partnership with Gallatin Point Capital.
Advising MGT Partners on its acquisition of CM Select Insurance Company from Church Mutual Holding Company Inc.
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
Elizabeth Bannigan; Laura Delanoy; Michael Groll; David Luce; Allison Tam; Matthew Stern; David Heales; Donald Henderson; Ben Nixon; Howard Block