Clifford Chance LLP is recommended for handling insurance-based M&A, group restructurings and structured reinsurance transactions. The practice has played a key role in the development of the UK as an ILS jurisdiction and continues to advise on ILS transactions internationally in Bermuda and Singapore. Practice head Ashley Prebble, also global co-head of the insurance group, specialises in corporate and regulatory insurance matters, including M&A, Part VII transfers and complex reinsurance arrangements. Both Hilary Evenett and Katherine Coates retired from the partnership in May 2021; whilst the former continues to advise clients across the non-contentious insurance space as senior director, the latter remains active as a part-time consultant to the practice as a special counsel. Narind Singh is recommended for his work on corporate insurance transactions, while Cheng Li Yow offers expertise in non-contentious reinsurance, including providing reinsurance regulatory advice.

Hogan Lovells International LLP advises clients across the breadth of the insurance industry, including life and non-life insurers, reinsurers, Lloyd’s participants, mutual banks and intermediaries. The practice covers the full spectrum of insurance work, enompassing Part VII transfers, M&A, restructurings, sanctions and BREXIT-related matters. Nicola Evans has replaced Charles Rix as global head of insurance, who continues to support clients in relation to M&A, Part VII transfers and business restructurings. Tim Goggin focuses on corporate deals, while Steven McEwan handles issues involving risk transfer and regulatory capital. Jamie Rogers advises on the application of financial crime laws and regulation in the insurance sector. Jonathan Russell is another key name to note.

Norton Rose Fulbright supports clients in relation to insurance M&A, regulatory matters, restructurings and insurtech issues. The team is also recognised for its Lloyd’s market and life sector expertise. Practice head James Bateson has a particular focus on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, distribution arrangements, restructurings, Part VII transfers, corporate governance and regulatory issues. Maria Ross handles transactional and regulatory insurance work, primarily within the life and reassurance sectors. Bob Haken specialises in discontinued businesses, restructurings, the Lloyd’s market and regulation. Nicholas Berry is recommended for his work in the insurtech space, while Matthew Foster has a growing reputation in handling insurance M&A. Noleen John  stepped down from partnership but remains active as a consultant to the practice. David Whear retired in 2022.

Slaughter and May is highly regarded for its expert handling of large-scale transactions in the insurance sector, including public and private M&A, debt and equity capital markets work as well as cross-border reinsurance transactions. Part VII transfers, pension deriskings, restructurings and complex disputes are further key areas of focus for the department. In the past year, the practice has seen increasing instructions in relation to consolidation deals in the non-life retail broking sphere. Jonathan Marks oversees the team, recommended for dealing with corporate, governance and risk transfer issues. Craig Cleaver focuses on M&A in the insurance-space, while Nick Bonsall handles insurance advisory and derisking matters. Robert Chaplin works across the life and non-life sectors for insurance groups, financial sponsors, Lloyd’s businesses and government/supra-national organisations.

US firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP's London team supports clients across the full spectrum of the insurance corporate and regulatory sector, including on cross-border M&A, longevity reinsurance transactions, ILS structures, regulatory advice and restructurings. The team also handles bancassurance and international distribution transactions, insurance portfolio transfers and legacy deals as well as private equity investments in insurance. The London team dovetails effectively with US-based colleagues in New York and San Francisco. Hugely experienced practice head Joseph Ferraro is recommended for handling corporate insurance issues. Andrew Tromans acts for life and non-life insurance companies, often working on Part VII transfers, policy wordings, FSA and EU regulatory matters. Nicholas Bugler, Kirsty Maclean and Jennifer Tait are further key team members. The practice has been bolstered by the arrivals of Melanie James and Tim Baumgartner from DLA Piper in January 2022.

Allen & Overy LLP provides a full service to clients in the corporate and regulatory insurance space. Philip Jarvis heads the insurance group.

Clyde & Co provides a full-service corporate and commercial legal offering to life and general insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries. In addition to providing traditional M&A advice and helping insurance clients with their growth strategies, the practice also offers expertise in the disposal of legacy portfolios, the run-off market, Brexit-related issues as well as reinsurance and alternative transfer risk arrangements. Practice head Ivor Edwards, who also leads the European teams across Germany, France and Spain, specialises in the Lloyd’s market. Stephen Browning advises on start-ups, reorganisations, acquisitions and disposals in the insurance sector.

CMS operates across the breadth of the insurance sector, supporting clients on transactions, regulatory matters and insurtech issues. Specifically, the department is recognised for its capabilities in the annuity and pension risk transfer markets. Chris Southorn and Paul Edmondson jointly head the team; while the former leads the corporate offering, the latter oversees the regulatory practice. Owen Ross has strengthened the firm’s transactional capabilities. Rizwan Rahman advises insurance clients on M&A transactions, reorganisations, joint ventures, investments and corporate matters. Thomas Lockley supports reinsurers on complex regulatory capital driven transactions. Jenny Nanalal operates within the transactional reinsurance and pension risk transfer market, while James Parker is recognised for his pensions de-risking work. Pippa Tasker and Angela Greenough are other key names within the practice.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP handles complex, cross-border M&A transactions as well as provding advice on the full gamut of regulatory issues for insurance sector clients. The firm is also recommended for its work in reinsurance as well as capital markets and financing. Practice head Clare Swirski focuses on insurance-based M&A, share and business sales, reinsurance and the effects Solvency II. Co-head James C Scoville deals with transactions involving insurance companies. Benjamin Lyon, a dual English and New Zealand-qualified international counsel, advises on M&A in the Lloyd’s market.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has expertise across a range of transactional, regulatory and distribution work in the insurance space. Notably, the practice is recommended for its work in M&A, pension de-risking and insurtech. Practice head Hugo Laing specialises in insuance sector transactions, including M&A, portfolio transfers and reinsurance matters. Cardiff-based Paul Pugh and Manchester-based Paula Gaddum are further key members of the department, with the latter offering extensive experience in insurance market agreements. The team has been bolstered by the arrivals of Martin Mankabady and Adriana Cotter from Dentons in 2022. Senior associate Rosamund Wood advises trustee, sponsor, insurer and reinsurer clients on the full spectrum of de-risking options, while fellow senior associate Henry Dean handles regulatory matters, Part VII transfers and reinsurance issues.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s corporate insurance practice is recommended for its work in relation to reinsurance, M&A, portfolio transfers and regulatory issues. Geoffrey Maddock oversees the team, with considerable experience dealing with transactional and regulatory matters. Barnaby Hinnigan advises insurers and intermediaries on corporate and regulatory projects. Consultant Alison Matthews handles Solvency II matters as well as offering expertise on a wide range of regulatory issues, including the IDD, BREXIT and governance. Of counsel Grant Murtagh focuses on reinsurance transactions, Part VII transfers and M&A.

Linklaters LLP is recognised for its de-risking practice, which covers buy-ins, buy-outs and longevity swaps. The department is also adept at dealing with M&A, reinsurance issues and internal reorganisations, including Part VII transfers, advisory work and distribution. Lorna Tennent oversees the team, advising multinational insurers on various aspects of Solvency II. Corporate lawyer Dan Schuster-Woldan is the global relationship partner for clients such as AXA and Phoenix and offers wide-ranging experience in public and private M&A, demergers, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and equity capital markets transactions. Duncan Barber is recommened for his work across the breadth of the non-contentious insurance space, particular focusing on M&A, reinsurances, distribution arrangements, financings and securitisations. Ben Wilkinson is another key name to note.

Pinsent Masons LLP advises clients across a wide range of issues, including strategic M&A, complex reinsurance arrangements, Part VII transfers, longevity de-risking transactions and insurance regulatory matters. The practice is focused on the financial services sector and handles life insurance, general insurance, pensions, health, savings and investments. Hammad Akhtar became global head of the firm’s transactional services group in August 2021, offering expertise in M&A, Part VII transfers and reinsurance. Hannah Brader now leads the corporate financial services team, specialising in M&A in the insurance and wealth management space. Madhu Jain and Matthew Brewer are further key members of the team, with the former focusing on on a broad range of corporate insurance transactions including M&A, reinsurance and distribution arrangements. David Heffron has moved internally, to take up the role of head of finance and projects.

RPC handles the full spectrum of insurance transactional and regulatory advice; the practice is instructed on M&A, reinsurance matters, Lloyd’s market assistance, commercial arrangements and insuretech issues. The department acts for insurers, brokers, management teams, investors and innovative start-ups. Practice head Matthew Griffith, also co-lead of the firm’s financial institutions regulatory group, focuses on insurance regulatory issues as well as advising insurers on their BREXIT-related restructuring projects. James Mee has considerable experience in the sector and is another key member of the team. William Hogarth joined the practice in 2021 from Clyde & Co, offering expertise in reinsurance arrangements, including legacy market transactions. Senior associate Jonathan Charwat deals with insurance contracts and regulation, in addition to investigations work.

Ashurst's practice handles and array of work including M&A, captive insurance matters, reinsurance and alternative risk transfer arrangements, as well as product development, distribution and regulatory issues. Practice head Adam Levitt advises on M&A, restructurings, portfolio transfers under the Financial Services and Markets Act, capital raisings and risk transfer transactions. Nick Wong specialises in financing for the insurance sector, including acquisition finance, funds at Lloyd’s facilities, reinsurance letter of credit facilities and syndicate level lending. James Perry and senior associate Jacob Gold are further key members of the team.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner provides a full-service corporate and regulatory insurance offering; the team advises on M&A, reinsurance, restructuring by means of cross-border mergers and portfolio transfers, regulatory and governance work as well as with-profits life insurance issues. The firm also offers M&A warranty and indemnity insurance capabilities. Practice head Geraldine Quirk is supported by Adam Bogdanor, who supports leading insurers on M&A, Part VII business transfer schemes, reinsurance, schemes of arrangement, conduct of business and management of with-profits funds. Andrew Hart works closely with US clients in connection with their international transactions and on-going EU operations.

DAC Beachcroft LLP is instructed on a variety of corporate, regulatory, commercial, insurtech and data protection matters for insurance businesses. Practice head Mathew Rutter handles regulatory issues for a wide range of insurers and brokers, while Mark Neville advises on insurance arrangements relating to various jurisdictions in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Julian Miller is recommended for drafting insurance policies and reinsurance contracts. Charlotte Halford made partner in 2022, supporting clients on commercial matters, data protection and digital insurance.

HFW handles regulatory issues, corporate matters and M&A for insurance-based clients. The firm is recommended for its work in the Lloyd’s market and insurtech space. Practice head Ashwani Kochhar focuses on corporate insurance and is recognised for the strength of his Lloyd’s practice. William Reddie specialises in both corporate and regulatory insurance matters, including M&A, commercial arrangements and Part VII transfers.

Latham & Watkins supports clients within the corporate insurance space, including matters relating to venture capital, capital markets, M&A and private equity, pensions de-risking and longevity risk transactions. Practice head Victoria Sander handles the breadth of corporate insurance transactional work, including M&A, demutualisations, reinsurance and distribution arrangements. Global private equity vice chair Kem Ihenacho, corporate specialist Beatrice Lo and counsel Simeon Rudin are further key names to note. Carl Fernandes departed for Linklaters LLP in January 2022.

Mayer Brown International LLP is recommended for handling the full gamut of insurance transactional and regulatory work, with particular areas of focus including transatlantic M&A mandates, insurance linked securities and warranty and indemnity issues. The practice operates closely with the firm’s US offices. Practice head Colin Scagell advises on complex M&A within the insurance sector, with expertise in cross-border matters involving Bermuda. Rebecca Bothamley supports the firm’s transactional offering. Devi Shah has extensive experience dealing with insurance-based insolvency and restructurings.

Sidley Austin LLP advises on M&A for insurers, reinsurers, brokers, and private equity firms active in the insurance industry. The firm’s London branch is closely integrated with its US offices. Team lead Martin Membery has considerable experience dealing with insurance projects, joint ventures, M&A, distribution arrangements, regulatory matters and structuring insurance policies. James Phythian-Adams was promoted to partner in 2022, handling a variety of matters for (re)insurance companies, (re)insurance intermediaries, Lloyd’s managing agencies and syndicates, as well as investors in the insurance sector.

Burges Salmon LLP is recognised for its regulatory and corporate M&A work in the insurance space. The team also deals with commercial insurance issues, including advising on outsourcing and the distribution of insurance products. Practice head Matthew Walker focuses on warranty and indemnity policies used in M&A transactions. Tom Dunn, who also leads the funds and financial regulation team, is instructed on financial and insurance services regulatory mandates for FCA and PRA clients. Associate Anna Davis handles insurance regulatory matters.

Cooley (UK) LLP provides regulatory advice to insurers, brokers, policyholders, and trade bodies, on issues relating to restructuring, business conduct and insurance contract wordings. Senior counsel Richard Hopley is instructed on matters relating to the restructuring of insurance and reinsurance portfolios, while fellow senior counsel David Kendall handles the full gamut of insurance work, including coverage, delegated authorities, run-off and insolvency issues.

DLA Piper operates across the breadth of transactional, commercial and regulatory insurance space. Key areas of focus include regulatory issues, warranty and indemnity insurance, pensions de-risking, insurtech and sanctions. Leon Taylor fronts the practice and is supported by Amrit Mclean, who leads on pensions de-risking matters. Anthony Day and legal director Jonathan Clarke are also recommened, with the latter noted for handling insurance sector transactions, including bancassurance and warranty and indemnity deals. Former practice head Melanie James and fellow partner Tim Baumgartner departed for Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP in 2022.

DWF is appreciated within the corporate insurance space for handling M&A and regulatory advice, as well as matters relating to financial crime. Practice head Jonathan Drake joined from Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP in 2021, with expertise in PRA, Lloyd’s regulatory issues, insurance policy wordings, run off and restructurings (including Part VII transfers). Co-head Mel Sims has developed the firm’s non-contentious M&A insurance offering. Justin Edgar is another key name to note.

Shearman & Sterling LLP's London team has noted expertise with regards to on insurance regulatory matters, M&A, finance and antitrust. The team is also well-regarded for its advice to insurers on Brexit-related issues. Department head Barney Reynolds advises insurance-based clients on new UK/EU regulatory laws, business structures and new services and products. Thomas Donegan and Nick Withers are also key individuals within the department.

Guildford's Stevens & Bolton LLP advises insurance brokers on transactional matters, insurers on agreements with technology companies, insurtech providers on their terms of business and insurance groups on their global GDPR compliance strategies. Practice head Gary Parnell is well-versed in providing commercial insurance advice, while David Steinberg focuses on restructurings within the insurance sector. Joe Bedford and Jenny Robertson are further key members of the team.

Carter Perry Bailey LLP, a boutique insurance and reinsurance firm, handles transactional, regulatory and compliance matters for insurance clients. Specifically, the practice drafts and advises on the wordings of insurance policies and reinsurance contracts. Stephen Carter oversees the team, while Bernadette Bailey, Helen Tilley and consultant Anthony Rose are also recommended.

Stephenson Harwood acts for regulated businesses in the insurance sector, particularly for insurance brokers. The firm supports clients on corporate M&A, regulatory and governance matters. Sam Gray heads the practice, handling a wide-range of non-contentious transactional insurance work, including domestic and cross-border transactions.