Insurance: Transactional | Europe

The firm hosts a market-leading practice in the transactional insurance space, drawing on the firm's strong international network to assist clients with cross-border deals. The team advises insurers, reinsurers and pension funds on group restructurings, M&A and portfolio transactions as well as joint ventures, with notable strength in related regulatory matters and taxation aspects. The law firm showcases additional expertise in cyber insurance and has experience in insurtech issues. The client roster boasts the biggest names in German and international insurance and reinsurance. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

The team at the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is regularly sought after by prominent insurers, private equity houses and pension funds for its excellence in insurance mandates. High-profile M&A and run-off transactions as well as restructurings, especially related to Brexit, constitute key areas of the team's expertise. The team offers significant facility in the acquisition of insurtech businesses. Supervision law matters and PRIIPS regulation topics and recovery plans are equally handled by the firm. Clients can also benefit from a strong ability in contentious matters, with the department active in litigation, including large-scale insolvencies. Due to the global nature of the Freshfields team, cross-border deals are commonplace at the firm.

Hengeler Mueller boasts a prestigious transactional insurance practice, often advising high-profile domestic and international insurance companies. The team is particularly visible in appraisal proceedings following complex squeeze-outs throughout the German insurance scene. Besides its excellence in contentious mandates, Hengeler Mueller also convinces with its breadth of expertise in corporate transactions, encompassing mergers and portfolio transfers, with further expertise in capital market deals, including the issuances of ESG bonds. Hengeler Mueller rounds off its transactional experience with a solid knowledge of regulatory insurance law.

As an international law firm, Hogan Lovells is in a strong position to advise on complex and often multi-jurisdictional insurance mandates. The team is especially sought after for its strength in large acquisitions and cross-border mergers as well as the setting up of joint ventures. Alongside acquisition and merger advice, Hogan Lovells provides advice to insurance companies on general investments. The law firm's clients include some of the biggest international and domestic insurance and reinsurance firms.

Linklaters boasts a well-reputed team capable of handling a broad array of insurance mandates throughout Germany and beyond, aided by the law firm's considerable international reach. Clients regularly seek the firm's assistance with a variety of transactions, including portfolio mandates, offering excellent support in the bidding process. The team shows further strength in group-wide structurings. Investments and M&A transactions within the insurance industry are also handled by the team, as are financing rounds. In this area, Linklaters shows a strong capacity for handling large insurtech transactions. Linklaters complements its strong offering with its coverage of tax and regulatory issues, including multi-jurisdictional investigations.

DLA Piper houses a well-regarded insurance practice, which spans regulatory as well as transactional mandates for policyholders and prominent insurers. Its team regularly represents clients in complex and high-value disputes including mass proceedings often in relation to D&O, E&O, W&I and construction defects as well as product liability claims, with these disputes often being cross-border. The firm also has experience drafting multi-jurisdictional insurance contracts, along with cooperation agreements between insurtech companies and large insurers. In addition, insurers seek the firm's assistance with the implications of insolvencies of policyholders while also handling authority proceedings. Due to its international office network, the law firm is well placed to handle cross-border insurance mandates.

Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright acts on transactional insurance matters including on corporate restructurings. Its strong international network facilitates advice on cross-border M&A deals, including run-off transactions and auctions of insurance and reinsurance portfolios. The team is specialised in the underwriting of W&I policies, acting for underwriters, insurers and reinsurers. Further strengths include advising on the distribution of policies to insurtech companies and platforms while also assisting with supervisory and contract law. Besides insurance companies and corporates, Norton Rose Fulbright also acts for financial investors.