Our experience includes advising/acting for:
Mergers and Acquisitions
Acting on the buy-side or sell-side in domestic and international deals including:
- RSA Insurance on its acquisitions of Europa Group, Sertus Insurance and Benchmark Underwriting
- Alterra/Harbor Point in its amalgamation with Max Capital
- 123.ie and its vendors on its acquisition by RSA Insurance
- NPG Wealth Management (JC Flowers) on its acquisition of Combined Life Assurance Company of Europe from ACE Group
- Vivas Health vendors on its sale to Aviva Insurance
- Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) on the acquisition on a renewals basis of the life accident and health business of XL Re
- IPC Re in relation to its merger with Validus, and previous amalgamation plan involving Max Capital
- Wellpoint on the acquisition of DeCare Dental
Restructurings and Portfolio Transfers
Domestic and cross-border restructurings and inward/outward transfers of (re)insurance books involving High Court and regulatory authorisations including:
- Electrolux on the portfolio transfer of the non-life insurance business from its Irish captive to its Swedish captive
- Scottish Re on the portfolio transfer of its Irish business to its Cayman Islands affiliate
- Darta Saving Life and Allianz on the portfolio transfer of German branch life business
Authorisations and New Establishments
The establishment of head office operations in Ireland selling on a freedom of services/freedom of establishment basis across EEA jurisdictions including recent set-ups involving:
- AXA Life Europe, AXA Global Distributors and AXA Reinsurance Ireland
- Allianz Global Life
- MetLife
- Wüstenrot & Württembergische
- R&V Lebensversicherung
- Carta Si (Si Reinsurance)
Insurance Linked Securitisations and Capital Markets
- SCOR on the various Atlas (I to VI) cat bond insurance linked securitisations
- Scottish Re on its Orkney II and Ballantyne Re securitised reinsurance structures
- AXA Cessions in its Osiris mortality cat bond programme
Run-offs and Winding-ups
- LCL Acquisitions on its acquisition of Irish non-life insurance undertaking Santam Europe (in run off)
- Capricorn Insurance, IAG Re (Australia) (and others) on schemes leading to the surrender back of (re)insurance authorisations to the Central Bank of Ireland
General Advisory and Other Regulatory Work
- Various authorised (re)insurers on on-going legal and regulatory aspects, including dialogue with the Central Bank of Ireland on areas such as product development and corporate governance best practice and potentially contentious matters such as on-site visits, administrative sanctions and enforcement.
- Health Insurance Authority, the statutory authority for the private health insurance market, on ongoing matters.
We are consistently ranked as one of the leading insurance and reinsurance law firms in Ireland.
Department
Sources enthuse that 'the lawyers’ substance and knowledge stand out - you can ring them with a question, and nine times out of ten you'll get an answer straight away. Also, they're proactive, ringing us to make sure we're up to date on legislative changes.'
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Insurance
William Fry garners praise from clients commending the firm’s ‘up-to-date knowledge’ and ability to provide ‘cross-departmental insurance advice, with corporate, tax and antitrust all specialist areas’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Insurance
The large insurance department at William Fry offers premier advice on non-contentious and contentious matters. Within the practice, the firm’s corporate and regulatory insurance group stands out. One client commented that “we have migrated all our work to William Fry now. The firm never advises at arm’s length, but takes the time to get to understand our business. It is a very proactive outfit.” In line with the increasing consolidation of the insurance industry, the firm has been active on several major acquisitions. It has also been prominent in large portfolio transfer files. The firm has a proven ability to handle major cross-border mandates, working in conjunction with UK and other foreign law firms.
Chambers Europe, 2010 - Insurance
Clients view William Fry as the ‘gold standard’ on insurance matters, with one stating ‘I could not live without them’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2009 – Insurance
This team concentrates on non-contentious insurance matters; however, the firm’s stellar list of insurance clients also provides it with a steady stream of dispute work, ensuring that it is a popular choice in the market for all kinds of insurance matters.
Chambers Europe, 2009 – Insurance
Team
John Larkin
Clients rave about long-standing insurance and reinsurance expert John Larkin, observing that he 'has excellent intuition about the international insurance market, a great deal of experience, and he's highly practical and demonstrative in what he says.'
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Insurance
Team head John Larkin is ‘one of the top two insurance specialists in Ireland’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Insurance
John Larkin is one of the market’s most revered practitioners, known and recommended by all. “His particular understanding of reinsurance is a godsend,” say sources, who on a more personal level appreciate his “24-hour accessibility and timeliness in delivery.”
Chambers Europe, 2010 - Insurance
John Larkin heads the team and has ‘excellent understanding of reinsurance law, business, regulation and market activity’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2009 – Insurance
John Larkin is noted for his skill at handling technical and commercial considerations, skills that stand him in excellent stead when dealing with restructurings, portfolio transfers and insurance-based transactions. His knowledge of the market and his foresight allow him to “clearly see the direction of a deal and guide us to a successful conclusion”.
Chambers Europe, 2009 – Insurance
Paul Murray
'Paul Murray is especially well reputed for life and non-life risk securitisations, derivative transactions and issues arising in the context of custodial services and asset management activities.'
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Insurance
Paul Murray is an ‘expert in SPV requirements’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Insurance
Paul Murray practises in all areas of non-contentious insurance, and is also recommended by the market.
Chambers Europe, 2010 - Insurance
Paul Murray is described as “reliable and extremely imaginative,” and has extensive expertise in structured finance. He focuses on insurance securitisation, reinsurance and derivatives.
Chambers Europe, 2009 – Insurance
Owen O'Sullivan
'Litigation department head, Owen O'Sullivan, concentrates on commercial disputes, with ample experience of product liability in the pharmaceutical, energy drink, automotive and tobacco industries.'
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Insurance
Owen O'Sullivan is head of the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice and handles insurance-related litigation for the team.
Chambers Europe, 2009 – Insurance: Dispute Resolution