Jennifer Tait > Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP maintains a robust transatlantic capital markets offering which encompasses the full spectrum of advice on public and private placements and rights offerings, de-SPACs, and liability management transactions. The practice regularly advises UK-listed investors and brokers on the US securities aspects of their equity transactions, and it stands out in particular for its expertise in the insurance capital markets space, with Joseph Ferraro regularly advising UK-based and offshore corporate insurers on their fundraising activities. Ferraro co-heads the team with Jennifer Tait, who handles both US and UK equity issuances. David Griffiths is a further name to note and handles a range of public M&A and ECM transactions.

The capital markets group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP includes a small but dedicated high yield group in London, led by New York-qualified Jennifer Tait. She focuses on high yield bond issuance, including private placements, as well as restructurings and distressed situations. She also supports the firm’s highly active private equity group, which acts for more than 300 sponsors. Newly promoted partner David Griffiths also plays a key role in the practice, particularly for issuer and sponsor clients. The two partners recently worked with the New York team on bond-related matters, including major refinancings and restructurings.

Supported by its US counterparts, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP is a popular choice for life and property-casualty insurers, reinsurers, brokers, private equity investors, insurance sector funds and banks. Its far-reaching expertise spans ILS and Lloyd’s market matters, insurance financing structures, and the pension and longevity risk transfer market. Practice head Joseph Ferraro enjoys a stellar reputation in M&A transactions and corporate finance matters. Supporting the practice is Melanie James, who is skilled across the board of non-contentious insurance matters; Nicholas Bugler, who has considerable knowledge of the Lloyd’s market, as well as the reinsurance and capital markets industries; Jennifer Tait, who focuses her practice on capital markets and ILS offerings; Kirsty Maclean, whose expertise lies in complex life risk transfer transactions; Tim Baumgartner, who shines in corporate insurance transactions; Eilidh Brown, who specialises in risk transfer transactions in the life sector; and Andrew Tromans.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP has a three-partner capital markets practice in London that handles debt, equity, investment grade and high yield bonds, and private placement. The firm has a strong niche in insurance-linked securities, and it frequently acts for its large roster of private equity clients in the DCM space. London head of capital markets Jennifer Tait is dual-qualified in English and New York law. She recently worked with newly promoted partner David Griffiths, who is a key adviser on insurance-linked securities, on a multibillion-dollar financing for a private equity sponsor. Head of corporate insurance capital markets Joseph Ferraro also plays a key role in the practice.