Walkers‘ (re)insurance and ILS team assists a broad range of clients, including (re)insurers, brokers, agents, sponsors, and policyholders, with both contentious and non-contentious mandates. The team has particular expertise in litigation surrounding coverage and rescission claims, as well as subrogated recovery claims, for clients in the pharmaceutical, health, and oil and gas sectors. With expertise in formation, licensing, and regulatory-related mandates for insurance companies and intermediaries, Sarah Demerling solely heads up the practice since former practice co-head Peter Dunlop left the firm in April 2024. In other team news, associate Aleisha Hollis and senior counsel Erin Diachkoff joined the firm from Conyers in 2023 and AON (Sydney) at the beginning of 2024 respectively. Melanie Fullerton joined ReRenaisance in October 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent market knowledge and a responsive service.’

Key clients

  • Aquarian Holdings LLC
  • Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd
  • Credit Suisse Life Limited
  • Resolution Life Holdings ISAC Ltd
  • Resolution Life US Re Ltd
  • Kendall Re Ltd
  • Swiss Re

Work highlights

  • Represented CSLB in the appeal of a damages judgment to pay USD607m to banking client and Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili after a ruling in March 2022 that CSLB had turned a blind eye to convicted fraudster Patrick Lescausdron's misuse of Iavanishvili's money.
  • Assisted Resolution Re with designing and forming a bespoke platform using an Incorporated Segregated accounted Company which is still a relatively new concept in Bermuda.  
  • Represented Aspen as Bermuda legal counsel in relation to their proposed listing of shares of the Bermuda insurance company on the NYSE, including Bermuda law input on the admission documents.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sarah Demerling

Other key lawyers

Aleisha Hollis, Erin Diachkoff, Natalie Neto