Canada - Canada

McCarthy Tétrault

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McCarthy Tétrault’s insurance practice is well-weighted between contentious and non-contentious work, with extensive experience in regulatory matters, corporate transactions, demutualizations, securities and dispute resolution. The group counts a broad range of industry participants among its clients, including insurers, reinsurers, brokerages, Insurtech companies and insured corporations, and is frequently involved in complex, multi-jurisdictional mandates. Regulatory and transactional insurance specialist Nancy Carroll ‘knows what is important to regulators’ and co-heads the group together with Hartley Lefton, who also specializes in transactional, commercial, governance and regulatory insurance work — both are based in Toronto. On the contentious side, insurance litigators William Scott and Aidan Cameron are recommended in Toronto and Vancouver, respectively. Hovsep Afarian recently joined Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The firm is a leader in the financial services sector and one of the few go-to firms for insurance regulation/legislation.’

  • ‘Nancy Carroll is the only member of the firm I work with. She is one of the top legal minds for financial sector law in Canada and has been of enormous assistance to us.’

  • ‘McCarthy Tétrault has the expertise and specialists we need to handle our diverse business needs. From standard contract law, to M&A, to insurance, and other complex legal matters, it was able to help us navigate. The work is done quickly and within billable hour estimates.’
  • ‘We highlight its experience and expertise in reinsurance. It provides advice you can rely on.’

  • ‘Nancy Carroll is very knowledgeable and adept at speaking to regulators in their language. She knows what is important to regulators and what is not. On those rare occasions that issues can't be resolved through discussion/negotiation, she has been able to call upon her litigation partners.’

  • ‘Nancy Carroll is practical and responsive and always looking for new ways to add value.’

Key clients

  • Aon Canada Inc; Brown & Brown
  • Desjardins General Insurance Group Inc; Brown & Brown; Aon Canada
  • iA Financial Group
  • Siemens Canada
  • Sunwing Travel Group
  • The Toronto-Dominion Bank
  • True Wind Capital, Novacap
  • Vale Canada

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Nancy Carroll

Nancy Carroll

McCarthy Tétrault

National Co-Head of Insurance and Reinsurance Group. With deep insurance regulatory and transactional expertise, advises insurance companies, reinsurance companies, insurance agencies, brokerages, banks and financial institutions on complex transactions, regulatory and corporate governance matters. Acts for Canadian and global insurance companies on significant M&As, reinsurance transactions, transfers, demutualizations, reorganizations, licensing and commercial matters. Advises on all aspects of insurance and bank regulatory compliance: regulatory approvals, financing, outsourcing, privacy, cyber security, anti-money laundering, insurtech/fintech, compliance and market conduct reviews/ investigations, ESG, risk management, permitted investments, and distribution of insurance and other financial services. Acts on the establishment of insurance companies, reinsurance companies, brokerages and banks, and entry to and exit from the Canadian market. Advises regulated and unregulated financial services providers and corporations on what constitutes insurance and licensing requirements.

Hartley Lefton

Hartley Lefton

McCarthy Tétrault

Hartley Lefton is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Financial Services Group, including serving in Toronto as national co-chair of the Insurance and Reinsurance Group. He is recognized as a leading transactional, commercial, governance and regulatory/compliance advisor to financial sector participants operating in Canada, most notably insurers, reinsurers, insurance brokers, insurance adjusters, banks, credit unions, and FinTech/InsurTech companies. He leverages his insurance regulatory and transactional expertise, and his experience interacting with regulators, to ensure clients are not only aware of regulatory changes, but truly understand how regulation will impact each aspect of their business and manage risk, including acquisitions/divestitures, formation/licensing, product launches, financings, outsourcing, investment strategy, related party transactions, issues relating to capitalization and accounting standards, and joint ventures. Hartley has particular expertise assisting clients with regulatory inquiries and investigations. Hartley’s deep understanding of the financial services landscape in Canada, coupled with his diligence and resourcefulness, allows him to deliver practical insights that help global companies operating in Canada achieve their business objectives.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Nancy Carroll, Hartley Lefton

Other key lawyers

William Scott, Aidan Cameron, Sonia Struthers