Well regarded for its extensive regulatory expertise, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s insurance group advises clients on both prudential and conduct of business matters. Other areas of focus include reinsurance and portfolio transfer transactions, as well as insurance intermediation. Geoffrey Maddock oversees the practice and has experience of transactional work within the insurance sector, as well as providing prudential and other regulatory advice to insurers and reinsurers. Key members of the practice include Barnaby Hinnigan, who is a key contact for clients in the financial services sector; Alison Matthews, who has extensive experience advising on prudential and conduct of business regulation; Grant Murtagh, whose expertise lies in Part VII transfers and reinsurance transactions; and Shaun Lee, who is a key port of call for financial investors and private equity-backed companies in the insurance intermediary, asset and wealth management, and private real estate sectors.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Good market knowledge.’
‘They have an excellent insurance practice.’
‘Grant Murtagh is excellent. Very responsive and great technical knowledge.’
‘The HSF team is diverse and knowledgeable - I like that they have broad know-how and industry expertise.’
‘Alison Matthews is my go-to for insurance regulatory advice. She has vast experience and is extremely accessible. Grant Murtagh is also excellent, giving pragmatic and focused advice.’
‘HSF really know our business well and have great industry know-how, meaning they give us pragmatic and helpful advice.’
‘Grant Murtagh is always very responsive. He provides clear, pragmatic and helpful advice. He is a calm and effective negotiator. Alison Matthews is great to work with. She has in-depth technical knowledge and provides helpful and pragmatic advice.’
‘The HSF team are excellent - technically spot-on, very responsive and our go-to firm to assist on our most important and sensitive matters.’
Key clients
- Phoenix Group
- Ardonagh Group
- Pension Insurance Corporation
- Canada Life Group (UK) Limited
- Aon
- Royal London
- Association of British Insurers (ABI)
- IMA
- Willis Towers Watson (WTW)
- Pool Re
- Hiscox
- RSA
- Marsh McLennan
- Phoenix Group
Work highlights
- Advised Scottish Widows on the sale of its £6bn bulk annuity portfolio to Rothesay.
- Advised The Ardonagh Group on the merger between Markerstudy Group and Atlanta Group, Ardonagh's personal lines broking business, and on the equity elements of its acquisition of ASSEPRO.
- Advised Pool Re on a transformation of its reinsurance treaty.
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Practice head
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Geoffrey Maddock