Most Highly Regarded Firms: Insurance & Reinsurance 2011

In this section we analyse the findings of our research in greater depth to identify the firms and practitioners who stand out worldwide.

THE INTERNATIONAL WHO’S WHO OF INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE LAWYERS 2011
Most highly regarded individuals
Lawyer	Firm
Peter Rogan	Ince & Co, London
Barry R Ostrager	Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York
Michael Mendelowitz	Norton Rose, London
Jan W Woloniecki	Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki, Hamilton
Mary Kay Vyskocil	Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York
John M Nonna	Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, New York
David Kendall	Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP, London
Clive O'Connell	Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, London
Peter R Chaffetz	Chaffetz Lindsey LLP, New York
Christian Bouckaert	Bouckaert Ormen Passemard Sportes, Paris

International Leaders

Clyde & Co has the largest representation in the publication with 10 individuals selected for inclusion across three countries. In London, Michael Payton is the senior partner of the firm and has acted for underwriters and insurers worldwide on many major international insurance issues. Nigel Brook is regarded as a “go-to lawyer” and heads the reinsurance team. He handles international reinsurance disputes in the London market and worldwide. Stephen Lewisspecialises in arbitration, litigation and advisory work and is “very well-known” in the industry. Andrew Holderness heads the corporate insurance group and specialises in corporate finance in the insurance sector. The “tremendous” Paul Bugden advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters and Elizabeth Leonhardt focuses her practice on litigation and alternative dispute resolution with a particular focus in Latin America. The “highly knowledgeable” Roderick Smith has significant experience in disputes relating to export credit and political risk insurance.

The New York office has two nominees listed. The “highly regarded” Paul Koepff specialises in insurance coverage and reinsurance disputes. Michael Knoerzer is a “superb” litigator and also advises on non-contentious matters. In Singapore, John Champion is consistently nominated for his “expert” dispute resolution counsel.

Hogan Lovells has a “first-class” insurance team. A total of eight lawyers are identified in Rome, Düsseldorf and London. In the latter office, John Young is co-chair of the firm and heads the corporate insurance practice. His practice focuses on transactional and regulatory matters. Peter Taylor is “a great pleasure to work with” and specialises in reinsurance, alternative risk transfer, coverage issues, exit solutions and insolvency. John Trotter is “highly rated” by clients for his litigation expertise and Christian Wells provides “world-class” counsel relating to a number of issues that include dispute resolution, developing cutting edge products and drafting policies and treaties. Tim Goggin focuses on transactional and regulatory advice and peers regard him as “a leader in the field”. Robin Spencer advises on the restructuring of financially distressed insurance companies.

In Düsseldorf, Jan Schröder heads the German financial institutions group and specialises in transactional and regulatory work. Paolo Ricci is based in Rome and advises clients on regulatory, finance, product design and distribution-related issues.

Clifford Chance has an “internationally renowned” insurance team. Eight individuals have been selected from the firm’s offices in London, Frankfurt, Moscow and New York. In London, Katherine Coates is “brilliant” and is head of the financial institutions corporate group and the global insurance sector team. She advises on a range of non-contentious issues including mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, regulation and product development. David Steinberg and Philip Hertz both specialise in restructuring and insolvency while the “impressive” Terry O’Neill advises clients on contentious and non-contentious issues. The “client-focused” Hilary Evenett focuses on non-contentious matters involving European regulation, mergers and acquisitions and demutualisations.

In New York, Paul Meyer is “highly respected” and advises clients on investment and regulatory matters. The “proactive, thoughtful and intelligent” Daniela Weber-Rey is based in Frankfurt and focuses her practice on takeovers and restructurings. Nicholas Munday heads the UK litigation and dispute resolution practice and is group leader of the insurance litigation team.

DLA Piper LLP is highly respected and has six lawyers listed in the US, Germany, Sweden, France and Singapore. In Chicago, the “first-class” Stephen Schwab is active in regulatory and transactional matters as well as in dispute resolution. David Mendelsohn is an “expert” in transactional and regulatory matters and is co-chair of the financial services practice and chair of the insurance and reinsurance transactions group. Gunne Bähr is based in Cologne and heads the German insurance and reinsurance group while Bruce Mee in Paris advises clients on contentious matters. Bengt Kärde in Stockholm and Justyn Jagger in Singapore round off a “superb” team.

Top US Firms

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has a significant presence in the US insurance market and has seven individuals from the firm listed in the following pages. In New York, John Nonna is chair of the firm’s insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution practice and is regarded as “a big name” in the industry. Michael Groll is co-chair of the insurance industry sector group and is an expert in matters relating to transactions and regulation, as does Donald Henderson Jr who is regarded as a “safe pair of hands”. The “very accurate and articulate” Larry Schiffer practises as a litigator, arbitrator and mediator. In Los Angeles Dean Hansell is highly nominated for his litigation practice.

Sidley Austin LLP continues to perform well in the research with seven lawyers listed. In Chicago, Susan Stone is co-head of the insurance and financial services group and features highly in the research. William Sneed is regarded as “a first-class” lawyer among peers for his arbitration and litigation expertise in the property, casualty, life and health insurance areas. The “brilliant” Michael Goldman is also co-head of the insurance and financial services group and focuses his practice on regulatory and transactional issues while Kenneth Wylie is “highly recommended” for his regulatory work.

In New York, Jeff Liebmann has over 30 years of experience exclusively in the corporate, restructuring and insolvency areas. In London, Dorothy Cory-Wright continues to be recognised for her insurance and reinsurance litigation expertise

Covington & Burling LLP has six lawyers listed from its offices in Washington, DC and San Francisco. In Washington, DC the “outstanding” Mitchell Dolin is chair of the firm’s global insurance recovery practice and specialises in the litigation, arbitration and mediation. William Greaney is “well deserving of recognition” and represents corporate policyholders in insurance coverage disputes. John Buchanan III has litigated, arbitrated and mediated in a wide range of coverage issues over the past 30 years and in doing so has garnered “tremendous respect”. In Washington, DC, Marialuisa Gallozzi represents clients in insurance coverage for high profile recall matters involving foods, drugs and medical devices and major corporate policyholders against run-off and insolvent insurers.

Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP has six individuals featured across the United States. In Chicago, Nick DiGiovanni is “very well-liked by clients” and leads the reinsurance and direct insurance groups. He specialises in national and international reinsurance disputes in litigation, arbitration, insolvency and rehabilitation proceedings. John Gurley is “well-respected” and has more than 30 years of experience in all areas of corporate insurance. In Los Angeles, Jonathan Bank provides clients with “outstanding industry knowledge” and specialises in dispute resolution, restructuring and regulatory matters. Steven Schwartz specialises in litigation and arbitration and is based in New York. Clients find him “highly responsive and resourceful”.

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP has a “fantastic” insurance team which has six inclusions in the following pages. The “spectacular” David Kendall is based in London and is co-chair of the insurance and reinsurance department. He specialises in coverage, run-off and insolvency disputes. In New York, Vincent Vitkowsky is “renowned” around the world for his litigation and dispute resolution counsel. Neil Pearson has broad regulatory and transactional experience in property and casualty insurance. Alan Levin is based in Hartford and is an “important figure” in the transactional and regulatory space.

Three other attorneys based in the US are among the most highly regarded in the world. In New York, Barry Ostrager is senior litigation partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and is regarded as “the dean of the bar”. He successfully represented Swiss Re in the insurance coverage dispute involving the World Trade Center tragedy. Mary Kay Vyskocil is also at the firm and represents clients in highly complex litigations. She is regarded as “extremely knowledgeable”. Peter Chaffetz at Chaffetz Lindsey LLP is “one of the best out there for disputes-related work”.

Rest of the World

Additional first-class insurance lawyers are selected in London. Peter Rogan at Ince & Co is “a truly outstanding individual” and another interviewee notes “he is unrivalled for this line of work anywhere else in the world”. He is nominated for his arbitration and mediation practice. Jan Heuvels and Allan Hepworth add significant credibility to the firm’s capabilities in the insurance space.

At Norton Rose, Michael Mendelowitz is head of the contentious insurance and reinsurance practice and interviewees state he has “unrivalled industry knowledge and an invaluable ability to resolve a dispute in the client’s favour”. The “top-notch” James Bateson is head of the financial institutions practice and is well experienced in regulatory and transactional matters.

Clive O’Connell is head of the commercial risk and reinsurance team of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP. Peers regard him as a “phenomenal” insurance lawyer. His team also consists of John Hanson and David Smyth who feature prominently.

In Hamilton, Bermuda, Jan Woloniecki at Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki is head of the litigation team and is “highly recommended” for his reinsurance practice. The “excellent” Rod Attride-Stirling focuses on litigation and arbitration as well as regulatory advice.

Christian Bouckaert at Bouckaert Ormen Passemard Sportes in Paris is a “leading and well-known” litigator, arbitrator and mediator. Rémi Passemard has particular expertise in directors and officers liability insurance and Pascal Ormen advises clients on regulatory and contentious issues.

Allens Arthur Robinson has four listings in Sydney and Singapore. In Sydney, Oscar Shub “delivers business-focused solutions” through his litigation and dispute resolution practice while Dean Carrigan deals with a wide range of contentious insurance issues in addition to transactional and regulatory matters. John Edmond is recommended for his litigation expertise.