Our London office at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH provides focused insurance legal services to insurers, reinsurers, brokers and financial institutions operating under the law of England and Wales. We advise on regulation, transactional structuring, claims and contentious matters, and cross-border issues that frequently arise in international insurance markets.

Overview

Insurance markets are subject to a dense and evolving legal and regulatory framework. Clients require advice that integrates regulatory compliance, commercial objectives and operational resilience. Our practice covers policy drafting and interpretation, regulatory approvals and authorisations, M&A, portfolio transfers, product governance, outsourcing and distribution relationships, as well as reinsurance structuring and cross-border capacity arrangements.

Regulatory and compliance planning

Maintaining compliance with PRA and FCA expectations, data protection obligations and anti-money laundering rules is central to sustainable operations. We assist with:

• Authorisation and passporting considerations, and preparing applications to UK regulators.
• Governance, capital and solvency planning, including implementation of PRA supervisory expectations and UK retained Solvency II requirements.
• Product governance, fair treatment of customers and conduct risk assessments under FCA rules.
• Data protection and cybersecurity risk mitigation consistent with the UK GDPR and ICO guidance.

Transactions and strategic advice

We advise on buy- and sell-side transactions, portfolio transfers (Part VII and alternative structures), reinsurance purchases and novations, joint ventures, and outsourcing arrangements. Strategic advice also covers market entry, distribution agreements and regulatory contingency planning for systemic events.

Practical checklist

• Confirm regulatory authorisations required for the planned activity and engage with the PRA/FCA early.
• Conduct targeted legal due diligence on underwriting portfolios, claims reserves and reinsurance recoverables.
• Review policy wording, exclusions and retention clauses to align with commercial risk appetite.
• Document operational continuity and cyber insurance arrangements; ensure compliance with data transfer rules.
• Plan for cross-border regulatory filings and consider tax and accounting consequences of transfers or M&A.

Disputes and claims handling

When disputes arise, efficient dispute management preserves value. We support claims handling strategy, coverage litigation, regulatory investigations and alternative dispute resolution including arbitration. Advice is tailored to the scale and jurisdictional profile of the claim, with early case assessment of coverage exposures, subrogation potentials and allocation of liability across layers of insurance and reinsurance.

Jurisdiction and sources

Advice is rooted in the law and regulatory guidance of England and Wales, with attention to cross-border considerations where exposure extends beyond the UK.

• Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• HM Treasury
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
• UK legislation (legislation.gov.uk)

For firms operating internationally, relevant overseas regulators and treaty frameworks should be considered when structuring capacity, reinsurance and distribution models.

General information only; not legal advice and not a substitute for advice on a particular matter.