London & Brussels Insurance, Reinsurance, & Regulatory Practice

Steptoe's London office handles a broad array of disputes and other matters for leading international insurers and reinsurers. In addition to representing insurance and reinsurance clients in disputes involving substantial claims, our London attorneys regularly advise clients on innovative insurance products, contract wordings, and other insurance-related business issues.  Much of the London office’s work on behalf of insurance and reinsurance clients focuses on the convergence of insurance, reinsurance, and other financial sectors.  For example, our London attorneys currently advise on using insurance policies to obtain Basel II regulatory capital relief, and on disputes arising out of the transfer to insurers of risk under credit - default swaps.

Our Brussels office performs much of our EU and country-specific regulatory work, advising insurers, reinsurers and other financial clients on setting up and carrying on business in Europe (including in light of the Solvency II project).  Clients benefit from the vast experience of our Brussels team in developing insurance products to comply with local legislative and regulatory requirements, resolving questions on transfer of insurance and reinsurance portfolios, assisting clients wishing to expand and restructure their operations in Europe, and advising on complex European tax matters.

In addition to its handling of general regulatory and business questions for insurance and reinsurance clients, our Brussels office regularly advises on related, cross-sectoral matters, such as money laundering, data protection, competition and corporate governance. The office also regularly advises clients on how to challenge national provisions whose scope or effect is in breach of EU-guaranteed freedoms.

Noteworthy

• Chambers UK (2008): Insurance: General Claims (London) and Angus Rodger (Insurance: General Claims)
• UK Legal 500 (2008): Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation, Insurance: corporate and regulatory
• Euromoney Expert Guide (2007): Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan and Philip Woolfson

Select News & Events

• Philip Woolfson and Guy Soussan address Luxembourg life insurance sector on cross-border insurance issues
• Falconbury's Reinsurance Contract Wordings and Disputes Conference, London
• Prominent Reinsurance Partner joins the London Office
• Presentation to the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR): the EU Regulatory Framework for Third Country Insurers and Reinsurers
• Presentation to the Bermuda Insurance Management Association (BIMA): EU Tax and Regulatory Developments of Interest to Captives
• The EU Consultation on the Insurance Block Exemption
• Angus Rodger Chairs Session at Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA's) Annual Conference in Century City

More Seminars & Events »

Publications

• Hunting the Gorilla, Credit Crunch Survival Guide
  November 2008, Global Reinsurance
• Insurance sector needs to take care over sanctions
  November 21, 2008, Insurance Day
• Reinsurance Buying Strategies - Trends for 2009
  October 2008, Global Reinsurance
• How can insurers keep control of credit derivative exposures?
  September 26, 2008, Insurance Day

More Publications »