Jack D. Yamin

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Jeremy Watson has joined the Firm as a partner in the Insurance Transactions & Regulatory Practice Group. “Jeremy’s experience and skillset perfectly complement Kirkland’s dedicated insurance transactions team,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “His addition strengthens our capabilities in an increasingly active sector for our clients, and we’re excited to welcome him to Kirkland.” Mr. Watson focuses his practice on sophisticated transactions in the insurance industry. He regularly represents insurance companies, private equity firms, asset managers and other industry participants in connection with mergers and acquisitions, reinsurance transactions, reinsurer formation and capitalization, venture capital and growth investments, and other strategic and investment transactions in the insurance industry. He also advises clients on regulatory, capital and governance issues involving the insurance industry. “We have been growing our team with exceptional lawyers who are dedicated to the insurance industry and put a priority on client service,” said partner Rajab Abbassi, who is a leading member of Kirkland’s Insurance Transactions & Regulatory Practice. “Jeremy is a supremely talented attorney with a wealth of experience in the insurance industry. His addition is a transformational step in that continued growth.” In addition to Mr. Watson, Kirkland hired Jack Yamin and Jeremy Carroll earlier this year as partners in the Insurance Transactions & Regulatory Practice. The practice now has a multidisciplinary team of more than 40 attorneys focused on the insurance industry. “Kirkland is known for its deep commitment to providing unparalleled client service,” said Mr. Watson. “I am excited to join its best-in-class transactional practice and outstanding team of insurance lawyers.” Mr. Watson joins Kirkland from Sidley Austin, where he was a partner in the Chicago office for the last 10 years. Kirkland's Insurance Transactions & Regulatory Practice Group counsels clients on high-profile transactions and regulatory matters in the insurance sector. The team brings together deep knowledge of the insurance industry with market-leading capabilities in M&A, reinsurance, private equity and capital markets to provide the highest-quality service to clients who are operating or transacting in the space. Kirkland’s integrated regulatory team provides practical, bespoke advice that is business-minded and commercial, and is fully aligned with its clients' broader business and transactional goals. The practice regularly works with insurers, reinsurers, private equity firms, hedge funds, brokers and intermediaries, TPAs, MGAs, InsurTech firms, investment banks and other participants in the insurance industry.

Oct 30

2 min

Kirkland advised an investment vehicle of direct lender and credit asset manager Golub Capital in connection with its entry into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire a minority stake in Nassau Financial Group, L.P., an insurance, reinsurance and asset management provider. The deal was structured as a $200 million minority non-voting common equity investment, which will make Golub Nassau’s largest minority equityholder. The transaction will provide Nassau’s insurance subsidiaries with access to Golub’s direct lending strategies. The deal was announced June 3, 2024 and is expected to close during the second half of 2024 subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Read the transaction press release The team was led by corporate partners Amanda Border, Rami Totari and Jack Yamin.

Jun 5

1 min

Sidley represented Westfield in the completion of its acquisition of the Lloyd’s of London operations of Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO). This included Argo’s Lloyd’s managing agency and Argo’s members supporting Syndicate 1200, which it manages. This strategic transaction represents Westfield’s entry into the Lloyd’s and global specialty markets, and is the first transaction in some time to bring a new U.S. group into the Lloyd’s market. Westfield is a leading U.S.-based property and casualty insurance company that underwrites commercial, personal, surety, and specialty lines of coverage. The deal illustrates Sidley’s continued leadership in UK and European insurance M&A, and the firm’s ability to help clients based around the world to access the Lloyd’s and international markets. In recent years, Sidley also represented publicly traded China Re in its acquisition of Chaucer, a London-based, Lloyd’s-focused specialty business, and publicly traded Cincinnati Financial in its acquisition of MSP Underwriting at Lloyd’s. The Sidley team was led by Perry Shwachman, Sean Carney, James Phythian-Adams (all Insurance), and Ed Perry (M&A), and included Martin Membery, Joe Gottlieb, Jack Yamin, Scott Goldstein, Andrea Hynes, Julie Rodriguez, Hannie Syeda, Christa Nipper, Cole Hunter, Sienna Hoppers (Insurance), Dan Stafford, Amelia McGrath, Gregor Gordon, Alex Jobson (M&A), Alex Harper (Investment Funds), William Long, João Quartilho (Privacy and Cybersecurity), Peter McCorkell, Alex Down (Labor and Employment), Oliver Currall, Andrew Dibden, Fraser Tudor (Tax), Jade Li Tai Leong, Damian Jabrzyk (Global Finance), and Robert Kelly (Intellectual Property).~~Sidley represented Westfield in the completion of its acquisition of the Lloyd’s of London operations of Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO). This included Argo’s Lloyd’s managing agency and Argo’s members supporting Syndicate 1200, which it manages. This strategic transaction represents Westfield’s entry into the Lloyd’s and global specialty markets, and is the first transaction in some time to bring a new U.S. group into the Lloyd’s market. Westfield is a leading U.S.-based property and casualty insurance company that underwrites commercial, personal, surety, and specialty lines of coverage. The deal illustrates Sidley’s continued leadership in UK and European insurance M&A, and the firm’s ability to help clients based around the world to access the Lloyd’s and international markets. In recent years, Sidley also represented publicly traded China Re in its acquisition of Chaucer, a London-based, Lloyd’s-focused specialty business, and publicly traded Cincinnati Financial in its acquisition of MSP Underwriting at Lloyd’s. The Sidley team was led by Perry Shwachman, Sean Carney, James Phythian-Adams (all Insurance), and Ed Perry (M&A), and included Martin Membery, Joe Gottlieb, Jack Yamin, Scott Goldstein, Andrea Hynes, Julie Rodriguez, Hannie Syeda, Christa Nipper, Cole Hunter, Sienna Hoppers (Insurance), Dan Stafford, Amelia McGrath, Gregor Gordon, Alex Jobson (M&A), Alex Harper (Investment Funds), William Long, João Quartilho (Privacy and Cybersecurity), Peter McCorkell, Alex Down (Labor and Employment), Oliver Currall, Andrew Dibden, Fraser Tudor (Tax), Jade Li Tai Leong, Damian Jabrzyk (Global Finance), and Robert Kelly (Intellectual Property).

Feb 3

2 min

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that leading insurance M&A and reinsurance attorney Jack D. Yamin has joined the Firm as a partner. “Insurance has been an area of increased strategic focus and growth for many of our asset management and corporate clients,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “Jack brings a wealth of experience in, and deep knowledge of, insurance transactions, and we are excited to add him to our team.” Mr. Yamin focuses his practice on corporate, securities and regulatory matters in the insurance, reinsurance, and financial services industries. He regularly represents public and private corporate clients, private equity sponsors and other alternative asset managers in insurance industry transactions in the United States and globally, including in the acquisition and divesture of insurance businesses through reinsurance and other alternative transaction structures, and in the formation, capitalization and financing of insurance companies and related ventures. Mr. Yamin has advised on many of the most significant insurance industry transactions over the last decade. Jack joins a broad multidisciplinary Kirkland team that counsels clients on transactions in the insurance industry and related regulatory matters. “Jack is a dynamic and talented M&A attorney with extensive experience in the insurance industry, including in the areas and types of transactions on which our clients have increasingly been focused,” said corporate partner Rajab Abbassi, who works in Kirkland’s insurance transactions and regulatory practice. “His knowledge, skills and experience will be an asset to our clients who transact and operate in the insurance industry.” “Kirkland’s global platform is differentiated in the legal industry and is second to none,” Mr. Yamin said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to Kirkland’s work in the insurance industry and to work alongside my new partners at Kirkland to deliver exceptional client service.” Mr. Yamin joins Kirkland from Sidley Austin LLP, where he was a partner in the Chicago office. He holds degrees from Binghamton University and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Prior to joining Sidley Austin, he was a tax consultant in Chicago. Kirkland's Insurance Transactions & Regulatory Practice Group counsels clients on high-profile transactions and regulatory matters involving the insurance industry. Kirkland’s experienced team brings together deep knowledge of the insurance industry with market-leading capabilities in M&A, private equity and capital markets to provide the highest-quality service to clients who are operating or transacting in the insurance industry. Its integrated regulatory team provides practical, bespoke advice that is business-minded and commercial, and is fully aligned with our clients' broader business and transactional goals. The practice regularly works with insurers, reinsurers, private equity firms, hedge funds, brokers and intermediaries, TPAs, MGAs, InsurTech firms, investment banks and other participants in the insurance industry.

Feb 21

2 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised Wilton Re on an agreement with Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) whereby Prudential will reinsure a portion of its guaranteed universal life block to Wilton Re, resulting in approximately $350 million of expected proceeds, post-closing. Under the terms of the agreement, Wilton Re will reinsure approximately $11 billion of reserves backing Prudential's guaranteed universal life policies issued by Pruco Life Insurance Company Arizona (PLAZ) and Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey (PLNJ). This transaction represents approximately 40% of Prudential's remaining guaranteed universal life statutory reserves. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Jack Yamin and Rajab Abbassi and associates Jermaine Cherry and Matias Joseph; insurance transactions and regulatory partner Parimah Hassouri; tax partner Polina Liberman; investment funds partner Michael Chu and associate Marisa Stern; and derivatives partner Scott Gordon.

Aug 20

1 min