Prakash (PK) Paran

New York, NY (October 6, 2021) --- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced the addition of Prakash “PK” Paran, who has joined the Firm as a partner in the Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Practice. In addition, Gabriel Gershowitz has joined the Firm as counsel. Both are based in Willkie’s New York office. “PK is a prominent addition to our leading global insurance practice, which is a core strength of the firm with exceptional full-service capabilities serving the insurance and reinsurance industry,” said Firm Chairman Thomas Cerabino. “PK and Gabe have significant experience in complex global insurance matters which further bolsters our transactional and regulatory platform across the U.S. and UK to serve our clients’ expanding needs.” PK Paran is an insurance transactional lawyer experienced in leading cross-border teams in the representation of clients throughout the U.S., UK, Europe and Asia in high-value strategic corporate transactions across various regulated sectors. His core areas of focus include mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and corporate reorganizations. Now in New York, PK was previously based in London for more than 20 years. Gabe Gershowitz’s practice is focused on transactions involving insurance and insurance regulatory matters, including acquisitions and dispositions of insurance and reinsurance companies and intermediaries, structuring and negotiation of transactional liability insurance policies such as representations and warranties and tax policies, reinsurance arrangements, and insurance company restructurings and rehabilitations. PK commented: “Willkie’s longstanding relationships with key U.S., European and UK insurers and brokers and its integrated approach to serving clients’ needs is an ideal fit and there are enormous synergies with Willkie’s private equity practice and client base. I look forward to working with the extremely talented and expanding team at Willkie to achieve continued success and growth for our clients.” The arrival of PK and Gabe follows the April addition of partners Kara Baysinger, Stephanie Duchene, Matthew Gaul and David Heales to Willkie’s Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Practice in California and New York. Willkie is also actively looking to further expand its insurance transactional practice in the London market as it continues to grow its London office, which now has approximately 100 lawyers. Willkie’s Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Practice is described as the “preeminent transactional practice” with “standout experience,” in Chambers USA (2021) and “commercially pragmatic” with “depth of knowledge and efficiency” in Chambers UK (2021). The group represents insurance companies, reinsurers, insurance intermediaries, insurtechs, investment banks, sponsors and other financial institutions in M&A, capital markets and regulatory matters in the United States, London, Europe, Asia and Bermuda. Our multidisciplinary team, ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA 2021, Legal 500 US 2021 and Legal 500 UK 2022, comprises over 35 partners and is among the largest in both the United States and in London. ***************************************************** Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 1,000 attorneys with offices in Brussels, Chicago, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, Rome, San Francisco and Washington. The Firm is headquartered in New York City at 787 Seventh Avenue. Tel: 212.728.8000.

Oct 6

2 min

Willkie advised First American Financial Corporation on the transaction. On January 12, First American Financial Corporation, a leading global provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions, announced its pending acquisition of Mother Lode Holding Company, a provider of title insurance, underwriting and escrow services for real estate transactions. Mother Lode Holding Company comprises 17 operating subsidiaries throughout the U.S., including its principal subsidiary Placer Title Company. With 92 offices in 11 states, Mother Lode Holding Company’s subsidiaries operate primarily in California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Texas, Arizona, Washington and New Mexico. First American Financial Corporation traces its heritage back to 1889. The Willkie team was led by partner Prakash Paran, counsel Gabriel Gershowitz and associate Rebecca Wainstein.

Jan 14

1 min

On June 26, 2024, The Lawyer’s In-House Financial Services conference, in association with Willkie, will be held in London. This year’s event program will focus on leadership, strategy and resilience. Designed to meet the need of the in-house lawyers working across financial services, this event not only addresses the practical challenges of regulatory compliance but also discusses how the global economic and political climate is impacting businesses and organizations. Rita Mitchell and Prakash (PK) Paran are serving on the Advisory Board, which is responsible for helping to shape the conference agenda. Additionally, several Willkie partners will speak at the conference. Melanie James and Rita Mitchell will participate in a panel discussion on the topic of emerging risks and key issues facing financial institutions from a legal risk perspective; and Rita and Rahul Saha will lead a roundtable discussions on the topic of dawn raids. More than 150 individuals, including in-house lawyers and compliance professionals from a variety of financial services organizations, have registered to attend the conference so far. Learn more here.

Jun 21

1 min

New York, NY (January 10, 2022) --- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced the addition of partners Melanie James and Tim Baumgartner, who have joined the Firm’s Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Practice. Melanie and Tim are based in Willkie’s London office. They were previously partners at an international law firm, where Melanie also served as Global Co-Chair, Insurance Sector. “Melanie and Tim are well-established leaders in the market and we are delighted to welcome them to Willkie,” said London Corporate Partner Joseph Ferraro. “With significant experience in complex global insurance matters, they will deepen our insurance and regulatory capabilities, core strengths of the firm, and add to the strength of our prominent London transactional team on UK, EU and international insurance sector matters.” Prakash (PK) Paran, partner in Willkie’s Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Practice commented: “I’ve practiced alongside Melanie and Tim for many years and I’m thrilled to be working with them again. They are not only extremely talented lawyers, but they are both a pleasure to work with. Their additions will further solidify Willkie’s reputation as having the preeminent global insurance platform in the market and our clients benefit from having access to a seamless transatlantic team of the highest quality that now has even greater breadth and depth.” Melanie James has over 20 years of experience handling insurance and reinsurance transactional and regulatory matters, both in-house and in private practice. She is an insurance sector leader and advises on all aspects of non-contentious insurance transactions including cross-border M&A, joint ventures, reorganizations, portfolio transfers and reinsurance transactions, as well as structuring, formation and licensing of (re)insurance platforms across Europe and PRA, FCA and Lloyd's regulation. Tim Baumgartner focuses his practice on corporate transactions in particular in the insurance industry, including international and domestic M&A, joint ventures and long-term strategic partnerships, intra-group restructurings and general corporate advisory work. He also advises on the full spectrum of corporate insurance transactions, which in addition to the above include transactions within the Lloyd’s market, portfolio transfers and reinsurance transactions for both life and non-life businesses. Melanie commented: “We are excited to join Willkie’s world-class global insurance practice, which has longstanding relationships with key U.S., Bermudan, European and UK insurers and brokers, and look forward to playing a significant part in the firm’s continued growth and success in London.” The arrival of Melanie and Tim to Willkie’s Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Practice follows the additions in 2021 of New York-based partner PK Paran and counsel Gabriel Gershowitz in October, and partners Kara Baysinger, Stephanie Duchene, Matthew Gaul and David Heales, who joined the team in California and New York in April. Willkie’s Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Practice is described as the “preeminent transactional practice” with “standout experience,” in Chambers USA (2021) and “commercially pragmatic” with “depth of knowledge and efficiency” in Chambers UK (2021). The group represents insurance companies, reinsurers, insurance intermediaries, insurtechs, investment banks, private equity sponsors and other financial institutions in M&A, capital markets, ILS and regulatory matters in the United States, London, Europe, Asia and Bermuda. Our multidisciplinary team, ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA 2021, Legal 500 US 2021 and Legal 500 UK 2022, comprises over 40 partners and is among the largest in both the United States and in London. ***************************************************** Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 1,000 attorneys with offices in Brussels, Chicago, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, Rome, San Francisco and Washington. The Firm is headquartered in New York City at 787 Seventh Avenue.

Jan 10

3 min