Jeremy Carroll

Sidley is representing Avantax, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVTA), a leader in tax-focused financial planning and wealth management, in connection with its agreement to be acquired by Aretec Group, Inc. d/b/a Cetera Holdings, the holding company of Cetera, a financial advisor Wealth Hub. Under the terms of the agreement, holders of Avantax common stock will receive US$26.00 in cash per share, without interest and subject to required withholding taxes. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately US$1.2 billion, inclusive of Avantax’s net debt. The Sidley deal team is being led by M&A partners Beth E. Berg and Scott R. Williams, and includes David Meehan, Jessica M. Day, Dusty B. Page, and Scott A. Gregus (M&A). James W. Lowe, Jason C. Semmes, and Edward W. Sharon are leading the Antitrust/Competition team. The Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation team is being led by Gregory A. Marrs and Elizabeth T. Burns, and includes Corey Perry, P.C. Wang, Richard Schneider III, Carolyn L. Ayaub, and Paige Lommerin. The Global Finance team is being led by Kelly M. Dybala and Daniel F. Burkhart. John I. Sakhleh is leading the Securities Enforcement and Regulatory team, which includes Benjamin L. Nager. Stephanie H. Dobecki is leading the Insurance team, which includes Jeremy E. Carroll and Scott J.F. Goldstein. Other team members include Johnny G. Skumpija (Capital Markets); Teresa L. Reuter and Vera M. Iwankiw (Labor and Employment); Colleen Theresa Brown and Michele L. Aronson (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Suresh T. Advani (Tax); and E. Kyle Barnett (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions).~~Sidley is representing Avantax, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVTA), a leader in tax-focused financial planning and wealth management, in connection with its agreement to be acquired by Aretec Group, Inc. d/b/a Cetera Holdings, the holding company of Cetera, a financial advisor Wealth Hub. Under the terms of the agreement, holders of Avantax common stock will receive US$26.00 in cash per share, without interest and subject to required withholding taxes. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately US$1.2 billion, inclusive of Avantax’s net debt. The Sidley deal team is being led by M&A partners Beth E. Berg and Scott R. Williams, and includes David Meehan, Jessica M. Day, Dusty B. Page, and Scott A. Gregus (M&A). James W. Lowe, Jason C. Semmes, and Edward W. Sharon are leading the Antitrust/Competition team. The Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation team is being led by Gregory A. Marrs and Elizabeth T. Burns, and includes Corey Perry, P.C. Wang, Richard Schneider III, Carolyn L. Ayaub, and Paige Lommerin. The Global Finance team is being led by Kelly M. Dybala and Daniel F. Burkhart. John I. Sakhleh is leading the Securities Enforcement and Regulatory team, which includes Benjamin L. Nager. Stephanie H. Dobecki is leading the Insurance team, which includes Jeremy E. Carroll and Scott J.F. Goldstein. Other team members include Johnny G. Skumpija (Capital Markets); Teresa L. Reuter and Vera M. Iwankiw (Labor and Employment); Colleen Theresa Brown and Michele L. Aronson (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Suresh T. Advani (Tax); and E. Kyle Barnett (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions).

Sep 11

2 min

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

Sidley is representing Matson, Driscoll & Damico (MDD) in its acquisition by Davies. MDD will form a new business line within Davies’ Global Solutions division, establishing a new global forensic accounting capability for the firm. MDD is one of the largest specialist forensic accounting firms in the world, serving the insurance and legal sectors. MDD specializes in assessing economic damages in relation to insurance claims, business disputes, catastrophes, business interruption, fraud and product recalls, expert litigation support, business valuations, and shareholder disputes. London-headquartered Davies is a leading specialist professional services and technology business serving insurance and highly regulated markets. This strategic transaction demonstrates Sidley’s continued leadership in transatlantic insurance industry M&A. The Sidley team is led by Sean Carney, Jeremy Carroll (both Financial Institutions – Insurance), and Cameron Stanton (M&A), and includes Scott Goldstein, Ramia Mitchell, Owen Skelding (all Financial Institutions – Insurance), Ed Perry, Will Schoenfeld, Sean Sawyer (all M&A), Suresh Advani, Jason Menzies, Mitchell Li, Ellie Verran, Andrew Dibden (all Tax), Lauren Gallagher, P.C. Wang (both Employee Benefits), Terri Reuter, Katie Sreenan (both Labor and Employment), Stephen Fronk, Paul Kariyawasam (both Technology Transactions), Ash Nagdev, Steve McInerney, Philip Robbins (all Privacy and Cybersecurity), Patrick Harrison, Edward Sharon, Miriam Carroll Silvestri, and Flor Van Den Hende (all Antitrust and Competition).~~Sidley is representing Matson, Driscoll & Damico (MDD) in its acquisition by Davies. MDD will form a new business line within Davies’ Global Solutions division, establishing a new global forensic accounting capability for the firm. MDD is one of the largest specialist forensic accounting firms in the world, serving the insurance and legal sectors. MDD specializes in assessing economic damages in relation to insurance claims, business disputes, catastrophes, business interruption, fraud and product recalls, expert litigation support, business valuations, and shareholder disputes. London-headquartered Davies is a leading specialist professional services and technology business serving insurance and highly regulated markets. This strategic transaction demonstrates Sidley’s continued leadership in transatlantic insurance industry M&A. The Sidley team is led by Sean Carney, Jeremy Carroll (both Financial Institutions – Insurance), and Cameron Stanton (M&A), and includes Scott Goldstein, Ramia Mitchell, Owen Skelding (all Financial Institutions – Insurance), Ed Perry, Will Schoenfeld, Sean Sawyer (all M&A), Suresh Advani, Jason Menzies, Mitchell Li, Ellie Verran, Andrew Dibden (all Tax), Lauren Gallagher, P.C. Wang (both Employee Benefits), Terri Reuter, Katie Sreenan (both Labor and Employment), Stephen Fronk, Paul Kariyawasam (both Technology Transactions), Ash Nagdev, Steve McInerney, Philip Robbins (all Privacy and Cybersecurity), Patrick Harrison, Edward Sharon, Miriam Carroll Silvestri, and Flor Van Den Hende (all Antitrust and Competition).

Feb 15

2 min

Sidley is representing publicly traded Lincoln Financial in a landmark US$28 billion reinsurance transaction with Fortitude Re, Bermuda’s largest multi-line reinsurer. The market-shaping deal is one of the largest reinsurance transactions in recent years, and ranks among the largest ever conducted among unaffiliated parties in the U.S. life and annuity sector, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The reinsured block consists of in-force universal life with secondary guarantee (ULSG), MoneyGuard®, and fixed annuity products. The Sidley team is led by Perry Shwachman, Amanda Todd, and Jeremy Carroll (all Insurance), and includes Christa Nipper, Rana Odeh (Insurance), Peter Edgerton, Daniel Henry (Tax), Ellen Pesch (Derivatives), Joseph Schwartz, Jacob Sitto (Investment Funds), John Chamberlin (Real Estate), Pietro Fontana (Global Finance), and Ellen Dunn (Litigation).~~Sidley is representing publicly traded Lincoln Financial in a landmark US$28 billion reinsurance transaction with Fortitude Re, Bermuda’s largest multi-line reinsurer. The market-shaping deal is one of the largest reinsurance transactions in recent years, and ranks among the largest ever conducted among unaffiliated parties in the U.S. life and annuity sector, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The reinsured block consists of in-force universal life with secondary guarantee (ULSG), MoneyGuard®, and fixed annuity products. The Sidley team is led by Perry Shwachman, Amanda Todd, and Jeremy Carroll (all Insurance), and includes Christa Nipper, Rana Odeh (Insurance), Peter Edgerton, Daniel Henry (Tax), Ellen Pesch (Derivatives), Joseph Schwartz, Jacob Sitto (Investment Funds), John Chamberlin (Real Estate), Pietro Fontana (Global Finance), and Ellen Dunn (Litigation).

May 4

1 min

Sidley is representing RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: RNR) in its US$2.985 billion acquisition of American International Group Inc.’s treaty reinsurance business, which includes Validus Reinsurance Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries, AlphaCat Managers Ltd. and its managed funds, and all renewal rights to the Assumed Reinsurance Treaty Unit of Talbot Treaty. The Sidley team is being led by Karen Dewis (M&A) and Sean Carney (Insurance), and includes Aaron Rigby, Matt Stoker, William Howell, Charlie Wilson, Nick DeAngelis, Danielle N. Sismour, Robert C. Uhl, Alexandra I. Rios, Alyssa Levy, and Max Budowsky (M&A); James Phythian-Adams, Andrew R. Holland, Jennifer Norris, Jeremy E. Carroll, Julie Rodriguez, Nicole Mouzakiotis, and Rana J. Odeh (Insurance); Robert A. Ryan, Patricia Wood, and Jennifer Lin (Capital Markets); Banks Bruce, Sean Damm, Carson Calloway, and Kendra Smith (Global Finance); William Blumenthal, Vincent Brophy, and Bethany Wise (Antitrust/Competition); Christian E. Pilhofer (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Elizabeth Shea Fries and Zach Paterick (Investment Funds); Cathryn Le Regulski and Peter McCorkell (Labor and Employment); Thomas D. Cunningham, Sheri Porath Rockwell, and Denise Kara (Privacy and Cybersecurity); and Peter D. Edgerton (Tax).~~Sidley is representing RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: RNR) in its US$2.985 billion acquisition of American International Group Inc.’s treaty reinsurance business, which includes Validus Reinsurance Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries, AlphaCat Managers Ltd. and its managed funds, and all renewal rights to the Assumed Reinsurance Treaty Unit of Talbot Treaty. The Sidley team is being led by Karen Dewis (M&A) and Sean Carney (Insurance), and includes Aaron Rigby, Matt Stoker, William Howell, Charlie Wilson, Nick DeAngelis, Danielle N. Sismour, Robert C. Uhl, Alexandra I. Rios, Alyssa Levy, and Max Budowsky (M&A); James Phythian-Adams, Andrew R. Holland, Jennifer Norris, Jeremy E. Carroll, Julie Rodriguez, Nicole Mouzakiotis, and Rana J. Odeh (Insurance); Robert A. Ryan, Patricia Wood, and Jennifer Lin (Capital Markets); Banks Bruce, Sean Damm, Carson Calloway, and Kendra Smith (Global Finance); William Blumenthal, Vincent Brophy, and Bethany Wise (Antitrust/Competition); Christian E. Pilhofer (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Elizabeth Shea Fries and Zach Paterick (Investment Funds); Cathryn Le Regulski and Peter McCorkell (Labor and Employment); Thomas D. Cunningham, Sheri Porath Rockwell, and Denise Kara (Privacy and Cybersecurity); and Peter D. Edgerton (Tax).

May 22

2 min