September 8, 2014 (New York, NY) – The law firm of Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is pleased to announce that Robert Underhill has joined the firm as a partner in the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance sector in New York City. As a member of the firm’s Insurance Regulatory & Transactional practice group, he will focus his practice on advising hedge and private equity funds, investment banks and insurance and reinsurance companies on matters including: investments in and restructurings of life settlement portfolios, longevity and mortality swaps, transfers of other insurance related risks, transformer transactions, pension de-risking transactions, insurance-linked securities, redundant reserve financings and insurance related mergers and acquisitions.
Underhill joins Edwards Wildman from Fortress Investment Group, where as Managing Director & Counsel, he was responsible for the legal, regulatory and compliance matters for the life insurance investments of various Fortress affiliated funds. Prior to that, Underhill was the head of the legal department responsible for the insurance related businesses of Credit Suisse. He also previously held positions at Citigroup and American International Group as well as in private practice.
“Robert has developed a strong reputation in the insurance industry for his expertise in investments in life insurance assets and the transfer of longevity and mortality exposures through derivatives and other insurance-linked securities,” said Jeanne Kohler, chair of the Insurance and Reinsurance Department at Edwards Wildman. “Robert has worked for some of the most respected insurance, investment banking and alternative investment companies engaged in cutting edge insurance-related transactions. We are so pleased to welcome him to the group and the firm.”
Alan Levin, Managing Partner of the firm, added, “Our firm is committed to representing clients in structuring, issuing and investing in insurance-linked securities. Robert provides us with additional depth and expertise in mortality and longevity risk transfers. With the addition of Robert, we are well positioned to advise clients, including hedge and private equity funds, as well as traditional insurers and reinsurers, regarding all aspects of ILS transactions.”
Underhill earned his undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Texas, Austin and his law degree from New York University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in New York.
Edwards Wildman’s Regulatory and Transactional group is widely recognized for its experience and depth, representing insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries from across the US, Canada, the UK, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Latin America, continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and elsewhere in matters including property and casualty, life and health, financial, aviation and fidelity and surety business. The Group assists clients in applying for, negotiating, drafting and securing regulatory approval of reinsurance agreements, including unique and complex arrangements. The Group also advises on mergers and acquisitions, portfolio transfers and alternative risk transfer transactions, including through captives, sidecars and other special purpose vehicles or through investments in insurance-linked securities.
