Overview
May 9, 2025 – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has once again been shortlisted for M&A Advisor of the Year as part of The Insurer’s Program Manager Awards 2025, marking the third year in a row the firm has been shortlisted in this category.
Led by Partners Michael Halsband and Mike Byrne, McDermott’s insurance transactions team has been recognized for its strong performance representing strategics and private equity clients in high-profile transactions involving insurance companies, MGAs, and related entities.
Within the research timeframe, McDermott’s insurance transactions team represented:
- Waypoint Underwriting Management LLC, a leading specialty reinsurance managing general underwriter, in its sale to One80 Intermediaries Inc., a specialty insurance broker.
- Arden Insurance Services LLC, a tech-enabled managing general agent specializing in residential condominium association insurance, in securing a significant investment from FTV Capital, a sector-focused growth equity firm that invests in enterprise, financial technology and services companies.
- Avesi Partners, LLC, a Connecticut-based private equity firm, in its acquisition of OPOC.us, a leading provider of retirement, healthcare, benefits, human resources, payroll, and corporate wellness solutions to employers and organizations across the United States.
- Kewsong Lee, former CEO of Carlyle Group and the Founder and CEO of BellTower Partners, and BellTower in its investment in Ascot Group Limited, the Bermuda-based global specialty insurance company.
- MGG Investment Group (MGG), a direct lending investment firm, as insurance transactions and regulatory counsel, in connection with the signing of a definitive agreement for Conning & Company, Generali Investments’ wholly-owned subsidiary, to acquire a majority stake in MGG for $320 million.
- GRAM Asset Management, the private equity division of Grupo Romero Asset Management (GRAM), as insurance transaction and regulatory counsel, in connection with GRAM’s majority investment in the UniVista Insurance platform.
- Gemspring Capital, a Connecticut-based private equity firm, in the sale of Insurvia, Inc., a leading franchise-model insurance agency and financial services firm
- Bain Capital Insurance, ongoing representation of the dedicated investing unit of Bain Capital, in its recently formed fronting carrier Emerald Bay Risk Solutions.
McDermott is a proud sponsor of the Program Manager Conference & Awards 2025. Michael Halsband will be speaking at the conference as a moderator on the panel “M&A: The New Currency of Consolidation.”
View the list of finalists here.
About McDermott
Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Emery for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,400+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.
