Sutherland expands New York insurance practice group

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan is significantly expanding its insurance and tax practices with the addition of six insurance regulatory, tax and transactional attorneys. James Dwyer, Jeffrey Mace, John Pruitt, Linda Sciuto, Cynthia Shoss and Bruce Wright are joining the firm’s New York office as partners. All six attorneys were previously partners at Dewey & LeBoeuf.

This group brings with it the full spectrum of skills and experience for serving the insurance sector around the globe in the areas of property & casualty and life insurance regulation and transactions; insurance M&A and finance; reinsurance; insurance captives and alternative risk transfer mechanisms; and international insurance taxation.

“We couldn’t be more proud to have this talented group of industry leaders join our firm. Their combined broad experience in the insurance industry is a natural complement to our insurance and tax teams and strengthens our industry leading practice,” said Sutherland managing partner Mark Wasserman. “Our clients will immediately benefit from this added depth and breadth.”

In addition to enhancing Sutherland’s highly regarded insurance and tax practices, the addition of this group significantly expands the firm’s New York presence. “Our New York office has focused on the insurance and financial services sectors since we opened in late 2002,” said William Bradley, partner-in-charge of the New York office. “As a firm, our strategy is to expand our leading practices that serve clients in key industries, and the addition of our new partners clearly and emphatically advances that strategy.”

Prior to joining Sutherland, Mace led Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Lloyd's of London and Lloyd's Market practice. He has a multidisciplinary background in tax, regulatory and corporate matters related to insurers and reinsurers.

Pruitt and Shoss co-chaired Dewey & LeBoeuf's Insurance Regulatory Department. Pruitt’s practice focuses on regulatory, transactional and compliance matters and investigations relating to property & casualty companies. Shoss focuses primarily on life insurance regulatory and legislative matters and transformative transactions, including demutualizations, mergers and acquisitions.

Dwyer is widely recognized as a leading practitioner in insurance transactional, regulatory and financing matters. Throughout his more than 30-year career, he has represented market leading companies on all aspects of some of the largest mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in the insurance industry.

Wright, who was the head of LeBoeuf Lamb’s tax practice for many years, is internationally recognized for his advice with respect to captive insurers, risk retention groups, and various types of alternative risk financing mechanisms. Wright and Mace together bring extensive experience assisting clients in the U.S., U.K. and Bermuda with international insurance and tax matters.

Sciuto focuses on the taxation of Lloyd’s members and has extensive knowledge of the Lloyd’s of London market. She also represents non-US insurers doing business in the United States.

“Sutherland’s leadership in insurance product regulation, distribution and tax; investment company regulation; and SEC and FINRA regulation and enforcement expands the services we can offer our clients. Additionally, the firm’s robust insurance transactional, litigation and tax practices will provide the support in those areas our clients have been accustomed to at Dewey & LeBoeuf,” said Shoss. “Sutherland’s focus on insurance, with more than 100 lawyers already serving clients in the industry, is a perfect fit for us. It provides an outstanding, full service platform for serving our clients.”