Douglas is a corporate lawyer who specialises in providing both transactional and regulatory advice on transactions relating to the insurance markets. He acts for insurers, insurance intermediaries, and buyers of insurance.
He has been involved in many outsourcing arrangements and has assisted in various start-ups and authorisations. He regularly advises on regulatory matters, particularly in the insurance sphere. He has a strong track record of persuading regulators to modify their position to a client’s benefit.
Most of his work is for businesses active in the London insurance market (or those which buy commercial insurance in the London insurance market). That market is international so many clients are either based, or owned by people, outside the UK so he has extensive dealings with non-UK clients, particularly people in South-East Asia (Singapore and Hong Kong), Europe (Germany, Switzerland and France), USA and Australia. In addition to his UK-based international experience, he has practised as a solicitor in Hong Kong for two years.
Expertise
Douglas advises insurers, insurance intermediaries, and buyers of insurance on transactional and regulatory advice, with a focus on the London insurance market. His work includes mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganisations, commercial alliances, captive insurance arrangements, and extended warranty schemes.
Experience
Acted for Hannover Group on the acquisition of the Argenta group of companies in 2017, including a Lloyd’s members agency, a Lloyd’s managing agency and various corporate names.
Acted for a leading retail group for over 20 years in relation to its extended warranty arrangements, including facing down claims by relevant regulators that the arrangements were unlawful.
Regularly acts for international banks on the drafting of bespoke insurance arrangements to hedge some of their credit exposure
Advised a Middle Eastern Re group on regulatory arrangements for expansion of its business in the UK in compliance with EEA and UK requirements
Advised a German Re group on claims handling arrangements
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Best Lawyers UK from for Corporate Finance Law 2014–2025
Winner of Legal Business Insurance Team of the Year Award 1998
Member of the Hong Kong Law Society
Member of the City of London Solicitors Company
Douglas qualified as a solicitor 1980. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, he worked at the following firms:
