Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, announces the addition of Nick Williams as partner. Williams joins the Firm’s Corporate practice from his most recent role as co-head of a global high-end insurance practice. He is resident in the New York office and focuses on mergers, acquisitions and capital market transactions in both the property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance industries, and cutting-edge work in emerging areas such as cyber insurance.
Williams is an insurance regulatory and compliance pioneer holding nearly 30 years of experience in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. He is a recognized leader in the life settlement industry, having participated in many of the largest and most notable transactions worldwide. Williams is also considered a leader in the development of Basel III–compliant insurance products that provide capital relief for global banks and other financial institutions, including numerous major US and international institutions.
“Nick brings an expansive and impressive portfolio of experience spanning key areas of our transactional and insurance client focus, highly aligned with our Firm’s broad range of business and commercial transactional depth,” said Dentons US CEO Mike McNamara. “We are very pleased to welcome Nick to Dentons as his leadership adds to the forward-thinking approach in our New York office and our broader Corporate and Insurance practices in the US.”
Williams has assisted clients on all manner of insurance-related needs, including reinsurance, brokering, insolvencies, captive insurer formations, licensing and coverage issues. He also has considerable experience in insurance-related capital markets and transactions, including initial public offerings, private placements, 144A and Regulation S offerings, primary and secondary equity offerings and contingent capital transactions.
Among his successes, Williams advised a global alternative investment manager firm on its purchase from an American multinational finance and insurance corporation of a portfolio of life settlements with a face value of US$8 billion. This was the largest life settlement transaction in history, comprising more than 2,800 policies. He also advised a leading international private investment group in its US$2.6 billion acquisition of a global insurance and reinsurance company. He is frequently called upon by boards of directors and senior executives for assistance with their directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage needs.
In addition to his practice, Williams serves as director of the Columbia Law School Association, where he previously served as president. He is a member of the Life Insurance Council of New York and of the Life Insurance Settlement Association. Dedicated to serving his community, Williams serves as chairman and director of Art Beyond Sight, a nonprofit that supports access to arts for those with a disability or mental health condition, and as secretary and director of Urban Upbound, a nonprofit that helps provide access to banking services for local residents.
Williams earned his JD from Columbia Law School and his BA from Brown University.
About Dentons
Dentons is the world’s largest law firm, connecting talent to the world’s challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons’ legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons’ polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com
