Eversheds Sutherland augments highly regarded transactional risk insurance offering with arrival of latest lateral partner duo

Both lateral hires join the global law firm’s London office from DLA Piper.

Laura focuses exclusively on TRI. Her experience spans hundreds of transactions for over 20 insurer clients, as well as advising buyers and sellers on deal insurance to optimise transaction insurability. Prior to DLA Piper, Laura held roles at Clifford Chance, Clyde & Co, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

Matt brings extensive experience in international tax, M&A structuring, and reorganisations, along with a notable profile in the insurance sector. Matt has wide TRI experience, working on hundreds of W&I transactions but has also established a standalone and active tax liability insurance advisory practice, both of which are complemented by his general tax structuring and transactional tax practice, advising across general M&A transactions and real estate transactions. 

TRI encompasses Warranty & Indemnity (W&I / R&W) Insurance, tax liability insurance and a wider range of contingent risk insurance products, and now forms the fundamental financial protection on most M&A transactions, as well as vital de-risking in the wider transactional and corporate landscape, including for secondaries, restructurings and wider investment activities. 

Eversheds Sutherland’s well-established TRI practice is spearheaded by partners Chris Halliday and Ben Jones, both of whom have been trusted advisors to TRI insurers since the earliest days of the market’s development, building a formidable presence in target areas. Laura and Matt bring an equivalent market-recognised TRI practice. Their appointments to Eversheds Sutherland’s existing TRI offering will provide clients with an unrivalled capability, both in the UK and internationally. 

Chris Halliday, Global M&A Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:
“The appointments of Laura and Matt represent a significant strategic development in our TRI offering, bringing together recognised authorities in this highly complex area to create a formal TRI group that will have the experience and capacity to provide the best support to our clients. Our clients require practical, commercial advice based on a deep knowledge of TRI, typically in compressed, transaction-driven timelines. These appointments, coupled with our global TRI capability, will provide clients with the tailored advice they need, wherever and whenever necessary.”

Ben Jones, Partner and Co-Head of Global Tax, Eversheds Sutherland, said:
“Matt’s arrival not only enhances our tax liability insurance offering and, alongside Helen Mackey, gives us real strength in depth at partner level in this area, but Matt is also a leading international tax expert outside of the TRI market and his arrival will significantly enhance the expertise and experience of the tax group, particularly across core areas such as cross-border M&A, complex real estate transactions and financial services.” 

Laura Marcelli, Corporate Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:
"I'm thrilled to be joining Eversheds Sutherland and to be part of a team that is truly shaping the future of the TRI market. I look forward to working alongside Chris, Ben, Matt, Helen and the wider team to further build the firm’s market-leading reputation and focussed expertise to clients."

Matt Davies, Tax Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:
"I'm delighted to be joining Eversheds Sutherland at a time of such strategic momentum for the TRI and tax practices. The firm’s reputation for excellence and its international reach provide an ideal platform to further develop my TRI and broader tax advisory work. I very much look forward to working with and helping further develop the team.”

Laura and Matt’s arrival follows a string of recent senior appointments across the UK and Europe for the global law firm, including Sara Gerling and Codrina Constantinescu in Luxembourg, Catharina Förster and Peter Junghänel in Frankfurt, Kevin Cummings, Martin Corrigan, Kashif Siddiqui, James Holden and John Lurie in London, and Luc Cohen in Amsterdam.