The Singapore office of UK law firm DAC Beachcroft has taken its total number of partners to two with the addition of Steven Dewhurst from Stephenson Harwood.

Dewhurst, an insurance specialist with more than 19 years of experience in advising insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries on claims, commercial agreements and regulatory and compliance issues, is an expert  in high-value financial lines and D&O defence work, and in providing insurance sector focused commercial and regulatory advice.

Formed in October last year following a merger between UK firms Beachcroft and Davies Arnold Cooper, DAC Beachcroft counts the insurance industry as its largest client sector worldwide. In fact, it opened its Singapore office in 2011 following demand from its insurer and reinsurer clients for legal services in the region.

Lead Singapore partner Ben Nicholson said that Dewhurst’s hiring had been in line with a broader plan to “draw in additional specialist insurance parties.”

“We are very pleased to have Steven join us as his expertise advising insurers on directors and officers risk, professional risk - for example, in construction project professional indemnity - and corporate insurance is very much in demand from our clients,” said Nicholson. “The addition of Steven and his practice to our team in Singapore means that we are able to offer specialist insurance services across a wide range of business lines, including large and complex property and liability risk, construction and engineering, directors and officers liability, products liability, professional indemnity, financial institutions, cyber risk, accident and health insurance, insurance regulation, policy wordings and corporate/commercial agreements for insurance companies.”

“We think that makes us unique among international insurance practices in Singapore,” he added.
DAC Beachcroft has more than 230 partners, and more than 2,000 staff across 13 locations in six countries in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America. The Singapore office is focused on advising insurers and reinsurers on high value and complex claims, coverage disputes, and commercial and regulatory matters. In addition, the team advises on insurance policy wordings and global programmes, and also supports other clients of DAC Beachcroft operating in Asia. ALB

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