JAMES PHYTHIAN-ADAMS focuses on transactional and regulatory work for insurers, reinsurers, investors, and other participants in the global insurance industry. His practice often involves helping clients across Europe, North America, the offshore jurisdictions, and Asia to access the London and international insurance markets and resolve the complex cross-border challenges they encounter.
He advises on a wide range of matters, including:
- Insurance carrier and intermediary formation, acquisition, governance, compliance, and disposal.
- Branch set-up, subsidiarization, and insurance licensing.
- Managing general agent (MGA) and coverholder formation, operation, and incubation.
- Transactions in and relating to the Lloyd’s market.
- Adverse development cover (ADC), loss portfolio transfer (LPT), insurance business transfer, industry loss warranty (ILW), insurance-linked securities (ILS), insurtech, distribution, and life and longevity transactions.
- Lloyd’s, Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and other compliance.
James has received acknowledgement from numerous industry ranking guides, including:
- Chambers UK 2025 – Ranked for Insurance: Non-contentious, with clients saying “James is very knowledgeable on the insurance market. He's up-to-date on all matters in the market, and is able to provide appropriate solutions to issues faced by clients.”
- Legal 500 UK 2025 – Ranked for Insurance: Corporate and Regulatory.
- Chambers UK 2024 – Ranked for Insurance: Non-contentious, where sources note “James is a strong and versatile insurance lawyer.” “He provides phenomenal client service. He is very pragmatic, has a strong understanding of the rules and requirements, and he comes up with solutions.”
- Legal 500 UK 2024 – Ranked for Insurance: Corporate and Regulatory.
- Chambers UK 2023 – Named as “Up and Coming” practitioner for Insurance: Non-contentious, with clients commenting: “James remains one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with. He knows the sector and the commercials and legal surrounding better than anyone.”
- Legal 500 UK 2023 – Ranked for Insurance: Corporate and Regulatory.
- Chambers UK 2022 – Ranked for Insurance: Non-contentious.
- Legal 500 UK 2022 – Ranked for Insurance: Corporate and Regulatory, with clients saying he is “commercial, available at very flexible times, and a pleasure to work with.”
- Chambers UK 2021 – Ranked for Insurance: Non-contentious, where sources commented that he “provides top-quality drafting and is excellent at delivering complex deals to tight timescales.”