ILS & cat bond attorney Matthew S. Feig returns to Cadwalader

Experienced insurance-linked securities (ILS) and catastrophe bond focused capital markets attorney Matthew S. Feig has rejoined the New York Capital Markets group at global law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

Feig returns as Special Counsel to the Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) Team at Cadwalader. He will continue his practice in risk-linked securities and structured and corporate finance, with particular emphasis on catastrophe bonds, cell tower transactions and other off-the-run asset classes.

The Cadwalader ILS team, headed by Malcolm Wattman and Frank Polverino, has been providing legal advice and guidance to ILS and reinsurance players, on catastrophe bonds, sidecars and other ILS legal innovation since 1999.

The team provides counsel to clients in developing transactions and structuring products for insurance and reinsurance, with a particular focus on capital markets convergence, securitization and improving asset and liability management.

“With Matt’s return, Cadwalader gains a talented lawyer whom we already know is a dedicated firm citizen with good instincts and excellent client relationships,” commented Pat Quinn, Managing Partner. “His broad experience in finance, securitization, insurance-linked securities and general corporate work is a rare blend that is an asset as we continue to grow our non-mortgage ABS practice.”

Feig had previously spent more than seven years at Cadwalader from 2005, before moving to competitors Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in 2012.

Post-financial crisis Feig switched his focus to the alternative risk transfer and reinsurance market, primarily working on catastrophe bond transactions. Feig has worked on natural catastrophe linked ILS securities deals as well as those involving pandemic risk, longevity, health claims and extreme mortality.

“We are excited to be working again with Matt who continues to be in demand from clients, including insurers, investment banks and funds, who draw upon his experience and knowledge of alternative risk transfer,” stated Michael Gambro, co-head of Cadwalader’s Capital Markets Practice. “Matt was instrumental in helping Cadwalader evolve, develop and grow its catastrophe bond business, including his work on the first catastrophe bond issued for a sovereign government to support Mexico’s disaster relief efforts. We welcome Matt and look forward to his further contributions to our global Capital Markets practice.”

“I am happy to return home to Cadwalader and committed to continue building our successful practice focused on insurance-linked securities and non-traditional asset securitization,” Feig added. “Our clients benefit greatly from the breadth of knowledge my fellow attorneys apply to every matter. The Cadwalader platform is unparalleled in experience and service, and I’m proud to be a part of it once again.”

Cadwalader has recently been expanding its Capital Markets practice globally, including an expansion of its catastrophe bond practice at its London office in order to serve European insurers and other ILS sponsors as well as investment banks.