Gallagher, the global insurance broking and risk management company, has announced two further hires into its fast-growing Private Equity and M&A practice (PEMA) as it continues to widen its European footprint of in-country expertise.
Philip Frerks has been appointed Head of Transaction Solutions, Germany, within the global multidisciplinary PEMA practice and joins to further strengthen its regional presence and bring expertise close to client communities. While Andrea Karkotis joins Gallagher as Associate Director, Warranty & Indemnity (W&I), Netherlands, adding to the growing PEMA team in Amsterdam.
Based in Frankfurt, former corporate M&A lawyer Philip will lead Gallagher's transaction solutions offering in Germany, bringing a decade's experience advising private equity and corporate clients on M&A-related risks, first as legal adviser and later facilitating various transaction-related insurance solutions and providing due diligence services. He joins from Malakut Group, a broker based in the Middle East for which he served in a global role as Head of M&A. Prior to this, Philip worked as a director in a major broker's M&A and transaction solutions division and was as an associate at international law firms White & Case and Sullivan & Cromwell.
Philip's arrival as Head of Transaction Solutions for Germany follows Federica Marcabruni joining Gallagher to perform the same role for Italy in June, Gabriella Eriksen Wingren joining in July for the Nordics as well as Sarah Dezes and Charles Amblard's arrival in France during the same period.
Based in Amsterdam, Andrea joins Gallagher's PEMA team in the Netherlands from global law firm Clifford Chance, where he worked on cross-border M&A, infrastructure, renewable energy and real estate transactions across Europe and the Middle East. His experience includes commercial contracting, due diligence and transaction management. Prior to relocating to Amsterdam, Andrea practised law in South Africa, where he focused on commercial and industrial real estate transactions across South and Sub-Saharan Africa, advising property funds on a wide range of commercial property and corporate matters.
Alistair Lester, Gallagher CEO for Private Equity and M&A, UK & EMEA, said: "Germany is one of Europe's most influential private equity and M&A markets and an important pillar of our growth strategy across the region. As investors look to unlock value amid evolving market conditions and an increasingly competitive deal environment, demand for sophisticated transaction risk solutions continues to grow. Philip's arrival significantly strengthens our capabilities in-country and across the entire EMEA region.
"We're also delighted to be adding further resources in the Netherlands, where Andrea will be a fantastic addition to our growing team. Our strategy is all about placing experienced specialists close to clients and their advisers in the markets where they operate. Philip and Andrea's appointments demonstrate our ability to attract lateral and new talent to our accelerating platform and enhance our ability to deliver local expertise while drawing on the strength of Gallagher's global platform, providing clients with the insight, responsiveness and solutions they need to successfully complete transactions in today's market."
Philip Frerks commented: "Gallagher has established a clear ambition to become a leading adviser to the private equity and M&A community and built significant momentum across Europe. The opportunity to join a growing team, strengthen the firm's transaction solutions offering in Germany and work alongside highly respected colleagues across the wider Gallagher business was an opportunity not to be missed. I am excited to be part of the next phase of growth and look forward to helping clients access bespoke risk transfer solutions that support successful transactions in an increasingly complex deal environment."
Alex Nagler, CEO of Gallagher in Europe, added: "Germany is a strategically important market for Gallagher as a group evidenced by our acquisition of Krose earlier this year and a key focus of our continued expansion across Europe, which includes the Benelux region. Through targeted acquisitions, investment in specialist talent and the development of our local capabilities, we are building a stronger, more integrated proposition for clients and it is great to see the scaling up of expertise to specifically support the private equity and M&A communities."
Gallagher's PEMA practice offers specialist services and indemnity solutions for private capital and corporate transactions including risk and insurance due diligence, pension and benefit due diligence, warranty & indemnity, structured credit, tax liability and contingent liability, which are increasingly embraced among private equity, other funds and corporates undertaking transactions to help them mitigate increased risks caused by the current economic uncertainty.
