Benjamin Lyon is an English - and New Zealand-qualified international counsel in the Corporate Department and a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions Group. Noted as a leading insurance lawyer in The Legal 500 UK (2024) and Chambers UK (2024), he focuses on corporate transactions in the insurance and asset management industries, including mergers & acquisitions, regulatory matters and corporate governance, as well as all other aspects of corporate law, with significant experience in acting on a wide range of public and private transactions, capital markets transactions, joint ventures and other transactions both in the UK and internationally. He regularly advises insurers, asset managers, corporates, private equity clients and investment banks.
In The Legal 500 UK (2024), which also recognises Mr. Lyon for his regulatory practice, he is said to be “exceptionally plugged in to the insurance world.” The guide has also noted that he is “particularly strong commercially with an excellent network and appreciation of the key commercial drivers of a transaction,” he has an “excellent working knowledge of the industry,” and he is “one of the very few attorneys with a deep understanding of both M&A and insurance transactions.” According to clients, he is “a commercial-minded attorney who can navigate high-level strategic issues but is still willing to take the time to understand the important details.” In previous editions of the guide, clients note his “strong understanding of the insurance market and drivers for insurance clients” and his ability to use that understanding “to provide commercially relevant advice. He has a client-centric approach and is proactive in ensuring advice is provided in line with client requirements.” Mr. Lyon receives similar praise in Chambers UK (2024), where clients note that he demonstrates “an extraordinary level of knowledge and commercial awareness” and “his dedication and responsiveness is impressive, as is his willingness to roll his sleeves up and get cracking right from the acorn of an idea.” In previous editions of the guide, he is said to be “an excellent commercial lawyer who is very sophisticated in his analysis of the key commercial drivers” and “an extremely valuable sounding board on both legal and commercial issues” who is “very good at working through thorny issues and deciding a course of action.” Sources have also highlighted his client focus, saying “he’s always willing to help and go the extra mile.”
Prior to joining the London office, Mr. Lyon worked as a senior in-house counsel at a major international financial institution focusing on all legal aspects of the institution’s investment banking activities and previously worked for a leading international law firm as a senior associate in the corporate team from 2006 until 2010.
Mr. Lyon is a frequent author and speaker on legal developments affecting the insurance industry. Recent publications include “ESG considerations in the insurance industry: Q&A,” Practical Law (October, 2023); “In a tough transactional environment, where are the green shoots? Looking back,” The Insurer (July, 2023); “In a tough transactional environment, where are the green shoots? Looking forward,” The Insurer (July, 2023); “A new wave of P&C insurers,” The Insurer (January, 2023); “Insurance Industry’s Allure Continues to Attract PE,” Private Equity International (September, 2022); “Insurance deals and the heightened regulatory headwind,” Insurance Day (July, 2022); “What Growing Focus On ESG Means For Insurers,” Law360 (January, 2021); “Business Interruption Judgement Handed Down in the UK,” ANZIIF Members’ Centre (September, 2020); “FinTech’s Innovation and Protection Balancing Act,” Private Equity International (June, 2020); “UK's Financial Conduct Authority announces test case on business interruption insurance,” Global Legal Post (June, 2020); and “The FCA's bid to resolve pandemic insurance coverage uncertainty,” Global Legal Post (May, 2020).
Mr. Lyon has also co-authored a number of chapters in industry handbooks. These include the UK chapter in the Insurance & Reinsurance Practice Guide, published by Chambers & Partners, the UK chapter in the Insurance & Reinsurance guide published by Lexology Getting the Deal Through, and the UK chapter in the Insurance and Reinsurance guide as part of the PLC Global Guides series.
Mr. Lyon is a member of the UK Chartered Insurance Institute and the British Insurance Law Association.
Mr. Lyon joined the firm in April 2012. He graduated from Auckland University in 2002 with degrees in Law and Commerce (Finance and Accounting).
Mr. Lyon was admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales in 2012 and a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2002.