Edwin Northover is an Asia-based corporate partner and Head of our Financial Institutions and Corporate practices in Asia. Mr. Northover has a broad cross-border public and private mergers & acquisitions practice, with a particular focus on mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and distribution agreements in the insurance industry.
Mr. Northover has worked on several of the most significant insurance M&A transactions in Asia and is ranked by Chambers Greater China (2024) as a Band 1 lawyer for Insurance: Non-contentious. He is further recommended for Mergers & Acquisitions. Clients note that he is “very seasoned” and “a trusted adviser” who “brings substantial experience to bear in an effective way.” He is also said to be “responsive and technically excellent, and his knowledge of insurance M&A is second to none.” Sources describe him as “approachable, likeable, straightforward,” “thoughtful and detailed, and willing to push firmly on behalf of the client.” He has won praise for his commercial acumen and technical judgement, with sources describing him as “a very skilled and competent lawyer” who “understands the underlying commercial and strategic requirements of the client and focuses on ensuring those are achieved.” He is said to be “an excellent negotiator – always calm, balanced and unflustered and never one to seek to antagonise the other side, but always remaining focused on getting the deal done.” In previous editions of the guide he has been described as a “very talented lawyer” who is “very responsive and pragmatic” and is noted for his “extensive knowledge of bancassurance arrangements across Asia-Pacific.” Mr. Northover is also recommended by Chambers Global (2024) for Corporate/M&A in China. He is recognised for Mergers & Acquisitions and Insurance in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China (2024) and in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, where he is described as “a trusted legal advisor.” The guide has also described him as “a standout,” “technically excellent,” “approachable” and a “very good negotiator.” He is also recommended by IFLR1000 (2023) and is named in China Business Law Journal's A-List (2022).
Mr. Northover also has extensive private equity experience, having worked on a number of PE and VC deals, including both strategic and co-investments. Mr. Northover joined Debevoise in 2007 and was based in our London office prior to his move to Asia in 2012. He is qualified in both England & Wales and Hong Kong.
During 2013, Mr. Northover spent six months on secondment to the Mergers & Acquisitions team of a multinational insurance company in Paris. In 2015, he spent a period in the Financial Institutions Group of our New York office.
Mr. Northover graduated in 2001 with a Double First Class Honours degree in Modern History from Merton College, University of Oxford. He went on to study at BPP Law School, London (2002–2003).
He was admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales in 2006 and Hong Kong in 2013.