Image

Kate McInerney

Partner

Kate is an insurance specialist with extensive transactional and advisory experience in the sector. 

Kate’s clients include insurers, reinsurers, pension scheme trustees, sponsoring employers and banks. As well as having an outstanding record in longevity de-risking, Kate has worked on some of the most significant M&A transactions in the insurance sector in recent years. Kate was seconded to the UK Financial Services Authority for a year, where she was part of a team advising policy makers on the UK implementation of Solvency II.

Kate was awarded ‘Rising Star’ for Corporate at the Euromoney Women in Business Law Awards 2017, and is ranked as an ‘Associate to watch’ by Chambers UK 2018. Her team won Legal 500 Insurance (Specialism) Team of the Year (UK) 2018.

Clients quoted in Chambers (2019) say the following about Kate: “She’s very good, and she’s very sharp. She’s quite a presence; you don’t forget her. She’s very sharp, and she’s prepared to battle for her client good and proper. The fact that she’s Aussie might help.”

“She is extremely able, technically very strong, a tough negotiator, and good fun to work with.”

“She’s very bright; she’s also very friendly, and has a great grip on the details of everything. She thinks ahead and thinks forward, and she’s also very collaborative about it, and isn’t aggressive.”

Experience

Representative matters

Largest bulk annuity transaction ever completed: The Trustees of the Airways Pension Scheme on a GBP4.4bn buy-in with Legal & General.

A global insurance company on the GBP12bn sale of a UK annuity portfolio to Rothesay Life and successful Court of Appeal challenge.

Scottish Equitable on the disposal of GBP9.6bn of annuities to Rothesay Life and Legal & General.

Scottish Equitable on the acquisition of Blackrock's UK defined contribution platform and the administration business comprising approximately GBP12bn of assets and 35,000 customers.

Pro bono

Advised Social Finance Limited in connection with the insurance of a social impact bond

Speaking Engagements

ERA Annual Conference on EU Law in the Insurance Sector 2018 - Brexit implications for insurers (passporting)

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

Member, Law Society of South Australia.

Member, Cross City Lawyers Group on Solvency II.

Recognition
She’s very good, and she’s very sharp. She’s quite a presence; you don’t forget her. She’s very sharp, and she’s prepared to battle for her client good and proper. The fact that she’s Aussie might help.
Chambers UK 2019
She is extremely able, technically very strong, a tough negotiator, and good fun to work with.
Chambers UK 2019

Awards

  • Legal 500 Insurance (Specialism) Team of the Year (UK) 2018 "Rising Star" for Corporate at the Euromoney Women in Business Law Awards 2017

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, South Australia, Australia, 2008

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2011

Academic

LLB/LP, Flinders University, 2007

BA, Flinders University, 2007

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.