Sparke Helmore Lawyers has appointed Matt Ellis as a partner within its corporate and commercial division. Ellis brings with him a team of four legal professionals from Clyde & Co.
Ellis’s addition aligns with an evolving insurance landscape, where global commercial insurance rates have recently declined for the first time in seven years.
Ellis (pictured) specialises in providing strategic advice on corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and risk management specifically within the insurance sector. His expertise spans mergers and acquisitions (M&A), insurance business acquisitions, complex reinsurance structures, and regulatory approvals.
Additionally, he advises on risks tied to M&A, including considerations for warranty and indemnity insurance coverage.
With over two decades of experience across Australian and UK markets, Ellis is well-positioned to guide clients through Australia’s current regulatory developments, including requirements under the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) and CPS230 operational risk standards.
His practice extends to Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) compliance, prudential requirements, and breach investigations.
Julien Castaldi, Sparke Helmore’s national practice group leader for corporate and commercial, said that Ellis’s background enhances the team’s capabilities.
“His know-how will allow us to expand the services we provide to our clients and support the continued growth of our corporate and commercial practice and create a seamless alignment with our colleagues in commercial insurance,” he said.
He also welcomed Ellis’s team, who will help the law firm support clients as they navigate increasingly complex issues within insurance and reinsurance markets.
Ellis said that Sparke Helmore’s collaborative culture was an asset to his practice.
“It was important for me and my team to join a full-service law firm known for its culture of collaboration and collegiality, and one with a clearly defined strategy for growth and success,” he said.
Sparke Helmore’s corporate and commercial team offers legal support across corporate governance, M&A, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and other commercial law areas.
Serving a diverse clientele that includes large corporations, government agencies, and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), the team focuses on delivering efficient, technology-driven legal solutions.
Ellis’s move to Sparke Helmore coincides with changes in the global insurance market, where the latest Marsh Global Insurance Market Index reported a 1% reduction in commercial insurance rates for Q3 2024. This marks the first rate drop since 2017, primarily due to rising competition in the global property market.
The Pacific region experienced a 6% decline, while significant reductions were also recorded across other regions, including the UK and Asia.
