David Coupe

Legal Advisor to the Board, MGAA

David has been practising corporate commercial law for over 35 years, principally around the London and Lloyd’s insurance market.

Prior to founding his own practice in 2012, he had been a partner at two of the best known London insurance and commercial legal practices. He advises and supports insurance brokers, underwriting agents, MGAs, insurers and other service providers, and those looking to invest in the market including venture capital funds, business angels and (re)insurers. He also specialises in insurance governance and regulation.

David is a founder of the Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA) and sits on the Board and their Regulatory and Compliance Committee, and has regular contact with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (the UK regulator of brokers and insurance agents) in such capacity.

David’s practice has also covered a number of transactions, transfers of business and schemes of arrangement in the insurance run-off market, being the first to obtain an order under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code.

Whilst much of his work is based in the UK insurance market, he has advised many clients worldwide on insurance-related matters. For instance, he has assisted many clients from the US and Bermuda with their acquisitions and transactions in the UK. He also has clients from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, China, Malaysia, Brazil and throughout the EU.

Most recently, he has assisted the Government of Gibraltar with regards to the changing of their laws for intermediaries. Indeed, he now has his own Gibraltar consultancy, Insurelaw, advising on insurance matters as arise there, with a particular emphasis on the new special relationship existing post BREXIT between the UK and Gibraltar.

He is also dealing with many issues arising relating to BREXIT such as back branching and run-off.

David is also a well-known name in the Lloyd’s market and has acted for a number of agents and capital providers relating to Lloyd’s investments, setting up new Lloyd’s syndicates and special purpose arrangements (SPAs), and Lloyd’s corporate capital vehicles (and the provision of FAL into those).

He also deals with many financial insurance and reinsurance instruments, and alternative forms of risk transfer through protected cell companies and captive insurance.

David was admitted as a Solicitor in October 1986.

David is an avid sportsman, still playing hockey, returning to cricket, and even sometimes playing reasonable golf. He has also run 26 marathons, climbed Kilimanjaro and cycled Lands’ End to John O’Groats for charity.

He can be found at David.coupe@insurelaw.gi, on his UK mobile +447831500371, or on his Gibraltar mobile +350 5600 3500