Insurance & Reinsurance
“Rajah & Tann has a dedicated insurance practice, and hence for clients who prefer engaging local firms who understand the local legal landscape well, they have a clear advantage.”
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
Your Trusted Insurance & Reinsurance Law Partner in Singapore
Navigating the complex world of insurance and reinsurance can be daunting, but with the right legal partner, you can turn challenges into opportunities.
Whether you need advice on insurance policies, reinsurance coverage, claims defence, recoveries, or regulatory compliance, the unmatched depth of expertise and breadth of experience of our Insurance and Reinsurance team ensure you enjoy a service of the highest quality with results-driven legal support tailored to your business objectives.
Quite simply, no law firm in Singapore understands the insurance industry better.
Trusted Legal Advisors for Complex Insurance Matters
Led by lawyers with more than 30 years of experience who are consistently recognised by established publications as leaders in the field, we work seamlessly with our clients to anticipate challenges, mitigate risks, and resolve disputes efficiently.
Whether you’re a local or global insurer, reinsurer, broker, or policyholder, you face a unique set of risks and opportunities. Our award-winning team combines deep local insight with international experience to deliver legal advice that is both comprehensive and practical.
We offer a full suite of insurance and reinsurance legal services, including:
- Contract Drafting – Insurance policies, reinsurance agreements, intermediary agreements, and distribution arrangements.
- Claims & Dispute Resolution – Defending claims, pursuing subrogated recoveries, and representing clients in litigation and arbitration.
- Corporate Insurance Transactions – Acquisition or sale of insurance and reinsurance businesses, portfolio transfers, and restructuring of insurance businesses
- Regulatory & Licensing Advice – Compliance with MAS regulations, licensing requirements, and emerging regulatory developments in relation to both the general, life insurance and reinsurance businesses.
Cutting Edge Advice and Cost-Effective Solutions
Our clients rely on our in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry for cutting-edge advice, cost-effective and innovative solutions that require an excellent command of the law and regulations.
As a full-service law firm, we leverage expertise across employment, tax, insolvency, shipping, asset management, capital markets, international trade, financial services, energy, construction, and other specialist fields of law to deliver integrated legal strategies.
On the defence and recoveries front, our lawyers’ involvement in almost every high-profile dispute and landmark case provides reassuring proof of our position as leading insurance and reinsurance law specialists.
Regional Reach, Global Perspective
Our lawyers regularly appear before the Singapore courts and are frequently engaged in insurance-related arbitrations and litigation before tribunals in key jurisdictions such as Norway, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This cross-border experience strengthens our ability to handle high-value disputes and emerging issues with agility and insight.
Insurance Claims and Recoveries
Our deep understanding of the insurance industry consistently gives clients a strategic advantage in managing complex claims. Our lawyers are regularly engaged to advise on high-profile matters involving intricate policy wordings, coverage disputes, and emerging risks.
The team is recognised for its strong track record across property and casualty insurance, specialty risks, and financial lines, and is frequently involved in headline claims that shape the industry.
Our expertise includes:
- Handling complex insurance issues that go beyond coverage disputes, including third-party claims and allegations
- Investigating the causes of economic losses and interpreting relevant insurance policy terms
- Decoding technical, engineering and construction terminology in infrastructure related insurance claims
- Providing rapid legal support in urgent situations such as product recalls
- Supporting insured professionals through the claims process, with sensitivity to their concerns and stress
- Advising foreign insurers on reinsurance treaty arrangements with local cedants
- Clarifying coverage and liability issue through the interpretation of intricate policy wordings
- Representing clients in insurance disputes, including litigation and alternative dispute resolution
Corporate and Regulatory Insurance Matter
With a strong command of Singapore’s insurance laws and regulatory landscape, and close working relationships with industry bodies and regulators, our team is well-positioned to advise on a wide range of corporate and regulatory insurance matters.
Our familiarity with prevailing regulatory policies and expectations enables us to deliver commercially sound, compliant, and forward-looking solutions that support our clients’ business objectives. Our expertise includes:
- Advising on the establishment and registration of insurance and insurance broking businesses
- Drafting schemes of transfer and novation for insurance business transfers
- Providing guidance on regulatory compliance under applicable insurance laws and regulations
- Drafting and reviewing insurance policy wordings
- Offering insight into innovative and emerging insurance products
- Advising on novel distribution models for insurance products, including digital platforms and cross-border channels
Reinsurance
Our team has represented reinsurers in complex coverage disputes with cedants across Asia, including arbitration proceedings in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia. With deep regional experience and technical expertise, we are trusted to advise on high-value reinsurance matters involving intricate policy issues and cross-border considerations.
Our work includes:
- Advising reinsurers and retrocessionaires on contested claims under reinsurance and retrocession programmes arising from the 2011 Thai floods and the 2010 Bangkok riots, particularly in relation to business interruption and property losses;
- Supporting the introduction of new insurance products in the Singapore market through facultative reinsurance arrangements;
- Recommending optimal business models for foreign reinsurers to transact with Singapore-based cedants, tailored to their commercial objectives and aligned with legal and regulatory requirements.
With the emergence of alternative risk transfer (ART) solutions to address reinsurance needs and protection gaps, our team led the market in Singapore’s first insurance-linked securities (ILS) transaction in December 2018. Since then, we have advised on 33 subsequent ILS issuances, as well as Asia’s and Singapore’s first collateralised longevity reinsurance transaction.
Selected Insurance & Reinsurance Highlights
Let’s Work Through It—Together
Every insurance and reinsurance matter is unique, and so are your business goals. Whether you’re facing a complex dispute, navigating regulatory requirements, or exploring new market opportunities, our team is here to help you navigate risk, resolve disputes, and seize opportunities in the evolving insurance market. Reach out to our team to explore tailored legal strategies that align with your business objectives.
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Recognition
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Band 1 - InsuranceChambers Asia-Pacific (2025)
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Band 1 - InsuranceChambers Asia-Pacific (2024)
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Tier 1 - InsuranceThe Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2025)
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Tier 1 - InsuranceThe Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024)
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Outstanding - Insuranceasialaw (2025)
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"Rajah & Tann has a dedicated insurance practice, and hence for clients who prefer engaging local firms who understand the local legal landscape well, they have a clear advantage."Chambers Asia-Pacific (2025)
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"The team understand deeply the insurance and reinsurance industry, and can interpret the regulations with a clear commercial angle. They have compelling insights on regulatory trends and perspectives. The advice is provided quickly and comprehensively."The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2025)
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"A formidable practice, Rajah & Tann Singapore remains a market leader in the insurance and reinsurance arenas. Often at the forefront of high-stakes cases, the practice is adept in handling contentious and non-contentious matters, including advisory work for major insurers and regulators."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024)
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"The firm has a very strong team of lawyers who are well acquainted with business norms and the legal and regulatory framework."Chambers Asia-Pacific (2024)
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“The team has the ability to quickly understand the issues and provide commercial and practical solutions.”Chambers Asia-Pacific (2023)
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"A team of extremely skilled and competent lawyers who understand our business and the regulatory environment and market we operate in. They are quick to respond and provide commercially viable and practical advice without fudging."asialaw (2024)
Rajah & Tann has a dedicated insurance practice, and hence for clients who prefer engaging local firms who understand the local legal landscape well, they have a clear advantage."
Our Insurance & Reinsurance Team
Head, Brunei Business Unit