Distribution and commercial contracts

Whether you need technical mastery or a proactive and commercial approach to negotiation, our commercial lawyers provide business-focussed advice through all stages of commercial transactions.

Our versatile team handles a broad range of commercial arrangements for insurance and financial services sector clients, from day-to-day commercial agreements to strategically important distribution deals.

We are regularly called on to support clients in product distribution matters, including partnerships, bancassurance and white-labelling, and other terms of business.

Our team advises on delegated underwriting authorities, MGAs, claims handling agreements, appointed representative agreements, third party administration, while we can also help with outsourcing, e-commerce distribution, including software licensing/development and data protection.

Many members of our team have worked in, or been seconded to, the in-house legal function of an insurance, broking or wider financial services business and are familiar with the challenges faced by individuals in the sector. We understand the business perspective and know how to provide the practical, clear and commercial advice our clients need.

Much of our work is international, using our own London, Hong Kong and Singapore offices, and calling upon our international best friend network of law firms to provide further local expertise where necessary. This helps us ensure we find the best lawyer for the job – whether RPC or a partner firm – keeping cost down and providing high quality advice and service.

Examples of work

RSA - advising RSA on its affinity scheme arrangements with Home Retail Group for the underwriting of pet insurance to be sold under the Argos and Homebase brand

LMA and IUA - drafting and advising on the standard TOBAs used in the London Market

Well known Lloyd's managing agencies - advising on the new shared services contract with Xchanging and termination of the existing contract with Capita

Major UK insurer - preparing a suite of precedent services and claims handling agreements

Global insurer - advising on its contractual arrangements for the provision of an online broker portal for a SME business in a number of European jurisdictions

Our perspective

FCA consults on British Steel redress scheme

Published on 22 December 2021. By David Allinson, Partner

The FCA intends to open consultation on an industry wide redress scheme covering British Steel Pension transfers. This is perhaps the only option left for the regulator, but a redress scheme will heap further pressure on an area of the advice industry that is already under fire.