Key Takeaways
- • Sidley Austin has appointed Carl Hotton as a partner in its M&A and Private Equity practice in London, marking the firm's 29th lateral hire to the London office over a three-year period.
- • Hotton joins from DLA Piper, where he was a partner specializing in insurance M&A and reinsurance transactions, bringing broad cross-border corporate experience across property and casualty, life, and Lloyd's market sectors.
- • The hire reinforces Sidley's strategic expansion of its insurance practice in London and strengthens capabilities for cross-border transactions, with the firm now advising more than 80% of its top 50 clients in the London market.
- • Hotton's appointment follows the relocation of insurance partner Sean Carney to London earlier in 2026, part of a deliberate capital investment in transactional, disputes, and regulatory practices in the London office.
- • Hotton has been ranked "Up and Coming" for Insurance: Non-contentious by Chambers UK and advises insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries, and financial sponsors on M&A, insurance portfolio transfers, reinsurance transactions, and regulatory matters.
Summary
Sidley Austin has expanded its London-based M&A and Private Equity practice with the appointment of Carl Hotton as partner, effective July 2026. Hotton joins from DLA Piper's Corporate group, where he spent more than two years as a partner focused on insurance M&A and reinsurance transactions. His arrival represents the 29th lateral hire to Sidley's London office over the past three years, underscoring the firm's aggressive capital deployment in the jurisdiction.
Hotton brings specialized expertise in cross-border insurance sector transactions, advising clients across property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and Lloyd's market participants. His client base includes insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries, and financial sponsors on a range of matters including domestic and cross-border M&A, insurance portfolio transfers, reinsurance transactions, strategic investments and joint ventures, group reorganizations, and insurance regulatory issues. Chambers UK has recognized him with an "Up and Coming" ranking for Insurance: Non-contentious work.
Thomas Thesing, managing partner of Sidley's London office and member of the firm's Management and Executive Committees, described Hotton as "a strategic addition to our growing London insurance practice" that adds necessary scale for growing cross-border client work. The firm's data shows it now advises more than 80% of its top 50 clients through its London operations, reflecting the strategic importance of the market.
The appointment builds on prior insurance sector hiring in London, following the relocation of Sean Carney to the market earlier in 2026. Perry J. Shwachman, global co-leader of Sidley's M&A and Private Equity group, noted that Hotton, alongside Carney and James Phythian-Adams, will lead the London insurance practice to serve clients on "the most significant insurance transactions globally." The positioning signals Sidley's competitive positioning in high-stakes insurance M&A alongside established rivals in a market characterized by significant deal flow in reinsurance and insurer consolidation.
Hotton brings specialized expertise in cross-border insurance sector transactions, advising clients across property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and Lloyd's market participants. His client base includes insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries, and financial sponsors on a range of matters including domestic and cross-border M&A, insurance portfolio transfers, reinsurance transactions, strategic investments and joint ventures, group reorganizations, and insurance regulatory issues. Chambers UK has recognized him with an "Up and Coming" ranking for Insurance: Non-contentious work.
Thomas Thesing, managing partner of Sidley's London office and member of the firm's Management and Executive Committees, described Hotton as "a strategic addition to our growing London insurance practice" that adds necessary scale for growing cross-border client work. The firm's data shows it now advises more than 80% of its top 50 clients through its London operations, reflecting the strategic importance of the market.
The appointment builds on prior insurance sector hiring in London, following the relocation of Sean Carney to the market earlier in 2026. Perry J. Shwachman, global co-leader of Sidley's M&A and Private Equity group, noted that Hotton, alongside Carney and James Phythian-Adams, will lead the London insurance practice to serve clients on "the most significant insurance transactions globally." The positioning signals Sidley's competitive positioning in high-stakes insurance M&A alongside established rivals in a market characterized by significant deal flow in reinsurance and insurer consolidation.
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