Sarah Demerling

Sarah Demerling

Partner

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Practice Areas

Sarah Demerling is a partner* in the Corporate, Finance, Funds & Insurance Group in Walkers' Bermuda office. She leads the Investment Funds practice and is Co-Lead of the (Re)Insurance and ILS practice groups.

She has over 20 years' experience in the Bermuda legal market and is highly regarded as one of Bermuda's "go-to" fund experts. 

Sarah has a strong asset management and insurance background, having spent the last 16 years specifically in ILS. She also specialises in funds and investment services, regulatory compliance (including FinTech) and mergers and acquisitions.

She has extensive experience in dealing with offshore structures and in providing advice to US, Canadian and UK lawyers, major investment managers, banks, insurers, reinsurers and principals on all aspects of Bermuda corporate law, most notably in the asset management and investment funds industry as well as the convergence of insurance and financial markets.

*The title of "partner" is used to refer to an employee of Walkers (Bermuda) Limited with equivalent standing and qualifications.

Sarah has been involved in the financial services industry in Bermuda for two decades and was formerly a partner within the corporate practice of one of the largest law firms in Bermuda.

Immediately prior to joining Walkers, following an MBO, Sarah was a client director at a leading provider of offshore fiduciary and administration services, where she served as an independent director of companies covering a wide range of sectors, including Funds, ILS, Insurance (Captives, SPIs and ‘A’ Rated companies) and Commodities, and helped clients navigate best practices in corporate governance.

Admitted In:
Bermuda (Barrister and Attorney)
Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (not practising)

Qualifications:
LPC Commendation, College of Law Guildford, UK
LLB (Hons) in English Law/French Law, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK
Certificat de Droit Francais, Bordeaux University, France

2023 Chambers Global - Spotlight - Investment Funds - "I regard her as the best funds lawyer in Bermuda."

2023 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Insurance & Reinsurance

2023 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Corporate & Commercial

2023 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

2022 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "She is both solution-minded and business-minded."

2022 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Insurance & Reinsurance - "Sarah Demerling is knowledgeable, connected and available, providing commercial solutions to complex matters" and "The most important part of any firm are the people with their knowledge and ability to understand the nuances for the Bermuda marketplace. Sarah was excellent to work with getting our ILS Fund ready to go and Melanie has been excellent to work with regarding Bermuda regulatory advice. Both also take the time to explain their advice and allay any stresses and uncertainties."

2022 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Corporate & Commercial - ‘Sarah Demerling is our go-to, who we are thrilled with. We run in impressive circles within the Bermuda investment industry and Sarah and her team are the constant nexus.’

2022 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

2022 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Private Funds - Formation

2022 Who's Who Legal - Recommened - Private Funds - Regulatory - "Sarah Demerling has a standout reputation in fund structures, where she possess over 20 years' experience advising a wide range of clients."

2021 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - Sarah Demerling is "very commercial and understands finance and deal structure," adding: "She is super responsive, available and attentive to detail." 

2021 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets - ‘"The Walkers team (particularly Natalie Neto, Sarah Demerling, and Rachel Nightingale) are responsive, creative, flexible, and smart. They are very connected within the Bermuda legal and business community, getting us meetings and audiences on very short notice when needed. They also handled a sensitive and challenging issue smoothly. I cannot say enough good things about that."

2021 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Corporate & Commercial 

2021 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Insurance/Reinsurance

2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Private Funds - Regulatory

2020 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets 

2020 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Corporate & Commercial 

2020 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Insurance/Reinsurance

 

Prior to moving from private practice to the provision of fiduciary services, Sarah was recognised as a leading practitioner in the Bermuda legal market, including the following:

2015 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer in Banking and Finance Capital Markets and Investment Funds categories

2014 Chambers Global - ‘A leader in her field’ in which sources say she’s ‘highly intelligent, responsive and pro-business'.

2014 Legal 500 Caribbean - Recommended

2012 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer (Financial and Corporate)

Sarah heads up the ILS Market Intelligence work stream of ILS Bermuda, which includes the ILS task force, and a member of the Bermuda Government appointed Economic Substance working group for Funds.

She is also and is a member of the Captive Committee of the Bermuda Business Development Agency as well as a member of the Asset Management Committee; as well as the Chair of AIMA Bermuda and a co-foundeder of 100 Women in Finance, Bermuda.

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