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

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

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.

MATTERS

• Walkers acts for Moneda Asset Management SpA on its merger with NASDAQ-listed Pátria Investments Limited - Walkers has advised Moneda Asset Management SpA, a leading asset management firm based in Chile, on ...
  
• Walkers Acts as Bermuda Counsel to Vantage in US$225 million Inaugural Cat Bond - Walkers has acted as Bermuda counsel to Vantage Risk Ltd ("Vantage"), the Bermuda-based insurance an...
  
• Walkers (Bermuda) Limited Acts on Swiss Re's First ILS Fund - Walkers has acted as Bermuda counsel on the launch of the Core Nat Cat Fund, a segregated account of...
  
• Walkers Bermuda advises AXA XL in Bluefire Alternative Capital Reinsurance Transaction - Walkers is pleased to have acted as Bermudian counsel to AXA XL in relation to an alternative capita...
  
• Walkers Acts on Gemini's Captive Insurance Company, Nakamoto, Ltd. - Walkers is pleased to have acted as Bermuda counsel to Gemini Trust Company ("Gemini"), a cryptocurr...
  
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ADVISORY

• Bermuda Economic Substance Update - Following consultation with industry, the Economic Substance Regulations 2018 have been amended by t...
  
• Bermuda | Three Day Registration for Special Purpose Insurers Issuing Bonds - Bermuda has always provided an efficient process for insurance submissions of all classes, with appl...
  
• An Update on the Offshore Funds Landscape - There have been a number of changes to the offshore funds landscape in recent months. Our global tea...
  
• Recent Events Affecting the Bermuda Funds Industry and Upcoming Filings - Whether you are looking to set up a new fund vehicle, want to promote an overseas investment fund in...
  
• Bermuda Economic Substance Update – Key Amendments Enacted - Following continued discussions with the EU’s Code of Conduct Group and the OECD, Bermuda has pass...
  
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EVENTS

• Fund structuring: Fundamentals of fund formation in foreign jurisdictions - Join us for a discussion and review of the options fund managers have when choosing the right domici...
  
• Bermuda: The World's Climate Risk Finance Capital - Join Walkers Bermuda's Investment Funds, ILS and Re/Insurance partner Sarah Demerling, alongside rep...
  
• Walkers Virtual Fundamentals 2021 Seminar - Please join us on Tuesday 9 November for a live broadcast of Walkers Fundamentals where we will expl...
  
• Bermuda Captive Conference: 14-15 June 2021 - Walkers is delighted to support the advancement of Bermuda's captive insurance industry through our ...
  
• Walkers Virtual Fundamentals Seminar - Please join us for pre-event networking, followed by a live broadcast of Walkers Fundamentals a...
  
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ARTICLES

• Walkers Fundamentals White Paper 2021 – Regional Update: Americas - It has been another twelve months in which the extraordinary has become the norm, the unthinkable th...
  
• Walkers Guide to Setting up a Bermuda Digital Asset or Blockchain Fund - This helpful guide should tell you everything you need to know about setting up a Digital Asset or B...
  
• Change on “Loop” Structures Opens up Bermuda, BVI, Cayman, Guernsey and Jersey Wealth Structuring Options for South Africa Residents - With reform of South Africa’s Exchange Control Rules, the restrictions on the use of “loop” st...
  
• Podcast: Why Bermuda for Digital Asset Funds? - Walkers Bermuda Partner Sarah Demerling and Lawrence Newhook, President of Digital Array ISAC Ltd, d...
  
• Bermuda Focus: An Exceptional Island - Bermuda brings to mind images of pretty pink sand beaches and beautiful blue seas. Its financia...
  
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NEWS

• Walkers Leads Legal 500 2022 Offshore Lawyer Rankings - Walkers is pleased to announce it has received 44 individual lawyer rankings in the 2022 Legal 500 C...
  
• Walkers Wins Best Legal Adviser Award at European Captive Review Awards - Walkers has been named the winner in the Legal Services category of the European Captive Review Awar...
  
• Walkers Acts on IFLR America's Restructuring Deal of the Year 2021 - Walkers is pleased to announce that its Bermuda and Cayman Islands offices have been recognised at t...
  
• Legal 500 Highlights Walkers' Bermudian Strength - The 2020 Legal 500 Caribbean guide has highlighted Walkers continuing success in Bermuda. Ranked in ...
  
• Bermuda Government Proposes Legislative Amendment to Exempt Non-Tax Resident from Economic Substance Requirements - On 21 June 2019, Bermuda's House of Assembly passed a Bill entitled "The Economic Substance Amendmen...
  
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