Sarah Demerling
Partner
Bermuda
Sarah leads the Bermuda Insurance practice and leads our Investment Funds practice with a specialty in insurance-linked securities (ILS).
She has over two decades of experience in the Bermuda legal market and is widely recognised as the go-to in her field.
Sarah is a trusted advisor on all facets of Bermuda corporate and regulatory law. She has extensive market experience in advising on a range of structures and providing counsel to major international (re)insurers (covering both P&C and long term(life)), sponsors, asset managers, private equity houses and principals on the formation, licensing and ongoing regulatory requirements of applicable vehicles, as well as M&A and alternative risk financing transactions (including catbonds and side-cars).
She works closely with our Fintech team in all aspects that span from insurtech, innovative insurer, and tokenised funds, and is known for her commercial and innovative approach.
Sarah is a trusted advisor on all facets of Bermuda corporate and regulatory law. She has extensive market experience in advising on a range of structures and providing counsel to major international (re)insurers (covering both P&C and long term(life)), sponsors, asset managers, private equity houses and principals on the formation, licensing and ongoing regulatory requirements of applicable vehicles, as well as M&A and alternative risk financing transactions (including catbonds and side-cars).
She works closely with our Fintech team in all aspects that span from insurtech, innovative insurer, and tokenised funds, and is known for her commercial and innovative approach.
Sarah Demerling is knowledgeable, connected and available, providing commercial solutions to complex matters.
Experience and recent work
She was formerly a partner in the corporate practice of one of the largest law firms in Bermuda.
Before joining Walkers, she was a client director at a provider of fiduciary and administration services. She worked as an independent director of companies covering sectors including funds, ILS, insurance (captives, SPIs and A-rated companies) and commodities, and helped clients navigate best practice in corporate governance.
Before joining Walkers, she was a client director at a provider of fiduciary and administration services. She worked as an independent director of companies covering sectors including funds, ILS, insurance (captives, SPIs and A-rated companies) and commodities, and helped clients navigate best practice in corporate governance.
Qualifications
Admitted in:
- Bermuda (Barrister and Attorney)
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (not practising)
Education:
- 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
Sarah heads 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 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-founder of 100 Women in Finance, Bermuda.
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)
Team Members
