Martin Larkman
Global Head
Volante Transaction Services
Volante Transaction Services (VTS) is a dedicated global team of mergers and acquisitions professionals who deliver in-market swift and certain transaction liability insurance solutions.
Volante Transaction Services (VTS) is a dedicated global team of mergers and acquisitions professionals who deliver swift and certain transaction liability insurance solutions that are underwritten by local market experts. Our team is located over more than 10 locations globally to ensure local access to in market experts but also around-the-clock cover across time zones when needed. Our team are former top-tier M&A advisory professionals who get M&A. They apply the same high-standards of service excellence that are required of all advisory professionals so that we can swiftly facilitate corporate transactions with predictability and certainty.
VTS specialises in warranty & indemnity insurance (representations and warranties insurance) and tax liability insurance. We offer a range of tailored, highly bespoke products for complex M&A but also simplified and expedited products for less complex deals.
We are available around-the-clock and able to swiftly respond to your needs and transaction timetable. Our global team offering ensures not only in market local expert resource but also the availability of a broad range of sector and segment specialisms. When you work with VTS you know you can undertake your corporate transaction with complete confidence that we will be there when needed to provide your insurance solution.
We understand that during a corporate transaction dealmakers need certainty and swiftness. That is why, when you work with VTS we are focussed on delivering the solution that your deal needs in a timely manner. We turn documents and actively engage with you as you would expect from any high-quality deal team member. Our around-the-clock global service means we are never ‘out-of-pocket’ when needed.
VTS knows that our solutions need to run coherently from policy to claims. We are there when you need us at claim time. We have a committed and experienced claims team who will deal with you directly rather than send you to third-parties. The VTS team ensures our claims professionals have a comprehensive understanding of your deal and the insurance solution that relates to it and will work with them so that claims are resolved efficiently.
Global team with local experts
VTS is an insurance partner that understands local market practice through its in-market specialists but our local underwriters are backed by the resources and expertise of a global team. We are available around-the-clock and able to swiftly respond to your needs and transaction timetable.
Expert M&A Experience
Our team are former top-tier M&A advisory professionals who get M&A. We are there to facilitate your transaction and work alongside dealmakers to provide the insurance solution for your deal. We turn documents and actively engage with you as you would expect from any high-quality deal team member.
Lloyd’s backed
VTS offers its insurance solutions through Volante Global’s Lloyd’s Syndicate 1699. This means we are not beholden to the requirements of third-party insurers and can deal directly with you on all matters. You have the certainty of knowing your policy is backed by Lloyd’s.
Client focus
The VTS team is a client orientated deal facilitation team. We jigsaw with your requirements and speed of timetable putting your transaction’s needs at the centre of our work. To facilitate this, we ensure our team is empowered to make decisions and get your insurance solution to you whilst also being able to draw on the expertise and knowledge of our global team.
Policy to claims cover
VTS knows that our solutions need to run coherently from policy to claims. We are there when you need us at claim time. We have a committed and experienced claims team who will deal with you directly and will work with underwriters and you so that claims are resolved efficiently.
‘Clean Exit’
A W&I insurance policy ensures that transaction funds received by a seller do not need to be retained or ring-fenced to meet potential future liabilities arising from the transaction as this liability is transferred to the insurer. This risk transfer, that allows a seller to move forward without the threat of future recourse to it, is known as a ‘clean exit’.
Commercial disparities
Transaction parties may have differing expectations of the contractual liability structure contained in a sale agreement (such as where transaction parties are accustomed to the market regimes of different jurisdictions). Where this is the case, a W&I insurance policy can bridge the gap between the expectations of each party and provide a mutually accretive solution.
Certainty of security
Where a buyer uses a W&I insurance policy, it is able to transfer the risk of a claim under the warranties & indemnities to the insurer. In so doing, it will have certainty that the insurer will stand behind the policy and be available to settle any claims. This removes any innate seller credit risk and the need to retain funds for future claims in an escrow account.
Continuing commercial relationships
There may be circumstances where the transaction parties have ongoing commercial relationships (such as where the seller or its management team are involved in the target business after the completion of the transaction). A W&I insurance policy enables a claim to be made against the insurer rather than pursuing the seller for an inadvertent breach and hence avoid possibly damaging any ongoing commercial relationship.
Auction bids
By stapling a W&I insurance policy to the sale agreement in any competitive auction process a seller may expedite the process and ensure it achieves a ‘clean exit’ (such as where it mandates that buyers must use a W&I insurance policy with any bid) and a buyer may improve the attractiveness of its bid to a seller (such as where insurance is not compulsory within the auction).
Passive seller protection
Some sellers are not actively involved in the conduct of a target business and yet are required to provide a full suite of warranties & indemnities. Such passive sellers are able to protect themselves from future transaction liabilities that arise due to breaches of warranties & indemnities by transferring this risk to an insurer through the use of A W&I insurance policy.
Governance and risk management
Obtaining a W&I insurance policy for any corporate transaction forms a key part of a prudent corporate risk management strategy and removes the potential for large future liabilities to arise due to undertaking M&A activity.
VTS knows that our insurance solutions need to run coherently from policy to claims and that claims must form a key part of our value proposition. We are there when you need us at claim time. Our underwriters all have vital experience with the claims process and facilitating a timely and efficient resolution of claims. They assist our committed and experienced in-house claims team who will deal with you directly rather than send you to third-parties.
The VTS team ensures our claims professionals have a comprehensive understanding of your deal and the insurance solution that relates to it and will work with them throughout the claims process.
Our partners can be assured that we strictly maintain claims confidentiality and appreciate the adverse impact that disclosing the details of commercially sensitive claims may have on our clients, not only to their current investments and relationships but also to the raising of future funds and future transactions. As such, we do not advertise our claims resolutions or use your policy claim as a marketing tool.
If you wish to make a claim, we are here to help. Please refer to the terms of your policy for the precise details of the claims process including time periods for notification but should you require assistance, our claims team are contactable by e-mail at [email protected] and your underwriter will also be very pleased to assist with any queries.
Global Head
Volante Transaction Services
Global Head
Volante Transaction Services
Martin is the Global Head of Volante Transaction Services and leads the VTS team across all regions. He has a wealth of insurance, legal and commercial professional experience. Martin is a recognised transaction liability insurance sector expert with substantial M&A insurance experience having undertaken transactions across the globe and having created and led M&A underwriting teams for both boutique and global insurance institutions. Martin brings significant commercial experience to the role of Global Head having been an executive director and sat on the board of companies across North America, Europe, UK and Asia Pacific. Martin is an England and Wales law qualified solicitor who has practised law in Europe and Asia Pacific across both international and domestic markets. As a lawyer, Martin specialised in corporate M&A law and focused on international transactional private equity work. Martin’s prior experience encompasses roles working with IAG, AIG and Allen & Overy (amongst others) across 100s of transactions in a variety of jurisdictions.
Co-Managing Director, North America
Volante Transaction Services
Co-Managing Director, North America
Volante Transaction Services
Jason is a Managing Director of VTS- North America and is based in New York City, where he focuses on the underwriting of transactional liability risks throughout North America. Jason has 12 years of M&A experience, including almost 4 years at BlueChip Underwriting Services where Jason worked as Managing Director and Head of Tax and underwrote both tax and RWI policies. Prior to joining BlueChip, Jason was a tax attorney for more than eight years and practiced law at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, Farrell Fritz, PC and Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP. Jason graduated summa cum laude from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in 2011
Co-Managing Director, North America
Volante Transaction Services
Co-Managing Director, North America
Volante Transaction Services
Chris is a Managing Director of VTS – North America and is based in New York City where he focuses on the underwriting of transactional liability risks throughout North America. Chris is an experienced M&A professional who has worked on a wide variety of transactions as both an underwriter and a corporate lawyer. Prior to joining Volante, Chris was Managing Director at BlueChip Underwriting Services, where he underwrote representation and warranty and contingent liability insurance policies for over five years. Chris began his legal career as a corporate and finance attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP in New York.
Co-Managing Director, North America
Volante Transaction Services
Co-Managing Director, North America
Volante Transaction Services
Jon is a Managing Director of VTS – North America and is based in New York City, where he focuses on the underwriting of transactional liability risks throughout North America. Jon has 9 years of M&A experience, including 5 years at BlueChip Underwriting Services, where Jon worked as a Managing Director and underwrote risks across a variety of industries, with a focus on healthcare transactions. Prior to joining BlueChip, Jon was a corporate and M&A attorney for 4 years and practiced law at Winston & Strawn LLP and Henry Schein, Inc.
Regional Managing Director - ANZ
Volante Transaction Services
Regional Managing Director - ANZ
Volante Transaction Services
Shaun is the Regional Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, based in Sydney. In addition to growing the ANZ business, Shaun will work on transactional liability risks with the VTS APAC team. Shaun has over 16 years’ M&A experience and for the last six and a half years Shaun has worked as a senior underwriter for AIG’s Asia Pacific M&A insurance team where he underwrote risks across ANZ and Asia. Prior to that Shaun worked in top-tier law firms in Sydney and London (including Herbert Smith Freehills) and as in-house counsel with MNCs, including GlaxoSmithKline and Booz & Co.
Deputy Managing Director - APAC
Volante Transaction Services
Deputy Managing Director - APAC
Volante Transaction Services
Daniel is a Deputy Managing Director in Singapore, working as part of the VTS APAC team on transactional liability risks. He brings over 10 years’ M&A experience and for the last six and a half years Daniel has worked in a number of roles within the transactional liability space, including most recently as a senior underwriter for Berkshire Hathaway Speciality Insurance’s Asia Middle East M&A insurance team. Prior to that Daniel spent two years in London as a Transactional Risk broker for Lockton, placing W&I and tax insurance policies and before that was a Transactional Risk underwriter in Ironshore’s (now Liberty GTS) Sydney office where he focused on transactions across the Asia-Pacific region.
Country Manager, Poland
Volante Transaction Services
Country Manager, Poland
Volante Transaction Services
Krzysztof is the Head of CEE and is based in Warsaw, where he focuses on the Polish transactional risk insurance market. Prior to joining Volante Global, he worked as a Polish qualified lawyer at the Polish offices of Dentons, Weil & Gotshal Manges and DWF assisting clients on both domestic and cross-border M&A transactions (including mergers, demergers, asset deals and share deals), drafting and negotiating business contracts and providing ongoing assistance in corporate and commercial matters. Krzysztof is fluent in Polish, English and German.
Head of Italy
Volante Transaction Services
Head of Italy
Volante Transaction Services
Massimiliano is the Head of Italy and is based in Milan, where he focuses on the Italian transactional risk insurance market. Prior to joining Volante Global, he worked at AIG, focusing on Warranty & Indemnity and Contingent Risk insurance policies in Italy and across South Europe. During his experience at AIG, he was also seconded to the DACH team in the Frankfurt am Main office, where he worked on risks located in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Prior to that, Massimiliano worked as Italian qualified lawyer for Italian and international law firms in Milan, assisting clients on both domestic and cross-border M&A transactions (including mergers, demergers, asset deals and share deals), drafting and negotiating business contracts and providing ongoing assistance in corporate and commercial matters. Massimiliano is fluent in Italian, English and German.
Senior Underwriter
Volante Transaction Services
Senior Underwriter
Volante Transaction Services
Marco is Head of Iberia and is based in Barcelona, focused in developing Volante Global’s operations in the Iberian region. Prior to joining Volante Global, he worked in the Iberian W&I and M&A space, both as an M&A underwriter and an M&A lawyer. As a Spanish qualified lawyer, Marco has extensive knowledge of corporate M&A law, holding also an LLM in tax law. With a focus on international transactional private equity work, Marco boasts over 10 years of M&A experience. Marco is fluent in Spanish, English and Catalan, and holds intermediate Mandarin capabilities.
Underwriter, UK & Europe
Volante Transaction Services
Underwriter, UK & Europe
Volante Transaction Services
Cristobal is an Underwriter within the VTS UK & Europe team and is based in London. Originally a Chilean qualified lawyer, Cristobal brings over 8 years of international M&A experience to VTS. He worked at Carey, Chile’s largest and most prestigious law firm, and focused his practice in corporate and business law, financing, telecommunications and real estate matters. Prior to joining Volante Global, he completed a Master of Laws (LLM) programme at King’s College London, during which he broadened and deepened his knowledge of the UK legal market, especially in M&A, insurance, and corporate governance matters. Cristobal is fluent in English and Spanish.
Underwriter
Volante Transaction Services
Underwriter
Volante Transaction Services
Pierre-Samuel is a French qualified lawyer and joined Volante in 2023 as a Senior Underwriter. Prior to Volante, Pierre-Samuel worked as an M&A and Tax underwriter at Transact Risk Partners for 4 years where he developed robust and transversal underwriting skills, both in respect of M&A insurance and tax insurance products. He also gained experience in the tax departments of major law firms in Paris (such as CMS and Linklaters) where he came across various tax matters in relation to private equity operations and corporate reorganizations. He holds a master’s degree in business law as well as a master’s degree in tax law (both from Sorbonne University). In addition, he graduated with an MBA from the University of Amsterdam where he acquired specific business skills notably in corporate finance, accounting, and corporate strategy.