Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is pleased to announce that Reactions, a leading insurance publication, has named the firm “Best Global Law Firm of the Year” at its Global Awards. The awards were presented at the Reactions Global Awards Gala Dinner on September 19 in New York. 

The law firms of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP and Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP today announced that they will merge on October 1, 2011 (you can read the press release here).   The new firm, with 13 offices and 650 lawyers, will be known as Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP. 

The Bermuda government, under the new leadership of Paula Cox, intends to adopt legislation in 2011 that will extend assurances granted to exempted companies under the Exempted Undertakings (Tax Protection) Act 1966 (“The Act”).  The plan was mentioned by Bermuda’s Governor in his November Throne Speech, which set out the government’s agenda for 2011. 

On December 2 2010, Bermuda signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (“TIEA”) with the People’s Republic of China in an effort to strengthen the economic and political ties between the two countries.  Both Bermuda and China served as co vice-chairs of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes and the TIEA established between the two countries is based on the OECD’s principles of transparency and cooperation. 

In its quarterly Regulatory Update, released October 21, 2010, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) summarizes its latest initiatives and proposals for the island’s insurance industry.  A consultation paper titled, “A Solvency Framework for Long-Term Insurance,” proposes assigning Long-Term insurers to captive and commercial classes in order to enhance reporting and solvency standards.