Insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm Lockton Companies has announced the appointment of Luke Sutton as chief commercial officer (EMEA) and Abbas Juma as head of tax (EMEA) for its Transaction Liability (TL) business.
These moves mark another step forward in Lockton’s investment in a unified TL platform as it officially launches its global operations. The company’s goal is to provide consistent technical expertise and customer consulting across geographies through a single integrated structure.
The appointments come at a time of strong growth for the business, with Sutton and Juma expected to support innovation, enhance customer service and expand a platform designed to operate as a coordinated international team.
Sutton has more than a decade of experience advising on complex corporate and investment matters. As a UK-qualified solicitor, he has worked in M&A, private capital transactions, fund structuring and corporate matters both in private practice and in-house.
He later joined the transaction responsibility department of a leading insurance brokerage firm, eventually becoming Head of Placements and contributing to the development of the UK private equity and M&A platform. In 2024, Sutton established the Middle East and Africa Transaction Responsibility business unit and relocated to the United Arab Emirates to lead regional expansion.
“Luke’s experience in the UK and more recently in the Middle East and Africa gives him a unique perspective on what we are building in Lockton,” commented Mary Duffy, head of global expansion and market strategy. “We are bringing a novel approach to mature markets in the region, and Luke is just the leader we need to continue expanding our EMEA platform.”
“What attracted me to Lockton was the serious purpose behind this expansion,” Sutton said. “The firm has created something truly differentiated in the markets it serves and is now rolling out the same model globally, with real integration, technical depth and a consistent approach to advising clients across geographies. This gives clients confidence that they are working with the same team, regardless of where the deal originates.”
Juma has over 15 years of experience advising on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions and complex corporate transactions across multiple jurisdictions. He began his career in Deloitte’s Real Estate M&A Tax team, supporting private equity funds and corporate clients in the UK and Europe. He subsequently moved into the transactional liability department of a major insurance brokerage where he played a key role in establishing and expanding tax risk insurance services across the UK and European markets.
Eric Ziff, global co-head of transaction liability, said: “Tax insurance has evolved dramatically over the past decade, moving from a niche product used occasionally in complex transactions to a core tool for tax risk management in today’s transactions.”
“Abbas has been at the center of this evolution for nearly a decade, helping clients, advisors and underwriters navigate this shift as markets scale. This experience combines deep technical expertise with a real-world market perspective, making him an outstanding addition to our global team.”
“Lockton’s ambition in this practice is clear and the global platform the company has built gives this ambition real credibility,” Juma added. “The opportunity to lead tax capabilities across EMEA as part of a fully integrated global team, rather than as a stand-alone regional practice or siled specialist practice, makes this the right move. I look forward to bringing this expertise to clients in the region and beyond.”
The EMEA region is a core part of Lockton’s growing global deal responsibility network, which also includes teams in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, India, the UK and the Nordics. The network connects customers involved in cross-border transactions with coordinated teams operating under shared standards and infrastructure.
“Our global practice is designed to operate as an integrated platform, and EMEA is an important part of that system. It provides the same technical standards and client experience regardless of where the transaction occurs,” noted Josh Halpern, global co-head of transaction liability.
The appointments of Sutton and Juma further strengthen Lockton’s comprehensive global transaction liability platform, which combines capabilities such as representations and warranties insurance, tax liability insurance and contingent risk solutions into a single structure to serve clients in key M&A markets. The company plans to continue investing in talent and expertise in EMEA and globally as customer needs evolve.
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