Eversheds claims surprise place on Axa's global panel

Eversheds is the surprise inclusion on insurance giant Axa's first global legal panel.

Clifford Chance, Eversheds, Gide Loyrette Nouel, LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae and Norton Rose have all secured places on the panel, while Cravath Swaine & Moore, Linklaters and Sullivan & Cromwell are also thought to feature.

However, firms that have missed out include Shearman & Sterling and Latham & Watkins. Both firms have acted for the insurer in France, with Latham instructed by Axa's private equity group in June this year.

The panel review was overseen by global general counsel George Stansfield, who is based in Paris.

UK general counsel Edward Davis told The Lawyer: "It is a process that has been ongoing for a few months, and we are now nearing the end of that process.

"We largely know the firms who we have selected for the global panel, but there are still one or two details to be finalised, which should be completed over the next few days."

As well as carrying out insurance work, Axa is actively pursuing investment opportunities with Axa Private Equity particularly busy at the moment.