International law firm Simmons & Simmons has expanded its dispute resolution and insurance practice in Spain by hiring Olivia Delagrange as a partner.

Olivia will bring an advanced understanding of the insurance sector to Simmons’s Madrid operation, having worked with leading companies for two decades across diverse industries, including property, construction, energy, product liability, financial lines, marine and aviation. Moving to Simmons from Kennedys Law LLP, she benefits from a triple qualification covering Spain, England and Wales, and Belgium.

The arrival of Olivia as a partner at Simmons will enable the firm to extend its insurance practice in Spain, which offers one of the largest insurance legal markets in the world. It also contributes to Simmons’s burgeoning international insurance offering, with her arrival following the recruitment of Jonathan Thorpe as a partner in April to the firm’s London office.

James Pollock, Head of the firm’s international Insurance and Construction group in London, said: “We are very pleased to have secured Olivia as a partner. Very few in the sector can match her combination of highly-specialised advice, strong reputation among clients, and impressive commercial acumen. The firm’s growing international insurance practice will benefit from Olivia’s ability to generate business in multiple markets.

Eduardo Peñacoba, partner and Country Head (Spain), commented: “This latest partner hire is driven by the firm’s ambitions to develop our insurance capabilities in Spain, which will help to meet the demands of an expanding market. Olivia is exceptionally well-versed in the industry, and will be a tremendous asset to our Madrid office as we seek to broaden our client base.”

On joining Simmons, Olivia commented: “Simmons is in a superb position to exploit the growing opportunities in legal insurance markets – both in Spain and internationally. There is increasing demand in today’s market for highly specialised legal advice, and I’m confident that my sector expertise and client base will allow the firm to strengthen its existing insurance offer.”