Edward Davis
Group general counsel
AXA UK
Edward Davis has made his mark at AXA UK. He established the French insurer’s first global legal panel as part of its ‘Ambition 2012’ strategy launched back in 2004. This panel comprises 12 firms fighting over the £3m AXA spends on law firms every year.
Davis has grown his legal in-house team to 40 lawyers and manages the group legal department, group secretariat and the UK compliance team.
AXA’s total legal spend is almost £10m, of which 70% is spent in-house. Davis says the amount of in-house work has increased considerably over the last year but specialist external expertise is always required. AXA prefers to use Hogan Lovells, Linklaters and Norton Rose for corporate insurance expertise; DAC Beachcroft and Pinsent Masons for general and commercial insurance knowledge; and Bird & Bird and Mayer Brown for employment advice.
Within those favoured firms, Davis also singles out individuals he thinks highly of. He describes both Norton Rose partner Martin Scott and Charles Rix, partner at Hogan Lovells, as very good client partners who have expertise, knowledge and credibility.
Law firms used: Bird & Bird, DAC Beachcroft, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose, Pinsent Masons
2005–present: Group general counsel, AXA UK
2002-05: General counsel for non-life businesses, AXA UK
2000-02: Senior legal adviser for UK group legal team, AXA UK
1998-2000: Director of legal services, AXA PPP Healthcare