Christine Rodrigues
Partner | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9531
E: christine.rodrigues@bowmanslaw.com
Overview
Christine Rodrigues is a partner in our Johannesburg office Banking and Finance department and a member of the Financial Services Regulatory practice.
Christine is an insurance and re-insurance expert (life and non-life) dealing in both disputes and non-disputes matters. She has worked with major insurers and brokers (both locally and internationally based) as well as industry associations. Christine spent time working for one of South Africa’s leading privately owned insurance groups as well as the group’s Mozambican insurance licensed entity. Her wealth of experience means she is also able to advise on a cross-border basis as well.
Christine has a good relationship with the insurance regulators and her practical knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry ensures she provides strategic and commercially orientated advice.
She is passionate about the insurance industry in Africa and is a regular contributor to thought leadership pieces and speaks at various seminars and conferences.
Experience
Transactions and Advisory
- Advised on the regulatory aspects to Alexander Forbes Limited on Mercer Africa Limited’s sale of shares to African Rainbow Capital Financial Services Holdings Proprietary Limited.
- Advised on the regulatory aspects to Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited relating to the disposal of 100% shareholding in Alexander Forbes Insurance Company Namibia Limited to Momentum Short Term Insurance (Namibia) Limited.
- Advised on the regulatory aspects Alexander Forbes Life Limited in the disposal of its life business to Sanlam Life Insurance Limited and attended to the section 50 application.
- Advised various (re)insurers and insureds in South Africa and in Namibia in relation to business interruption claims, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Advised on the regulatory aspects to MTN (Dubai) Limited in relation to the sale of 50% of the issued shares held in aYo Holdings Limited to Sanlam Emerging Markets Proprietary Limited.
- Advised Old Mutual Limited on its 100% acquisition of GENRIC Insurance Company Limited.
- Advised Allianz X GmbH’s on the insurance regulatory aspects relating to its acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Innovation Group Holdings Limited.
- Advised the Standard Bank Group on the regulatory aspects of its acquisition of the remaining shares of Liberty Holdings.
- Advised Deloitte Consulting Proprietary Limited in respect of its role as a curator of Constantia Insurance Company Limited. Currently advising both creditors and debtors on their rights in terms of the insolvent estate.
- Advised Old Mutual Limited on the insurance regulatory aspects relating to its issue of approximately 4.36% of OML shares to increase BBBEE ownership.
- Advised Pineapple Tech Proprietary Limited on its cell captive arrangement with Mutual & Federal Risk Financing which is part of the Old Mutual Group as a consequence of Pineapple concluding a R400 million funding round, which is the largest Insurtech fundraiser ever in Africa as at the end of 2023.
Disputes
- Acted on behalf of a life insurer in legal proceedings against a global re-insurer. We were able to negotiate a favorable settlement for the life insurer.
- Advising a leading insurance company in Mozambique in relation to a claim it has brought against its reinsurers in relation to damages to various plant and equipment with an insured value of approximately USD 9,5 million.
- Acting on behalf of a major financial services provider in South Africa in relation to a Directors & Officers liability claim against former directors for losses suffered due to various loans being advanced. The claim is in excess of ZAR150 million.
- Acting for a major South African insurance brokerage against an application by a life insurer for business rescue.
Awards
- Chambers and Partners rated Christine as ‘Up and Coming’ for Insurance for two consecutive years (2021-2022) and most recently in Band 3 in the same category in 2023.
- The Best Lawyers in South Africa 2022- Regulatory Practice.
‘“In-depth knowledge of the regulatory environment, solutions driven, she is extremely efficient in responding promptly and showed a high level of professionalism.” – IFLR1000, 2022
“Christine Rodrigues is experienced conducting policy reviews and providing advice on insurance regulations. Peers commend her as being “superb on the regulatory side,” while a client noted: “She is approachable, with client service at the core of everything she does.”” – Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Christine Rodrigues is service-oriented, knowledgeable and commercially aware.” A client also noted: “She is readily available.” – Chambers and Partners, 2024
” Top 10 Powerhouse Insurance Lawyers Shaping South Africa’s Scene in 2023″ – Business Today
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
- B.Com and B.Com (Hons) (first class with majors in Insurance and Risk Management) degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand.
- LLB from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
INSIGHTS
South Africa: New requirements for outsourcing by insurers published in Joint Standard 1 of 2024
South Africa: Grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force
Festive Merriment for Business Interruption Policyholders
Recent judgement on COVID-19 insurance claims brings to mind TCF principles
COVID-19: FSCA’s latest stance on Business Interruption insurance cover
COVID-19: Financial Conduct Authority – business interruption test case
COVID-19: FSCA stance on Business Interruption insurance cover
COVID-19: High Court decision on business interruption insurance claim
Joint Standard 1 of 2020: Fitness, Propriety and other matters related to Significant Owners, South Africa
COVID-19: Regulatory response to business interruption insurance
COVID-19: Exemptions for short-term insurers providing premium relief, South Africa
Exemption of insurers that offer investment policies to medical schemes, South Africa
COVID-19: Exemptions for insurers providing premium relief
COVID-19: Funeral policy premium collection in South Africa
COVID-19: Amended Regulations – essential services expanded to include broader financial services and financial markets activity, South Africa
COVID-19: FCSA’s expectations of regulated entities – South Africa
Insurance industry faces COVID-19 crossroads
COVID-19: Insurance services are considered essential in lockdown
COVID-19: Impact on compliance with various regulatory deadline requirements in South Africa
COVID-19 are you really insured?
Overview
Christine Rodrigues is a partner in our Johannesburg office Banking and Finance department and a member of the Financial Services Regulatory practice.
Christine is an insurance and re-insurance expert (life and non-life) dealing in both disputes and non-disputes matters. She has worked with major insurers and brokers (both locally and internationally based) as well as industry associations. Christine spent time working for one of South Africa’s leading privately owned insurance groups as well as the group’s Mozambican insurance licensed entity. Her wealth of experience means she is also able to advise on a cross-border basis as well.
Christine has a good relationship with the insurance regulators and her practical knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry ensures she provides strategic and commercially orientated advice.
She is passionate about the insurance industry in Africa and is a regular contributor to thought leadership pieces and speaks at various seminars and conferences.
Experience
Transactions and Advisory
- Advised on the regulatory aspects to Alexander Forbes Limited on Mercer Africa Limited’s sale of shares to African Rainbow Capital Financial Services Holdings Proprietary Limited.
- Advised on the regulatory aspects to Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited relating to the disposal of 100% shareholding in Alexander Forbes Insurance Company Namibia Limited to Momentum Short Term Insurance (Namibia) Limited.
- Advised on the regulatory aspects Alexander Forbes Life Limited in the disposal of its life business to Sanlam Life Insurance Limited and attended to the section 50 application.
- Advised various (re)insurers and insureds in South Africa and in Namibia in relation to business interruption claims, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Advised on the regulatory aspects to MTN (Dubai) Limited in relation to the sale of 50% of the issued shares held in aYo Holdings Limited to Sanlam Emerging Markets Proprietary Limited.
- Advised Old Mutual Limited on its 100% acquisition of GENRIC Insurance Company Limited.
- Advised Allianz X GmbH’s on the insurance regulatory aspects relating to its acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Innovation Group Holdings Limited.
- Advised the Standard Bank Group on the regulatory aspects of its acquisition of the remaining shares of Liberty Holdings.
- Advised Deloitte Consulting Proprietary Limited in respect of its role as a curator of Constantia Insurance Company Limited. Currently advising both creditors and debtors on their rights in terms of the insolvent estate.
- Advised Old Mutual Limited on the insurance regulatory aspects relating to its issue of approximately 4.36% of OML shares to increase BBBEE ownership.
- Advised Pineapple Tech Proprietary Limited on its cell captive arrangement with Mutual & Federal Risk Financing which is part of the Old Mutual Group as a consequence of Pineapple concluding a R400 million funding round, which is the largest Insurtech fundraiser ever in Africa as at the end of 2023.
Disputes
- Acted on behalf of a life insurer in legal proceedings against a global re-insurer. We were able to negotiate a favorable settlement for the life insurer.
- Advising a leading insurance company in Mozambique in relation to a claim it has brought against its reinsurers in relation to damages to various plant and equipment with an insured value of approximately USD 9,5 million.
- Acting on behalf of a major financial services provider in South Africa in relation to a Directors & Officers liability claim against former directors for losses suffered due to various loans being advanced. The claim is in excess of ZAR150 million.
- Acting for a major South African insurance brokerage against an application by a life insurer for business rescue.
Awards
- Chambers and Partners rated Christine as ‘Up and Coming’ for Insurance for two consecutive years (2021-2022) and most recently in Band 3 in the same category in 2023.
- The Best Lawyers in South Africa 2022- Regulatory Practice.
‘“In-depth knowledge of the regulatory environment, solutions driven, she is extremely efficient in responding promptly and showed a high level of professionalism.” – IFLR1000, 2022
“Christine Rodrigues is experienced conducting policy reviews and providing advice on insurance regulations. Peers commend her as being “superb on the regulatory side,” while a client noted: “She is approachable, with client service at the core of everything she does.”” – Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Christine Rodrigues is service-oriented, knowledgeable and commercially aware.” A client also noted: “She is readily available.” – Chambers and Partners, 2024
” Top 10 Powerhouse Insurance Lawyers Shaping South Africa’s Scene in 2023″ – Business Today
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