RPC: New York Office Launch Boosts US Financial Lines, Cyber Claims

• UK law firm RPC launched a new office in New York City on October 12, 2026, expanding its international footprint to four countries.
• The New York office will house a dedicated insurance team, led by newly appointed partner Scott Schechter, an insurance specialist.
• RPC aims to bolster its support for clients facing complex claims with US exposures, particularly in financial lines and cyber insurance.
• Managing Partner Antony Sassi stated the expansion is a strategic response to client demand for its global insurance practice.
• The move reflects a broader trend of UK law firms expanding into the US market, including through new offices and transatlantic mergers.

The RPC New York office launch is designed to significantly enhance the firm's capabilities in supporting clients navigating complex claims that involve US exposures, particularly within the highly specialized fields of financial lines and cyber insurance.

RPC, a prominent UK-based law firm, has officially established a new presence in the United States with the opening of its New York City office on October 12, 2026. This significant move marks the firm's expansion into a fourth international country, complementing its existing network of offices located in London, Bristol, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The RPC New York office launch is designed to significantly enhance the firm's capabilities in supporting clients navigating complex claims that involve US exposures, particularly within the highly specialized fields of financial lines and cyber insurance.

A dedicated RPC insurance team New York will be housed within this new outpost, focusing specifically on the intricacies of the US market's regulatory and legal landscape. This specialized team will be led by Scott Schechter, who has been appointed as a new partner and is recognized as an insurance specialist with extensive experience. The firm has explicitly stated that this strategic expansion aims to bolster its ability to provide comprehensive support, particularly across the critical areas of financial lines and cyber claims US, addressing the evolving and sophisticated needs of its global clientele.

The RPC law firm US expansion is part of a wider, observable trend among UK legal practices seeking to establish or strengthen their foothold across the Atlantic. Earlier in 2026, for instance, Macfarlanes also opened a representative office in New York, although its operational scope will not include practicing US law directly. Beyond new office openings, other notable firms have opted for transatlantic mergers as a more integrated means of achieving their US market objectives and expanding their service offerings.

The year 2026 has witnessed several such significant tie-ups within the legal sector, including the combinations of Ashurst Perkins Coie, Winston Taylor, and Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. The latter merger, in particular, served to build upon an already substantial US presence that Hogan Lovells possessed, indicating a strategy of further consolidation and growth. This competitive landscape underscores the strategic importance of the US market for international legal services, with firms employing various sophisticated approaches to meet client demand and expand their global reach and specialized capabilities.

Antony Sassi, RPC's managing partner, offered his perspective on the RPC New York office launch, describing it as an "exciting development" for the firm's global insurance practice. He emphasized that this strategic expansion was a direct response to client demand, aiming to further solidify what he considers one of the market's strongest global platforms for Financial Lines, Cyber, and WI claims. This proactive move reinforces RPC's unwavering commitment to providing specialized expertise and robust support in these high-stakes and rapidly evolving areas of law.

Beyond its significant international growth and specialized insurance focus, RPC maintains a robust domestic operation and a commitment to talent development. According to The Legal Cheek Firms Most List, the firm offers up to 15 training contracts annually, providing opportunities for aspiring legal professionals. Trainees at the London headquarters receive a competitive starting salary of £48,000 in their first year, which then increases to £52,000 in their second year. Additionally, RPC partner Eleanor Harley frequently shares her valuable insights regarding her diverse practice and the dynamic requirements of consumer brands and retail clients, showcasing the firm's broader expertise and client-centric approach across various sectors.

Lawyers and compliance officers handling complex financial lines or cyber insurance claims with US exposures should note RPC's new New York office as a dedicated resource, potentially impacting client advice, referral options, or the competitive landscape for such matters.

Source: Original reporting via Legal Cheek