Appointments Mark the Next Phase in the Buildout of Lockton’s Integrated Global Transaction Liability Practice
Lockton Companies today announced the appointments of Luke Sutton as Chief Commercial Officer (EMEA) and Abbas Juma as Head of Tax (EMEA) for its Transaction Liability (TL) practice.
These appointments represent the next phase of Lockton’s ongoing investment in a single, integrated TL platform following the firm’s recent formalization of the global practice. The buildout extends the same standard of technical rigor and client-focused advisory that has defined Lockton’s market-leading TL offering.
Both hires join at a time of strong momentum for the global practice. They share a focus on driving market innovation, delivering a best-in-class client proposition, and contributing to the continued growth of a platform designed to function as one connected team wherever transactions are taking place.
Luke Sutton Appointed Chief Commercial Officer, EMEA
Luke Sutton brings over a decade of experience advising on complex corporate and investment matters.
As a UK-qualified lawyer, he advised on M&A and private capital transactions, fund structuring, and corporate matters in both private practice and in-house counsel roles. He later moved into the transaction liability market, joining a leading insurance broker where he ultimately served as Head of Placement and played a central role in the growth of its UK Private Equity & M&A platform.
In 2024, Sutton launched a Transaction Liability practice for the Middle East and Africa and relocated to the UAE to lead the region’s expansion. He brings both entrepreneurial drive and deep market knowledge to the role.
“Luke’s experience in the UK and most recently across the Middle East and Africa gives him a unique perspective on what we are building at Lockton,” said Mary Duffy, Head of Global Expansion and Market Strategy. “We are bringing a novel approach to established markets across the region, and Luke is exactly the kind of leader we need as we continue to scale our EMEA platform.”
“What attracted me to Lockton is the seriousness of purpose behind this buildout,” said Sutton. “The firm has created something genuinely differentiated in the markets it serves and is now extending that same model globally, with real integration, technical depth, and a consistent approach to advising clients across regions. That is what gives clients confidence that they are working with the same team regardless of where a transaction originates.”
Abbas Juma Appointed Head of Tax, EMEA
Abbas Juma brings more than 15 years of experience advising clients on the tax aspects of M&A and complex corporate transactions across jurisdictions, sectors, and deal types.
He began his career at Deloitte in the real estate M&A tax team, advising private equity funds and corporates on transactions across the UK and Europe. He later moved into the transaction liability market, joining a leading insurance broker where he played a central role in building out the tax risk insurance team across both the UK and Europe.
“Tax insurance has evolved dramatically over the past decade, moving from a niche product used occasionally on complex deals to a core tool in how tax risk is managed in transactions today,” said Eric Ziff, Global Co-Head, Transaction Liability. “Abbas has been at the center of that evolution for nearly a decade, helping clients, advisors, and underwriters navigate that shift as the market scaled. That experience combines deep technical expertise with real market perspective, and it makes him an exceptional addition to our global team.”
“Lockton’s ambition for this practice is clear, and the global platform the firm has built gives that ambition real credibility,” said Juma. “The opportunity to lead the tax capability across EMEA as part of a fully integrated global team, rather than a standalone regional practice or siloed specialty practice, was what made this the right move. I look forward to bringing that expertise to clients across the region and beyond.”
EMEA Appointments Pivotal to Global Platform
EMEA sits at the center of Transaction Liability’s growing global network which includes expert practices in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, India, the UK, and the Nordics, connecting clients across one of the world’s most active cross-border deal markets to a team operating with consistent standards, shared infrastructure, and a unified client philosophy.
“Our global practice is designed to operate as one integrated platform, and EMEA is an essential part of that system. It delivers the same technical standards and client experience wherever transactions occur,“ said Josh Halpern, Global Co-Head of Transaction Liability.
The appointments of Sutton and Juma are another major milestone in the formalization of Lockton’s global Transaction Liability platform, which brought together the firm’s transaction liability capabilities, including representations and warranties insurance, tax liability insurance, and contingent risk solutions, under an integrated structure serving clients across major M&A markets.
Lockton expects to continue investing in talent and capabilities across EMEA and globally as the transaction liability market and the needs of its clients continue to evolve.