Sahalya Uthappa is acknowledged by the M&A market as a leading transactional risk and insurance advisor. With over 14 years of legal, M&A and insurance experience, she brings a unique understanding of M&A risks and insurance to structuring bespoke risk transfer options for transactions.

Sahalya provides strategic risk mitigation advice to prominent private equity firms, institutional investors, Government and ASX top 100 companies. She has placed complex insurance programmes for some of the largest public and private M&A transactions in Australia, including distressed M&A and takeovers. Leveraging her expertise in claims advocacy and insurance coverage has resulted in significant W&I claims settlements for clients.

Known for her accessibility and agility during negotiations, Sahalya fosters trusted relationships with clients and advisors. She harnesses dynamic risk transfer tools to manage known and unknown risks in complex transactions. This helps protect the target’s balance sheet, eases negotiations and provides deal parties with peace of mind.

Having joined Bellrock in 2024, Sahalya leads our Transaction and Contingent Risk advisory practice. Starting her career as an M&A lawyer in the capital markets team at top tier AZB Partners in Bangalore, she acted on significant cross-border transactions, IPOs, joint ventures and advised on investments and regulatory matters. In Sydney, Sahalya practised as an insurance litigation and coverage lawyer for major insurers across a range of insurance lines. Before moving into her prior role as a senior transactional risk advisor within global intermediaries, she also managed complex financial lines claims for a global insurer.

In this role, Sahalya applies the insurance market’s latest solutions to the amalgamated world of M&A and insurance for the benefit of her clients.

Mobile: +61 429 477 275

Direct: +61 2 9189 3678