Global insurance broker Gallagher broadens its tax insurance solutions and cross-border deal expertise with the hire of Sarah Dezes as Head of Tax Insurance of its fast-growing Private Equity and M&A practice (PEMA).
Based in Paris, Dezes will l lead Gallagher’s tax insurance offering in France, where she will structure tax insurance solutions for private capital funds and corporates in M&A and non-transactional settings.
Having spent over 15 years advising on tax risk within M&A transactions, the executive has gained a deep understanding of how specific tax exposures are identified, negotiated, and structured.
Her expertise will ensure Gallagher’s optimal position to deploy tax liability insurance solutions, as part of the broader Gallagher PEMA proposition, the firm stated.
Dezes joins Gallagher from PwC Société d’Avocats, where she spent 15 years as a qualified lawyer, most recently as Senior Director within the M&A Tax team, advising corporates and private equity sponsors on complex mid-cap and large-cap transactions.
Over her career, she has also gained significant experience in guiding and growing teams across diverse jurisdictions, which alongside her law and finance background equips her to combine precise technical skills with an understanding of deal dynamics and the priorities of various stakeholders.
Dezes will join Gallagher on 17 August 2026, increasing the PEMA practice’s presence in France and across Europe.
Her appointment follows Charles Amblard, who recently joined the broker in France as Senior Advisor with a pan-European remit to drive client relationship development and expand the presence of Gallagher within Europe’s private equity and M&A communities in a pre-deal and post-deal value creation context.
Alistair Lester, Gallagher CEO for Private Equity and M&A, UK & EMEA, said: “Sarah’s unique blend of expertise, track record in tailoring tax solutions and experience in providing strategic counsel make her the ideal individual to support and advise our clients in France.
“She is a fantastic addition to our fast-growing multidisciplinary PEMA team, and another great example of the talent being drawn to Gallagher, excited by what we are building for clients across a broad range of capabilities. We’re taking a proactive approach to maximizing value creation, both within the deal environment and beyond, and Sarah’s zest for helping clients navigate even the most complex scenarios chimes brilliantly with our approach.”
Dezes commented: “The passion and proactivity of Gallagher’s approach to supporting private equity and M&A clients beyond the deal environment is infectious, and I’m excited to become part of a team building something new and all-encompassing. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across Europe and further afield as we pull together our advisory and insurance expertise for clients’ tangible benefit.”
