Travelers Leads Insurers Paying Big Money to Top Lawyers (1)

The Travelers Cos. Inc. gave almost $24 million in total compensation last year to a pair of former Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP partners, according to a recent proxy statement filed by the insurance giant.

Avrohom “A.J.” Kess, who headed the New York-based law firm’s public company advisory practice until he replaced fellow former Simpson Thacher partner Alan Schnitzer as Travelers’ vice chair and in-house legal chief in 2016, earned more than $6.3 million from the company last year. Kess’ pay package included $3.56 million in cash and over $2.55 million in stock and option awards.

Kess and Schnitzer were ...