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John leverages deep industry knowledge to provide practical, business-oriented solutions for insurance companies, advising on both regulatory and transactional matters, with particular experience in the complex surplus lines sector.

We are happy to provide the 2023 edition of our Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual. This edition reflects all of the pertinent changes in the surplus lines laws and regulations of the 50 states and U.S. territories during the past year. The website provides you with the ability to click on the states and territories of interest to view the updates, and a PDF of the entire manual.
Read More Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual 2023 Update

At the December National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Fall National Meeting, the Surplus Lines Working Group adopted changes to the IID Plan of Operation.  The updated Plan of Operation incorporates, among others, the changes noted in our October posting below.  The 2023 Plan of Operation is now available at the “Documents” tab of the Surplus Lines Working Group home page.”

On October 19, 2022, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Surplus Lines Working Group exposed proposed changes to the International Insurers Department (IID) Plan of Operation applicable to insurers domiciled outside the U.S. (alien) participating in the U.S. insurance market.
Read More Update: LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 35): Surplus Lines Working Group Exposes Changes to IID Plan of Operation for Alien Insurers

On October, 17, 2022, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Surplus Lines Task Force held an interim meeting to discuss, among other agenda items, the draft changes to the Nonadmitted Insurance Model Act (#870).  The Drafting Group presented the draft model to the Task Force on May 23 and the Task Force formally exposed the model for a 60-day public comment period that ended on July 21st.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 34): Nonadmitted Model Act Moves Closer to Adoption; A Couple of Issues Remain Unresolved

Earlier this month, United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chair of the Banking, ‎Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, urged the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) and the ‎National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to examine the increasing role of ‎private equity and alternative investment classes in the life insurance market as well as ‎offshore reinsurance. ‎
Read More Senate Banking Committee Chair Urges FIO And the NAIC To Monitor Private Equity and Affiliated Offshore Reinsurance in the Life Insurance Industry

Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill that clarified the provisions recently allowing for commercial risk policies of less than one year under New York Insurance Law Section 3426. The original amendments, enacted in December 2021, provided generally that commercial risk policies of less than one year may be written if requested by the insured and offered by the insurer.
Read More New York Clarifies Provisions Allowing for Policies Under One Year

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Adrienne Harris has been nominated as the new Superintendent of The New York State Department of Financial Services. Ms. Harris’ background includes being a former economic advisor to President Obama.
Read More New Superintendent of The Department of Financial Services for New York Selected

On July 28, 2021, Arkansas will implement its recently enacted Insurance Business Transfer Act (“IBTA”). The purpose of the law is to provide insurance carriers a process for the transfer of blocks of business from any jurisdiction in the country to another insurance company located in Arkansas.
Read More Arkansas Implements New Insurance Business Transfer Law

On May 21, 2021, the Illinois legislature passed SB 1753, which eliminates the surplus lines ‎producers’ diligent search effort with respect to commercial risks when those risks are referred to ‎the surplus lines producer by an unaffiliated Illinois-licensed insurance producer. The legislation ‎is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature‎.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 32): Illinois Legislature Eliminates the Diligent Search Effort for Certain Commercial Transactions and Provides Clarity With Respect to Group Policies

On April 14, 2021, the Maine’s Bureau of Insurance issued Bulletin 457 to explain the general ‎conditions and requirements for surplus lines placements, and to reaffirm to producers their ‎obligations and responsibilities under Maine law.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 30): Maine Issues Bulletin Explaining the Conditions for Surplus Lines Placement