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Zach chairs the firm's Insurance Transactional + Regulatory Practice Group and advises clients on their insurance M&A deals and key compliance matters. His experience ranges from cross-border transactions and insurtech compliance to surplus lines regulatory matters.

The global reinsurance landscape is an interconnected, intertwined marketplace that continues to grow and evolve. As insurance companies, agencies, program administrators and other industry actors continue to expand their creative horizons and develop innovative insurance products, the need for reinsurance coverage has accelerated as well.
Read More 10 Things to Consider When Buying, Selling or Operating a Reinsurance Intermediary

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

As part of the IBA Global Influencer Forum, join Locke Lord for “The Path of an InsurTech” when seeking to enter the insurance marketing in the United States.
Read More Complimentary Webinar: The Path of an InsurTech – Launching a Technological Insurance Platform and Associated Insurance Distribution and Risk Assumption Considerations: Thursday, July 1

On May 12, 2021, Washington’s legislature passed into law Senate Bill 5315, which implements a registration requirement and a tax on captive insurers operating in Washington. Although Washington does not license captive insurers, this new legislation now recognizes the concept of “eligible” captive insurers operating in the state but located in other jurisdictions.
Read More Washington State Implements Registration and Tax Requirement on Eligible Captive Insurers Operating in the State

The Excess Line Association of New York (“ELANY”) delivered its April 2021 issue of the “E&S Empire Express,” a publication designed to provide an overview of ELANY’s recent activities, including employment changes, regulatory efforts, upcoming events, and general guidance.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 31): ELANY Issues Commentary on NY Cybersecurity Regulation Developments, E&S Diligent Search Modernization, Medical Malpractice E&S Reform, Punitive Damage Advocacy, Group Policy Prohibitions, Binding Authority Filing Requirements and other Topics of Note

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

We are happy to provide the 2021 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.
Read More Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual 2021 Update

Given increasing reliance on “managing general agents”, managing general underwriters, program administrators or managers, brokers, agents, coverholders, and other entities delegated insurer underwriting authority (collectively “Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises” or “DUAEs”), AM Best is seeking to implement a new “Performance Assessment” to evaluate the ability of DUAEs to provide services to their insurance partners.
Read More AM Best Seeks to Implement New Methodologies to Assess Underwriting Performance of Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises

Increasingly, the world of insurance distribution has become highly specialized, utilizing technology and a multitude of parties to reach customers worldwide. The surplus lines industry is no exception. Surplus lines brokers are not merely intermediaries between insureds and eligible surplus lines insurers that may be interested in servicing a specialty insurance market.
Read More The Myth of the ‘Surplus Lines Agent’