Photo of Zachary Lerner

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.

One of the hallmarks of surplus lines regulation throughout the United States is the “diligent search” requirement whereby the surplus lines broker (or retail producer) must attempt to place insurance coverage in the admitted market before exporting such coverage to an eligible, unauthorized surplus lines insurer.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 2): New York to Consider Elimination of Diligent Search Requirement for Certain Commercial Policies

Having concluded an investigation into New York life insurers’ underwriting guidelines and practices, the New York Department of Financial Services has issued Insurance Circular Letter No. 1 (2019) to advise insurers of their statutory obligations regarding the use of external consumer data and information sources in underwriting for life insurance.
Read More New Guidance on Insurers’ Use of Big Data and Algorithms in New York

Zachary Lerner, a Partner in Locke Lord’s New York office and member of the Regulatory and Transactional Insurance Practice Group, wrote a Law360 article “An FAQ on the State of Direct Procurement Insurance,” which outlines common questions people unfamiliar with direct procurement insurance might have and best practices in carrying out direct procurement transactions.
Read More An FAQ on the State of Direct Procurement Insurance

New York Associate Zachary Lerner and Hartford Associate Alexandra Cavaliere co-authored an Insurance Journal article detailing the technological advances in the insurance industry, specifically the rise of insurtech. Lerner and Cavaliere examine the challenges and opportunities insurtech poses for surplus lines.

To read the full article, click here.
Read More Surplus Lines: Insurtech and Technological Opportunities, Challenges

New York Associate Zachary Lerner authored a Law360 article on commission sharing, referral fee and producer licensing issues.  Within the article, Mr. Lerner identifies important issues for insurers and producers to consider, both in the admitted and surplus lines insurance markets, with respect to the sharing of commissions and whether
Read More New Insurance Platforms Arguably Require Producer Licenses

Last week, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) promulgated a new regulation 11 NYCRR 48, aimed at limiting the amount by which life insurance premiums can be raised as to policies issued in the state.  In particular, the regulation allows the NYDFS to review any increase and to
Read More New York Issues Regulation Aimed at Curtailing Life Insurance Premium Hikes