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.

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

Yesterday, Locke Lord touched on the general implications of the recent devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on the Insurance-Linked Securities (“ILS”) market here.  With Irma having now left the Florida keys (and reportedly having destroyed upwards of 25% of all homes in the area), it is now
Read More ILS Market: A Deep Dive into the Harvey and Irma Waters

Last month, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) proposed an amendment to 11 NYCRR 80-1.6 (the “Regulation”), which would augment the application process to acquire a domestic insurer by potentially limiting the amount of information that must be provided in connection therewith.

The proposals to the Regulation allow
Read More New York Proposes Regulation to Amend Form A Process

As victims of Hurricane Harvey try to assess their (often catastrophic) damages, many business owners are finding that their traditional coverages do not adequately cover the scope of their losses.  The National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”), the primary governmental flood insurance option, has traditionally provided adequate coverage for homeowners, but
Read More Harvey Shining Limelight on Business Interruption Insurance Industry

The Financial CHOICE Act 2.0 released by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) on April 19, 2017 (“Act”) would have a significant impact on the extent to which the federal government regulates insurance. First and foremost, the Act would repeal the Federal Insurance Office and replace it with a bureau of the
Read More Impact of the Financial CHOICE Act 2.0 on the Insurance Industry

New York Associate Zach Lerner authored a Law360 article on group property and casualty insurance. Within the article, Lerner identifies some of the important issues for insurers and producers to consider, both in the admitted and surplus lines insurance markets, as to the regulation of LRRA and permissible state insurance

Read More Group P&C Insurance: Admitted And Surplus Lines Issues

The New York Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) has recently taken a leading stance on strengthening the cybersecurity standards within the insurance sphere, but its reach has been curtailed due to pressures within the industry. Pursuant to 23 NYCRR Part 500 (the “Regulation”), every “Covered Entity” must maintain a cybersecurity
Read More New York Bolsters Security Standards for Insurers, but exempts certain RRGs, Captives, and Others

In the early days of President Trump presidency, it has become increasingly likely that the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) will be revisited by the Republican Congress and administration. President Trump was quoted on January 30th as referring to Dodd-Frank as a “disaster” and insisting that
Read More Dodd-Frank and the Future of Federal Insurance Regulation