The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) has produced a joint issues paper with the MicroInsurance Network regarding the role of mutuals, cooperatives and community-based organisations (MCCOs) in insurance markets. 
Read More International Association of Insurance Supervisors issues paper on the role of participants in MicroInsurance

As we last discussed here, the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York (“IIABNY”) and the Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York (“CIBGNY”) jointly filed an Article 78 proceeding to block the implementation of Insurance Regulation 194, which requires insurance producers to disclose certain information regarding their compensation to their clients.  Regulation 194 is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2011. 
Read More New York Court Rules in Favor of Producer Compensation Disclosure Regulation

Prudential Assurance Co Ltd & Ors v Revenue & Customs Commissioners [2010] EWHC 2811 (Ch) concerned the UK’s former rules on the taxation of dividends received by insurance companies resident in the UK on shareholdings in foreign companies which were held as investments in their pension and life assurance business. 
Read More UK: Prudential Test Case Relating to UK Dividend Taxation Adjourned

On November 9, 2010, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) published final regulations (the “Regulations”) implementing the employment provisions (Title II) of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (“GINA”).  Title II of GINA, which went into effect in November of 2009, prohibits employment discrimination based on genetic information, and restricts the acquisition and disclosure of genetic information. 
Read More Final GINA Regulations Published in Federal Register

We have reported previously on the proposed overhaul of the European Financial Regulatory System (click here to see our previous post). On 17 November 2010, the Council of the European Union formally adopted the legal texts to establish the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) and three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs): a European Banking Authority (EBA), a European Insurance and Occupations Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and a European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). 
Read More Europe: European Systemic Risk Board and Industry-Specific Supervisory Authorities to be Operational from 1 January 2011

As we first covered here, Ambac Financial Group Inc., the parent of the ailing Wisconsin-domiciled bond insurer Ambac Assurance Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief with United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on November 8, 2010.  Ambac’s troubles began when the mortgage-backed securities market collapsed in late 2008, causing a cascade of claims on policies issued by the bond insurer to protect creditors in the event of a default by borrowers. 
Read More During Hearing to Consider Ambac’s Rehabilitation Plan, Insurance Regulator Reveals that Liquidation of the Bond Insurer was Considered

The New York Law Journal published an article titled “Foreclosure Crisis: Intramural Battles May be the Toughest Part,” which was authored by Mark Peters, a partner in the Firm’s New York office. 
Read More Foreclosure Crisis: Intramural Battles May be the Toughest Part