Jeff joined the firm in 1982 and has merger and acquisition experience across a broad range of industries. In recent years, he has focused on transactions involving insurance companies, hedge funds, life settlements, captive insurance programs, banks and securities firms, including debt and private equity investments in financial services providers and insurance companies. Since one of Jeff's strengths is his ability to manage complicated multi-party transactions, he often assists clients outside of the financial services industry to complete difficult and time-sensitive deals. Jeff has been active in industry advisory committees to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. From 1988 to 1992, Jeff was chief executive officer of several manufacturing concerns in Connecticut and dealt on a daily basis with issues that all business people face. Jeff brings a unique perspective to counseling his clients informed by this management experience. He understands what it means to develop budgets, deal with service providers, like lawyers and accountants, and manage cash flow. Notable Experience · Jeff and other members of the firm's Mergers and Acquisitions practice represented a multi-national insurance firm in over $2 billion of insurance company acquisitions in the United States in 2007. · Jeff led a team from our Insurance and Reinsurance and Securities practices in the acquisition by Maiden Holdings, Ltd. of the GMAC Re business from GMAC in October 2008 and Maiden's subsequent $260 million trust preferred offering in January 2009. · He represented AmTrust Financial Services in its 2008 acquisition of commercial business lines from Unitrin, Inc. and 2007 acquisition of Associated Industries Insurance Company and continues to represent it in other acquisitions and reinsurance matters. · Jeff managed a team of attorneys from the firm's Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities and Finance practices in connection with the merger of Model Reorg. Inc. into Perfumania Holdings, a public company, and the refinancing of three associated debt facilities in August 2008. · Jeff coordinated the acquisition by Allied World Assurance Company of Finial Insurance Company an affiliate of National Indemnity Company. · He managed a multi-disciplinary team of attorneys in connection with the investment by a U.S.-based hedge fund in a Bermuda-based insurance holding company. · Jeff led a team of bankruptcy and tax attorneys in a cross-border insurance premium finance receivables securitization. · He represents lenders and borrowers in syndicated facilities, including letter of credit facilities for reinsurers. · Jeff has served as outside counsel to a hedge fund that makes debt and equity investments in life settlements and the insurance industry. · Jeff led a multi-lawyer team that represented lenders to an off-shore special purpose vehicle formed to acquire life settlements. · More Examples... Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications · "Dodd-Frank: The Road Ahead," co-author, Bloomberg Law Reports, January 6, 2012. · "New Hampshire and Wisconsin Enact Life Settlement Law: California Issues Regulations," Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, September 2010. · Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP Half-day Insurance & Reinsurance Seminars, speaker, Boston: June 7, 2010, New York: June 8, 2010 and Bermuda: June 10, 2010. · "Financial Services Regulatory Reform's Impact on the Insurance Industry: Food for Thought," Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, March 2010. · "Securing Reinsurance Obligations", co-author, informa insurance, in association with Edwards Wildman Palmer, The Review: The US Re/Insurance Recession Survival Guide 2009. · Edwards Wildman Palmer Half-day Insurance & Reinsurance Seminars, speaker, Bermuda: June 22, 2009, New York: June 24, 2009 and Boston: June 26, 2009. · "To Secure or not to Secure When You Reinsure," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, June 2009. · "The FCPA and International Anti-Corruption for the Insurance Industry," Co-presenter, a webinar presented by Edwards Wildman Palmer, April 20, 2009. · Third-Party Closing Opinions, speaker, webinar presented by Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP, March 25, 2009. · "The Long Arm of OFAC," speaker, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP London Seminar, London, November 26, 2008. · Presenter, "Doing Business Internationally: Avoiding Sanctions," Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, Bermuda, November 17, 2008. · "Changing from GAAP to IFRS," presenter, Law and Regulation Committee, American Insurance Association, Washington, DC, October 22, 2008. · "Life settlements: model competition between NCOIL and NAIC," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, June 2008. · "Regulators, Risk Managers and Good Corporate Governance: Is Your Board of Directors Up to the Job?" speaker, Casualty Actuarial Society, Spring Meeting, Quebec City, Quebec, June 2008. · "Takaful: the growing Islamic insurance market," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP Insurance and Reinsurance Review, March 2008. · "Expansion," speaker, 21st International Insurance & Reinsurance Congress 2007, Hamilton, Bermuda, October 3-5, 2007. · "Open Door", Best's Review, April 2007 - Jeff was quoted extensively in this article on U.K. regulation of insurance-linked securities. · "Amendments Proposed to NAIC Life Settlement Model Law," Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance & Reinsurance Update, March 2007. · "Life Settlements - Investing Wisely," Risk/Factor, March 2007. · "Insurance Brokerage: Analysis and Opportunities," speaker, sponsored by SNL Center for Financial Educations, New York, New York, February 2007. · "Venture Capital and Hedge Fund Investments in the Insurance Industry," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Update, December 2006. · "Recent Developments in Life Settlement Regulation," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Update, September 2006. · "Use of Captives and Sidecars," presenter, Insurance and Reinsurance Legal Trends, June 20, 2006. · "Accounting for and Disclosing Risk in Your Financials," panel member, Second International Conference on Finite Risk Reinsurance, Hamilton, Bermuda, March 29-30, 2006. · "Finite & Alternative Products-Is There a Future?" panel member, 2006 American Bankers Association Insurance Risk Management Annual Conference, Indian Wells, California, January 29-February 1, 2006. · "Developing U.S. Disclosure of Finite Risk Insurance," Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Update, December 2005. · "Documenting and Supporting Risk Transfer in Your Financials," panel member, Preparing for the Future of Finite (Re)Insurance sponsored by American Conference Institute, September 27, 2005. · "INVESTMENT IMPLICATIONS FOR CORPORATE COUNSEL, The Legal Perspective on Managing Investment Portfolio and Counterparty Risk," presenter, Insurance and Reinsurance Update: The Cutting Edge, June 17, 2003. · Jeff is often interviewed and quoted in industry publications, including Global Reinsurance and Insurance Finance and Investment. · "Developing US Disclosure of Finite Risk Reinsurance," Insurance Day, November 11, 2005. · "M&A in Regulated Industries: Practice Pointers," Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation Reporter, 2003. · "Risk Securitisation: Post 9/11 and Enron," Risk Transfer, November 2002. · "The Tail That Wags the Dog: Developments in Finite Reinsurance," Risk Transfer, September 2002. · "Regulation of Derivatives in a Post-Enron World," Enron Litigation Reporter, September 2002. · "Bank/Insurer Consolidation Faces Barriers to Success," Business Insurance, March 2002. · In addition, Jeff is a regular contributor to the firm's Insurance & Reinsurance Update. News & Publications January 23, 2012, New York Insurance Team Breaks Down Dodd-Frank for Bloomberg Law Reports December 2011, Federal Regulation of Insurance: Treading Carefully September 24, 2010, In Bloomberg Article, Nick Pearson and Jeff Etherington Examine Effects of Dodd-Frank Act on the Insurance Industry September 2010, New Hampshire and Wisconsin Enact Life Settlement Laws: California Issues Regulations September 2010, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - September 2010 May 28, 2010, Congratulations to EAPD client, Palladium Equity Partners, LLP on Acquisition April 29, 2010, EAPD Represents IAA in Announced Acquisition of AAHI March 2010, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - March 2010 March 2010, Financial Services Regulatory Reform's Impact on the Insurance Industry: Food for Thought November 23, 2009, EAPD Represents an Afflilliate of Palladium Equity Partners September 2009, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - September 2009 June 2009, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - June 2009 January 23, 2009, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Represents Maiden Holdings In $260 Million Trust Preferred Securities Transaction November 3, 2008, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Represents Maiden Holdings in Acquisition of GMAC Re August 11, 2008, E Com Ventures and Model Reorg. merge to form Perfumania Holdings, Inc. - August 11, 2008 June 4, 2008, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge client, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. Announces Closing of Acquisition of Unitrin Business Insurance June 2008, Life Settlements: Model Competition Between NCOIL and NAIC June 2008, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - June 2008 March 2008, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - March 2008 March 31, 2007, Insurance & Reinsurance Update - March 2007
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP December 1, 2006, Insurance and Reinsurance Update - December 2006
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP September 1, 2006, Insurance and Reinsurance Update - September 2006
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP July 19, 2006, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Attorneys Honored as New York Super Lawyers December 1, 2005, Insurance & Reinsurance Update - December 2005 October 26, 2005, Etherington Quoted In Investor's Business Daily
Investor's Business Daily June 1, 2005, Insurance and Reinsurance Update - June 2005
Edwards & Angell, LLP 2003, M&A in Regulated Industries: Practice Pointers
Andrews Mergers & Acquistions Recent Developments in Life Settlement Regulation Amendments Proposed to NAIC Life Settlement Model Law Besides Edwards Wildman Jeff and his wife live in Manhattan but escape on weekends to a lake house in the Hudson Highlands north of NYC. They are active members of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Jeff enjoys snowboarding and golf, which he plays poorly. Events June 7, 2011, New York, NY 10th Annual Half-Day Insurance and Reinsurance Seminar June 7, 8 and 10, 2010, Half-day Insurance & Reinsurance Seminars June 22, 24 and 26, 2009, Half-day Insurance & Reinsurance Seminars April 20, 2009, The FCPA and International Anti-Corruption for the Insurance Industry March 25, 2009, Third-Party Closing Opinions November 17, 2008, Doing Insurance Business Internationally: Avoiding Sanctions October 3, 2007 - October 5, 2007, Hamilton, Bermuda 21st International Insurance & Reinsurance Congress 2007 March 29, 2006 - March 30, 2006, Hamilton, Bermuda Second International Conference on Finite Risk Reinsurance January 29, 2006 - February 1, 2006, Indian Wells, CA 2006 ABA Insurance Risk Management Annual Conference & Meetings for the Financial Services Industry Industries · Banking & Financial Institutions · Healthcare Memberships · American Bar Association · Connecticut Bar Association · Massachusetts Bar Association · New York State Bar Association · Rhode Island Bar Association (Resident) |