The Insurance Brokers and Agents Practice Group regularly represents and advises independent insurance brokers and insurance agents regarding their rights and obligations under New York’s Insurance Law and under the regulations and other requirements of the Department of Financial Services (formerly the New York State Insurance Department).
Our Group has been representing brokers before the Department and protecting their rights since before the American Motor Club (AMC) debacle of 25 years ago.
No broker or agent should face a Department or NYAIP appearance without experienced, knowledgeable counsel. Our Insurance Brokers and Agents Group is intimately familiar with all applicable regulations, procedures and laws. Our attorneys regularly appear on behalf of clients before the NYAIP Peer review panel in response to complaints, notices and charges arising from internal company investigations, customer complaints, or when they are facing decertification. We assist clients in responding to complaints from the Consumer Services Bureau and appear with them at informal interviews, formal interviews, Department premium account audits, and Department examinations under oath. We represent clients at Department hearings when their licenses are at risk and we have a high success rate in avoiding revocation. In the event of license revocation, we work with our clients to challenge those determinations, rebuilding their status with the Department and obtaining re-licensure.
In addition to Department level representation, we have years of experience with commencing Article 78 proceedings in the Supreme Court and successfully challenging the Superintendant’s decisions and orders.
Our Insurance Brokers and Agents Group also provides counsel to brokers and agents in all aspects of the acquisition or sale of books of business throughout the metropolitan region and state wide.
Bleakley Platt is committed to our clients’ success and believes that in some instances, an alternative fee arrangement may be preferable to a traditional hourly fee structure. Such arrangements require approval by the Firm’s management. To learn more about the Firm’s policy regarding alternative fee arrangements, click here or speak with a partner.
