Mr. Mirel–who will join the Washington, D.C. law firm of Wiley Rein and Fielding, LLP on Oct. 1–said although he would "like to stay in this job forever, it doesn't work that way. I'm a political appointee, and the person who appointed me is probably not going to run again, so I really have to look out for the future."

Mr. Mirel, appointed superintendent by Mayor Anthony A. Williams in July 1999, was instrumental in introducing a new "wild card" captive law similar to a banking law that considers arrangements honored in other captive domiciles and gives the insurance commissioner final say.

That law "certainly attracts a lot of attention," he said. "Whether that is the definitive reason why people come here is hard to tell. Nobody has come to us and said we would like to do something that can be done in the Caymans, but they know that they can."

Mr. Mirel has been active in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, where he chaired the Industry Liaison Committee, the International Regulatory Cooperation Working Group, and the Class Action Litigation Working Group, among other assignments.

In related news, Mr. Mirel said Dana G. Sheppard is under consideration for the post of captive director. Mr. Sheppard, who currently holds the job on an interim basis, has been "doing a terrific job," according to Mr. Mirel, who said "it is likely" he will be chosen for the post.

Mr. Sheppard has worked as acting captive director since William White left the post for the private sector 10 months ago. Before moving to the captive unit, he was assistant director in the compliance division of the department's Risk Finance Bureau.

"The reason why I was dubious in the beginning is because [Mr. Sheppard] is an unknown factor in this field. Nobody knew who he was or what he knew," Mr. Mirel told National Underwriter. "But that's changed–he's now very visible. He's out there and people are relating to him, and he's shown me that he really knows how to do [the job]."

Larry Mirel led Washington's bold entry into the captive market, licensing 53 facilities since 2001