John Finston, most recently chief deputy commissioner and general counsel for the California Department of Insurance, has joined Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as a partner residing in the firm's San Francisco office.
In his role as chief deputy commissioner and general counsel, Mr. Finston supervised the 10 law bureaus advising the commissioner on litigation by and against the department. He also advised the commissioner on major insurance mergers, company insolvencies, guaranty association related matters, and other corporate and insurance regulatory matters, and led the department's efforts to address regulatory changes necessary to facilitate insurance market changes associated with the developing InsurTech sector.
Mr. Finston also was active within the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), having chaired the NAIC Reinsurance Task Force, the Receivership Task Force, and the Qualified Jurisdiction Working Group. He also was involved with the modernization of the Credit for Reinsurance Model Law and Regulation and participated in the negotiation of the covered agreement between the European Union and the United States.
“John is one of a select number of lawyers in California and in the country who combine deep knowledge of insurance regulatory issues with extensive transactional experience,” said Andrew C. Kassner, the chairman and chief executive officer of Drinker Biddle. “His understanding of the rapidly changing insurance regulatory landscape and his leadership within the NAIC, not just within the California Department of Insurance, will be a great asset to our clients and our nationally recognized insurance practice.”
Prior to his public service, Mr. Finston was chair of SNR Denton's Insurance Regulatory Practice Group. His practice has focused on representing insurers and reinsurers, brokers, and others involved in the industry as well as industry associations on mergers and acquisitions, transactional business restructuring, alternative risk transfer mechanisms, insurance insolvency, and regulatory matters.
“John is deeply immersed in the California insurance market, which is the country's largest and a key venue for growth in many areas including the exploding InsurTech sector,” said Neil K. Haimm, chair of Drinker Biddle's Corporate and Securities Group. “His knowledge of industry issues and regulations throughout the country will benefit both our U.S. and non-U.S. clients greatly.”
Steven A. Meyerowitz
Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].