Features Insurance

Manda Ghaferi did not step into her role as general counsel for AuguStar Retirement with the intention of simply maintaining the status quo. She joined a leadership team determined to reinvent a century-old company and position it for a rapidly evolving financial landscape. In an industry often characterized by tradition and caution, Ghaferi and her […]

For Sofia Almeida, General Counsel for Zurich Ecuador, law is not just about regulation—it is about people. Every decision she makes begins with the question: How does this affect our people? Zurich Insurance Group, a global leader serving individuals and businesses in more than 200 countries, grounds its operations in four sustainability pillars: people, customers, […]

Joining a company as its first general counsel is an exciting yet challenging role that requires strategic thinking, adaptability and leadership. Without an established framework or precedent within the organization, the general counsel often starts with a blank slate. This involves building the legal infrastructure and developing policies and processes to align with the company’s […]

Ben Schiffman’s journey at Crum & Forster has been a study of leadership, adaptability and commitment to both his craft and his team. As senior vice president and chief counsel for Crum & Forster’s Surplus & Specialty Lines division, he has built a career that merges the rigorous demands of the law with a deep […]

When he last spoke to Vanguard in August 2018, Javier Oroz and his team at AXA Mexico were creating a repository of the judicial rulings and case law that his company had dealt with in previous years. Six years later, Mexico had a very relevant change in its judicial system and this repository will be […]

Universal Property & Casualty Insurance, one of Florida’s leading home insurance providers, has built a strong reputation for navigating the complexities of the state’s challenging litigation environment. As a property insurance company, Universal faces the unique pressures of handling first-party property insurance claims, particularly in Florida, a state known for its high volume of legal […]

Daniel Snare admits that he was never great at math and science, but he loved writing, which led to him developing an interest in law from an early age. That interest was piqued even more during his 8th-grade civics class when his teacher assigned him to be the judge during a mock trial. “It was […]

Russ Dempsey, the general counsel at BroadStreet Partners, brings a wealth of experience from his career in the insurance and financial services sector. Joining the company in June 2022, Dempsey has played a vital role in steering BroadStreet’s unique approach to investing in high-performing independent insurance agencies toward success.  Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, BroadStreet Partners […]

Daniel J. Poterek is at the forefront of legal strategy and organization within Universal Insurance Holdings, serving as the General Counsel of Operations. Throughout his tenure at Universal, Poterek has been dedicated to legal excellence and forward-thinking initiatives, driving a transformative shift in the company’s legal practices and litigation strategy.  Poterek has played a vital […]

The complexities unique to being an international insurance and reinsurance carrier necessitate specialized legal counsel. So reasoned Mark Pasko after his 2019 promotion to chief legal officer and corporate secretary at QBE’s North American division. A stickler for organization, Pasko divided his team of 50 into five groups: corporate and shared services, litigation, regulatory, state […]