Goldberg Segalla LLP is pleased to announce James J. Wrynn will join the law firm March 5. He will run the firm’s New York office and will be a senior partner in its Global Insurance Services Practice Group.
Mr. Wrynn served as the 40th and last Superintendent of Insurance in the State of New York until it merged with the New York State Department of Banking to form the new Department of Financial Services. He then served as the first Deputy Superintendent of the new department. Prior to serving as Superintendent, Mr. Wrynn served as the Executive Director of the New York State Insurance Fund, New York's Largest workers' compensation and disability benefits carrier.
In addition to overseeing the state’s supervision of all insurance companies that do business in New York, Mr. Wrynn played a key role in developing national and international regulations and policies governing the insurance industry. In 2010 he was elected Chair of the Northeast Zone of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. He also served as a member of the NAIC’s Executive Committee, as Vice Chair of its International Insurance Relations “G” Committee, as Co-Chair of its Credit Rating Task Force, and as Vice Chair of the task force involved in a review of international developments regarding insurance supervision, banking supervision, and international accounting standards and their potential use in United States insurance regulation as part of a critical self-examination of the United States Insurance Solvency Regulation framework known as the “Solvency Modernization Initiative.”
Mr. Wrynn also represented the United States as a member of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), an organization of insurance supervisory authorities from nearly 140 countries that sets international standards for insurance regulators. He participated heavily in international issues such as Solvency II (an economic risk-based solvency regulatory framework to be utilized by all European Union member states); systemic risk (and the development of a methodology for the identification of globally systemically important financial institutions and the measures to be taken once identified); the development of a common framework for the supervision of internationally active insurance groups (known as “COMFRAME”); group supervision; and numerous other issues and initiatives.
“The addition of Jim Wrynn to our team marks a significant milestone in our firm’s growth and a reinforcement of our position as a premier law firm for the global insurance and reinsurance markets,” said Richard J. Cohen, Managing Partner of Goldberg Segalla. “He knows the industry and insurance law inside and out, and he is tremendously respected in the business community. His experience will bring a unique perspective and a distinct advantage to Goldberg Segalla’s insurance and reinsurance clients across the globe. We are thrilled to have him on board.”
Mr. Wrynn said: “In my career I’ve had the opportunity to develop great relationships with a number of the partners at Goldberg Segalla, and I felt this firm would be the perfect fit for my return to private practice because of its high regard in the insurance industry and its refreshing service ethic that truly does put clients first. I’ve always admired the breadth and depth of the firm’s capabilities, as well as its bold vision to become the go-to law firm for insurers and reinsurers everywhere. I’m excited to join this talented team, and I look forward to serving the needs of our clients.”
Mr. Wrynn has more than 25 years of experience as an attorney focusing in the areas of life, accident, and health insurance; property and casualty insurance; general liability insurance; insurance coverage disputes; professional malpractice; and product liability. His extensive legal background includes counseling agents, brokers, risk-retention groups, and insurance companies in most lines of insurance and excess insurance, reinsurance, self-insurance, and captive insurance.
Mr. Wrynn began his legal career in 1982 and later was a founding partner in the law firm of MacKay Wrynn & Brady, LLP. He received his B.A. in Accounting from St. John’s University College of Business Administration and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.