FORT LAUDERDALE & TALLAHASSEE - (Oct. 29, 2014) – As part of the continued growth of its Insurance Regulatory & Transactions Practice Group, international law firm Greenberg Traurig announced the addition of nationally recognized attorney Fred E. Karlinsky as Co-Chair of the practice. Karlinsky will play a pivotal role in expanding the depth and breadth of the firm’s capabilities in this area, working across Florida, the U.S. and internationally with other Greenberg Traurig attorneys.
As part of this initiative, the firm also added Richard (Rich) J. Fidei as a Shareholder of the Firm and key member of the Practice Group. The attorneys were previously Shareholders at Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb in Fort Lauderdale. Both are known for their active involvement in key legal, industry, and civic organizations. At Greenberg Traurig, they will be based in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee offices.
“We are pleased to continue to add top attorneys whose knowledge and capabilities in national insurance regulatory matters will further strengthen our team and bring significant value to our clients,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, CEO of Greenberg Traurig. “As our firm continues to adapt in response to our clients’ rapidly changing needs, we will continue to rely on our powerful platform to deliver the quality and value that has distinguished our firm from the competition.”
Fred W. Baggett, Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Tallahassee office said, “Fred and Rich have superior knowledge of the Florida insurance market and industry connections that will provide our clients with access to the most effective and efficient legal representation for stakeholders in this key industry.”
Fred E. Karlinsky
Karlinsky represents insurers, reinsurers, producers and other insurance interests throughout the United States and internationally in a wide variety of business, operational, regulatory, transactional and governmental matters. Recognized as one of the top insurance lawyers by Chambers and Partners, Karlinsky has extensive knowledge of insurance compliance matters. He has established deep relationships with insurance commissioners and their senior staff members throughout the country.
“We are excited to join Greenberg Traurig and guide the continued expansion of this key practice group,” Karlinsky said. “Greenberg Traurig’s global footprint and platform make the firm the natural next step for our professional careers and will enable us to better meet the increased demand in the marketplace for quality legal counsel in this dynamic arena.”
Karlinsky focuses his practice in the areas of insurance regulatory law and related matters, transactional law, executive and legislative governmental affairs, administrative law and corporate representation. On a 50-state basis, he advises clients on operational issues and related regulatory requirements and initiatives, startup activities, structuring and capitalization issues, reinsurance and risk transfer issues, emerging enterprise risk and corporate governance matters, and a complete array of regulatory and compliance issues, including licensure and business expansion applications, rate and form filings and financial and market conduct examinations.
Karlinsky received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and a Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law, where he currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law. In addition to being named among the top Florida insurance lawyers in Chambers USA 2011, 2012 and 2013, Karlinsky has been listed repeatedly over the years in Florida Trend Magazine's Legal Elite, the Top Lawyers Section of South Florida Legal Guide, most recently in 2014, and as a Florida Super Lawyer, most recently in 2014.
Richard J. Fidei
Fidei, previously a leader of the Insurance Regulatory Law Division at Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb, nationally represents insurance companies, reinsurers, health plans, managing general agencies, brokers, premium finance companies, third-party administrators, claims companies and other insurance-related entities in connection with regulatory, compliance, administrative and transactional issues.
Instrumental in assisting clients with the formation, capitalization and licensure of insurers, he handles matters such as expansion and corporate amendment activities, reinsurance issues, solvency and market conduct issues, rate and rule filings, company examinations and investigations, holding company and enterprise risk issues, as well as administrative matters, including supervision and insolvency issues. Also experienced with dispute resolution proceedings, including trial, mediation and arbitration, Fidei has handled sophisticated commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and other contractual, corporate and governmental matters.
Fidei received a bachelor’s degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from Duquesne University School of Law.
The Greenberg Traurig Insurance Regulatory & Transactions Group brings together lawyers from its national and international offices with experience in a broad variety of complementary disciplines – including insurance regulatory, tax, corporate finance and securities, securitization and structured finance, litigation, health care and governmental affairs – to support clients from all segments of the insurance industry. The group provides tailored legal services designed to meet the varied needs of our clients in the areas of insurance regulation, legislative and public policy advocacy, life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, premium finance and life settlements, securitization and derivatives, and insurance litigation.
“The addition of Fred and Rich is part of our practice group’s strategy to continue expanding our arsenal of quality on-the-ground resources throughout the country, particularly in key markets,” said Thomas J. Bond, Co-Chair of both the Insurance Regulatory & Transactions Practice and the Government Law & Policy Practice.