Leaders Enliven LICONY Legislative Confab in Cooperstown

The Twelfth Annual LICONY Legislative & Regulatory Conference Nearly 140 conferees from the life insurance industry, leading professional firms that serve the industry, and prominent insurance regulators and legislators took part. The meetings were substantive, the social events were enjoyable, and the weather was perfect.

Proof that there is Life in Cooperstown after the summer season ends came in the form of the LICONY Legislative Conference held last week in the baseball capital. Highlights included several appearances and addresses, notably those that follow. The Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, Benjamin M. Lawsky, gave greetings from the Governor and spoke about the work of the Department. Senators James L. Seward and Neil D. Breslin, and Assemblymen Joseph D. Morelle and William A. Barclay participated in the Insurance Legislators Town Meeting, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Secretary Michael F. Nozzolio spoke at the Leaders Luncheon. Executive Deputy Superintendent Robert H. Easton, Assistant Deputy Superintendent & Life Bureau Chief Michael E. Maffei, and Chief Life Actuary William B. Carmello Jr. addressed the leading issues of interest at the Insurance Regulators Town Meeting. The National and Federal Insurance Issues Town Meeting featured ACLI President Dirk Kempthorne, NCOIL President Carroll H. Leavell, NAIFA Chief Executive Officer Susan Waters, and Rhode Island Superintendent Joseph Torti III. Veteran pollster Steven Greenberg shared his insights regarding national and New York State political races. Cynthia R. Shoss and James M. Cain of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, and Donald B. Henderson, Jr., and David S. Katz of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP presented a one-hour session on “Dodd- Frank—One Year Later.” Eric R. Dinallo and Amanda Wise of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and Matthew J. Gaul of Steptoe & Johnson LLP presented a one-hour session on the new “Federal Insurance Office.” Finally, in this regard, Mark F. Glaser of Greenberg Traurig LLP presented a two-hour session on “Lobbying Compliance in New York State.”

The traditional first night theme dinner took place in “Casablanca” at Rick’s Café Américain. The David Ostwald Louis Armstrong Centennial Band, direct from Birdland in New York City, played the tunes of this 1942 classic movie that starred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Dooley Wilson, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and Conrad Veidt. The LICONY guests performed well in responding to related trivia questions.