Practice/Organization Description
The attorneys with Barger & Wolen are best known for their representation of insurance companies. The firm’s practices encompass a full range of legal services, including corporate and transactional, insurance regulatory, litigation and reinsurance. Since its inception in 1976, the firm has grown to 75 attorneys, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newport Beach, New York and Phoenix. The firm is home to former state insurance commissioners Richards D. Barger, California Insurance Commissioner appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan in 1968; and Charles R. Cohen who served as Arizona Director of Insurance from 1998 to 2003 under two consecutive gubernatorial appointments.
Corporate & Transactional
Barger & Wolen’s corporate and transactional attorneys advise the firm's clients on day-to-day corporate and business considerations, as well as more sophisticated transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, contract preparation and negotiation, taxation, compliance under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and ERISA, and the formation and capitalization of partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies and other business entities.
Insurance Regulatory
Barger & Wolen’s experience encompasses representation of insurers and insurance producers in the preparation and negotiation of applications and other filings required to obtain regulatory approval of complex business transactions, including insurance company formations, compliance matters, and mergers and acquisitions of insurance companies. The firm’s attorneys regularly provide representation in administrative proceedings and all forms of disciplinary proceedings brought by the California Department of Insurance, including accusations, orders to show cause and notices of non-compliance.
Barger & Wolen also has extensive experience representing insurance companies in connection with market conduct claims, and rating and underwriting examinations. The firm’s attorneys actively monitor regulations proposed by the California Department of Insurance and prepare comments concerning and objections to proposed regulations. They are involved in structuring, documenting and obtaining regulatory approvals required in connection with all business transactions involving participants in the insurance industry.
Litigation
Barger & Wolen’s litigation attorneys bring their extensive skills and experience to bear on a broad range of business and commercial matters, including complex contract and insurance coverage disputes, reinsurance coverage matters and business tort cases of all kinds, including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition claims, to name just a few. They often serve as national and regional coordinating counsel for large class or multi-party actions.
Reinsurance
Barger & Wolen’s reinsurance experience includes representing clients not only in litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution, but also in providing advice and planning on insurance and reinsurance issues arising in the normal course of business. The firm's broad insurance practice provides its reinsurance attorneys the unique resources of close to thirty years of experience and an understanding of all aspects of the insurance marketplace, including underwriting, product development, policy wording, premium accounting, claims administration, and regulatory issues.
Professional Associations & Memberships
ARIAS-U.S.
Arizona Captive Insurance Association
Association of California Insurance Companies
Association of Professional Insurance Women
Council on Litigation Management
Defense Research Institute
International Claim Association
