Service Contracts

Insurance Entity/Agent Licensing

Administrative Law

• Florida, 1996
• Kentucky, 2006

• Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 1996, with honors
• Florida Southern College, B.S., 1993, magna cum laude

Chris is a member of the Firm’s insurance regulation practice group. He focuses his practice on insurance regulatory and corporate matters, advising insurers, insurance agents and agencies, third party administrators, service contract providers, and other organizations transacting business before regulatory agencies on a national basis. As a former attorney with the Florida Department of Insurance, he brings a broad legal and regulatory perspective to the challenges faced by various entities and individuals in navigating the complexities of doing business in the insurance industry.

Chris provides advice and guidance to manufacturers, retailers, and third party service providers regarding the design, implementation, and regulatory compliance of national service contract/extended warranty programs in the consumer product, motor vehicle, and home warranty industries. He also advises warranty industry providers of compliance issues regarding specialty products such as GAP waiver/debt cancellation products, tire and wheel road hazard products, and similar ancillary coverages falling under the authority of insurance regulatory agencies.

Prior to joining the Firm in 2006, Chris first served as an attorney and senior attorney with the Florida Department of Insurance for over four years. As a member of the Department's legal division, he was involved in a wide variety of regulatory activities, including the review and approval of complex acquisitions and mergers of insurance entities and the investigation and prosecution of violations of Florida laws by insurance agents and insurance related entities. He also participated in the drafting of proposed administrative rules and legislation on behalf of the Department. He was a member of the Department's appellate team which successfully defended the constitutionality of Florida’s Moratorium Statute. Upon leaving the Department in 2000, he entered private practice as an associate, principally with Tew Cardenas LLP in Tallahassee, Florida, where he represented clients regarding varied regulatory and related corporate matters concerning licensure and statutory compliance issues before numerous governmental agencies and on a national basis, with an emphasis on insurance regulatory matters.

Experience

Provides regulatory and corporate counsel to manufacturers, retailers, and administrators/providers of consumer products, motor vehicles, and homes regarding the design, implementation, and maintenance of national service contract (extended warranty) programs.

Represents insurance-related entities regarding matters such as formation and licensure issues, market conduct exams, form and rate filings, statutory filings, and agent licensing matters.

Oversees maintenance of service contract programs for Fortune 100 consumer electronics manufacturer and Fortune 1000 computer manufacturer/retailer.

Provided training and regulatory compliance overview for motor vehicle service contract provider regarding GAP waiver/debt cancellation products and other ancillary coverages.

Provided regulatory due diligence to private equity firm regarding target entities operating in the service contract/specialty product industries.

Conducted nationwide insurance agency licensure and maintenance program for recreational products and RV retailer.

Represented Receiver in action to recover funds from owners of insurance company placed into rehabilitation by the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation within the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Represented Home Health Agency and Clinical Laboratory entities in licensure matters before the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Represented clients in licensure matters before the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Represented successful bidder/intervenor in bid protest matter regarding bid award issued by the Florida Department of Management Services.

Represented successful bidder/intervenor in bid protest matter regarding bid award issued by the Florida Department of Management Services.

• Kentucky Bar Association, 2006
• Florida Bar Association, 1996
• American Bar Association, 2006
• Fayette County Bar Association
• Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, Member
• The Florida Bar, Administrative Law Section

• Huntertown Elementary PTO, Secretary

2010 Warranty Chain Management Conference:

• Understanding the Basics of Lemon Laws, Los Angeles, California, March 2010
• iWCM Legal Update, Los Angeles, California, March 2010
• Building an Effective Extended Warranty Program for Manufacturers,
• Los Angeles, California, March 2010
• Track Chair, Warranty and the Law, Los Angeles, California, March 2010

2009 Warranty Chain Management Conference:   

• Service Contract Regulation 101, Orlando, Florida, March 2009
• Understanding Tax Rules and Accounting Principles Applicable to Warranty  and Service Contracts, Orlando, Florida, March 2009
• Warranty Legal Update/Panel Discussion, Orlando, Florida, March 2009
• Track Chair, Warranty Profitability, Accruals and Accounting, Orlando, Florida, March 2009

2008 Warranty Chain Management Conference:

• Regulatory Considerations For Implementing An Extended Warranty 
• Program, San Diego, California, March 2008
• Panel Discussion: Warranty Legal Update, San Diego, California, 
• March 2008
• Track Chair, Warranty Risk & Analytics, San Diego, California, March 2008

Author: Extended warranties promise great profits, but beware of regulatory costs
May 21, 2008

Author: Letter to the Editor - Warranty Solutions for Manufacturers
August 31, 2007

Author: Contract/Extended Warranties - A Regulatory Overview
October 12, 2006