(Jackson, MS / April 13, 2015) The law firm of Baker Donelson has named Lee Harrell chair of the Firm's Insurance Regulatory Group. This role was previously held by Alan Moore, who will maintain his practice focused on industries subject to government oversight and regulation, special service public law and regulatory bodies.
"This highly-regarded group has grown under Alan's tenure as chair and is experienced on all sides of the regulatory equation," says Mr. Harrell, who will oversee a group of almost 20 attorneys and advisors. "The experience of the members of our Insurance Regulatory Group makes us uniquely qualified to serve clients in the Southeast and across the country, and I look forward to leading this group to continued success."
Mr. Harrell, a shareholder in the Firm's Jackson office, focuses his practice in the area of insurance with an emphasis on insurance regulatory matters, and he is familiar with all lines of insurance including property and casualty, life and annuities, and health and producer licensing. He has handled every aspect of approximately 30 receiverships, and has an extensive public sector background in all types of regulatory matters, including formation and expansions for insurers, reinsurance, financial examinations, market regulation, extraordinary natural disasters, fraud and asset recovery, legislative assistance and consulting, and traditional change of control filings and proceedings. He has also represented insurance departments on matters ranging from the Affordable Care Act to reorganizations and restructuring of insurers.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Harrell worked with the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) for sixteen years, first as Special Assistant Attorney and General Counsel, then as Deputy Insurance Commissioner and Special Counsel. In these capacities he managed MID activities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and was part of the investigatory team that first discovered the massive insurance fraud perpetrated by Martin Frankel. A frequent speaker on insurance topics at industry, government and education conferences, Mr. Harrell is a graduate of Mississippi College School of Law and is a member of the International Association of Insurance Receivers and the Mississippi Bar Association.
Baker Donelson's Insurance Regulatory Group is comprised of former senior regulators with more than 50 years of combined experience at the highest levels of state insurance departments, plus senior public policy advisors and lawyers experienced in the expanding role of federal government in insurance regulation, and seasoned attorneys who have spent decades representing the insurance industry and insurance departments in regulatory and legislative matters.