Attorneys
Contact
South Florida OfficeOne Financial Plaza, 23rd Floor
100 Southeast Third Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33394
(954) 492-4010 (tel)
(954) 492-1144 (fax)
Assistant Name:
Jeannine Hanson
Assistant E-mail:
jhanson@cftlaw.com
Assistant Phone:
(954) 492-4010 x1923
Richard J. Fidei
Partner
rfidei@cftlaw.com
Direct Dial: (954) 332-1758
Richard J. Fidei joined Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate in 2000 and was named as Partner in 2006. With responsibility for the Firm's insurance regulatory law division, Mr. Fidei attends and lectures at insurance industry conferences and trade consortiums nationwide.
A member of the Florida and Pennsylvania Bars, Mr. Fidei represents insurance companies, HMOs, managing general agencies, brokers, reinsurers, premium finance companies, TPAs, claims companies and other insurance-related entities in connection with transactional matters and regulatory and compliance issues. He negotiates and prepares a wide variety of commercial transaction documents, acquisition agreements, leases and other contracts, as well as represents clients in corporate and governmental matters.
Mr. Fidei is instrumental in assisting clients in the formation, financing and licensure of insurers, and has represented numerous insurance companies and other insurance entities in matters such as expansion activities, financial, reinsurance, market conduct, rate and rule filings and administrative and court proceedings, including administrative supervision and insolvency issues. He is experienced in a variety of governmental and administrative matters, as well as with dispute resolution proceedings, including trial, mediation and arbitration.
Mr. Fidei's professional memberships include the Federation of Regulatory Counsel, American Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals. In addition, Mr. Fidei is involved in a variety of organizations, such as the American Association of Managing General Agents ("AAMGA"), Surplus Lines Law Group, The National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Officers, and the International Association of Insurance Receivers.
He received his Juris Doctorate from the Duquesne University School of Law in 1981. During his course of study, he was appointed as a member of the Duquesne University Law Review and was Vice-Chairman of the Appellate Moot Court Board. He also worked for the United States Department of Justice at the United States Attorney’s Office and for the Honorable Joseph F. Weiss, United States Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit.
Mr. Fidei has been an active member of a variety of professional and civic organizations, including the Broward County Bar Association, various Bar Association Committees, Greater Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors, Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club, Jaycees, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Easter Seals of South Florida and others.
An experienced legal instructor and lecturer, Mr. Fidei prepares and delivers insurance and reinsurance presentations worldwide.
Practice Areas
· Insurance Regulatory Law
· Insurance Compliance
· Transactional and Administrative Law
· Governmental Consulting
· Real Estate
Education
· Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1978
· Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1981
Professional Associations and Memberships
· American Bar Association
· Florida Bar Association
· Pennsylvania Bar Association
· Beaver County Bar Association (Former Member Board of Directors, Treasurer, Continuing Legal Education Committee Member)
· Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (Former Member Board of Directors)
· Broward County Bar Association
· American Association of Managing General Agents
· Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals
· Federation of Regulatory Counsel
· Florida Surplus Lines Law Group
· Gerson Lehrman Group, Regulatory Affairs Council
· International Association of Insurance Receivers
· National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Officers
· Reinsurance Association of America
· Risk and Insurance Management Society
· Society of Financial Examiners
Civic and Community Involvement
· Easter Seals of South Florida
· Greater Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors
· Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club
· Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce
· Jaycees
· Former legal instructor and lecturer regarding a variety of subjects, including insurance, law and banking, commercial transactions, and real estate
Special Recognition
· Appointed member of the Duquesne University Law Review
· Served as Vice-Chairman of the Appellate Moot Court Board
· Multiple local, state and national awards through Jaycee activities
· Appointed Gulf States Region Co-Editor of the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals ("AICP") Journal for Insurance Compliance Professionals
Conferences Attended
American Association of Managing General Agents
· AAMGA-Focused on the Future, May 2008
· AAMGA/Surplus Lines Conference, October 2007
American Conference Institute
· ACI Insurance Conference, February 2009
· ACI Reinsurance Bootcamp, January 2008
Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals
· Annual AICP Insurance Compliance Conference: 2007, 2008, 2009 (panelist)
· Gulf States Chapter Education Day, July 2009
· Mid-Atlantic Chapters Education Day, July 2008
· AICP/Texas Department of Insurance Compliance Conference, January 2008
· AICP Virginia/Georgia Education Day, April 2007
· AICP Education Day: 2006, 2007
· AICP Gulf States Chapter P&C, L&H and WC Compliance Conference, June 2006
Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate and Property Casualty Insurers of America
· State of the Florida Insurance Market Summit: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund
· FHCF Participating Insurers' Workshop: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
· Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Filing and Compliance Symposium: 2006, 2008
· Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Insurance Regulation Conference, June 2006
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
· NAIC Reinsurance Task Force Meeting, July 2008
· NAIC Spring 2008 National Meeting
· NAIC/National Insurance Producer Registry E-Regulation Conference, July 2007
· NAIC Market Analysis Education Program, August 2006
Reinsurance Association of America
· Reinsurance Association of America Reinsurance Contracts: Art of Designing Reinsurance Contracts, July 2006
· Reinsurance Association of America: Demystifying Reinsurance Conference, May 2006
· Second National Forum on Reinsurance Agreements, February 2006
Mealey Publications
· Insurance and Reinsurance Linked Securitization Conference, December 2007
· Global Reinsurance Forum, November 2007
Risk and Insurance Management Society
· RIMS Annual Conference, April 2009
· Broward County Chapter Meetings, April 2009
Texas Department of Insurance
· Texas Department of Insurance Compliance Conference: 2006, 2007, 2008
Miscellaneous
· Auto Insurance Report National Conference, April 2009
· Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Mission Review Task Force, October 2008
· City Bar Center for CLE/ABA/TIPS/IFNY: Current Issues in Insurance Regulation, April 2008
· Ethics, Loss Prevention and Insurance Management Issues Conference, October 2006
· Financial Research Association's Capital Market Symposium on Securitizing Insurance Risk, September 2007
· Florida Chamber Property Insurance Summit, 2007
· Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference, June 2007
· Florida Private Sector Summit on Florida Property Insurance, August 2007
· Healthcare Conference, January 2007
· Hurricane Preparedness Conference, June 2007
· Insurance 2007: In Pursuit of Sustainable Earnings Conference, June 2007
· Insurance Forum Meeting, October 2006
· Insurance Regulation: Current Issues in Insurance Regulation Conference: 2006, 2007
· Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society Conference, May 2009
· International Association of Insurance Receivers Insolvency Workshop, January 2008
· National Constitution Center: Reinsurance Hot Topics in 2006: What You Need to Know, September 2006
· National Council on Compensation Insurance Annual Issues Symposium: 2006, 2007
· National Underwriter Magazine 19th Annual Executive Conference for the Property and Casualty Industry, November 2007
· Regulatory Round-Up, April 2008
· Standard & Poor's 23rd Annual Insurance Conference, June 2007
Recently-Published Articles and Media Appearances
· Federation of Regulatory Counsel FORC Alert, January 2010 Florida Update by Richard J. Fidei.
· Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals AICP Journal; December 18, 2009; Gulf States Region News by Richard J. Fidei, AICP Gulf States Editor.
· Florida Underwriter Magazine, November 2009 "Florida Still Fine-Tuning Public Adjusters" by Fred E. Karlinsky and Richard J. Fidei.
· Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals 2009 National Conference, October 4 and 5, 2009--Richard Fidei, who serves as Gulf States Chapter Vice President, participated as a panelist in two separate Conference sessions on property and casualty compliance and regulation. For more information, click here.
· Florida Underwriter Magazine, Volume 26, Number 9, September 2009 "Looking To Buy Or Sell?" by Fred E. Karlinsky and Richard J. Fidei.
· Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals AICP Journal, September 18, 2009; Gulf States Regulatory Update by Richard J. Fidei, AICP Gulf States Editor.
· Federation of Regulatory Counsel Journal, Vol. 20, Edition 3, Fall 2009 "New Perspectives on Reinsurance Collateral Requirements," by Fred E. Karlinsky and Richard J. Fidei.
· Federation of Regulatory Counsel Journal, Vol. 20, Edition 3, Fall 2009 "Florida's First DCA Upholds Broad Statutory Authority for Department of Financial Services to Investigate Cause of Insurer's Insolvency" by Richard J. Fidei.
· Federation of Regulatory Counsel FORC Alert, September 2009 Florida Update by Richard J. Fidei.
· American Bar Association/TIPS Insurance Regulation Committee News, Summer 2009 Florida Insurance Regulatory Updates by Richard J. Fidei.
· Florida Underwriter Magazine, July 2009 "Property Insurers Tackle Reinsurance Challenges" by Richard J. Fidei and Fred E. Karlinsky.
· June 2009 FORC Alert, Florida Update by Richard J. Fidei.
· Journal for Insurance Compliance Professionals, Vol. 24, No. 2, June 19, 2009 "Gulf States Region News" Mr. Fidei serves as Gulf States Region Co-Editor for the AICP's Journal.
· May 27, 2009 "New York State Proposes Mandatory Catastrophe Reserve Regulation for Property/Casualty Insurers" by Richard J. Fidei and Susan W. Verini.
· Florida Underwriter Magazine, April 2009 "Decision Time For Credit Scoring? Debate Swirls As Bills Fly" by Richard J. Fidei, Fred E. Karlinsky and Jennifer C. Erdelyi.
· Journal for Insurance Compliance Professionals, Vol. 24, No. 1, March 20, 2009 "Gulf States Region News" Mr. Fidei serves as Gulf States Region Co-Editor for the AICP's Journal.
· Florida Underwriter Magazine, March 2009 "2009 Legislative Session Will Prove Rocky" by Richard J. Fidei and Fred E. Karlinsky.
· CPCU Society eJournal, Vol. 62, No. 3, March 1, 2009 "Florida Insurance Dilemma Efforts to Manage the Unmanageable" by Richard J. Fidei, Esq. and Fred E. Karlinsky, Esq.
· ABA/TIPS Insurance Regulation Committee News, Winter 2009 Florida Insurance Regulatory Updates by Richard J. Fidei.
· FASI E-Newsletter Update, Winter 2009 "Florida Division of Workers' Compensation Rule Development Workshop Report: Rules for Self-Insurers" by Richard J. Fidei, Esq.
· Florida Underwriter Magazine, February 2009 "Surplus Lines Courting Trouble: Issues Abound Related to Judges' Decisions" by Richard J. Fidei and Fred E. Karlinsky.
· Florida Underwriter Magazine, December 2008 "Florida Adopts New Ratings-Based Reinsurance Collateral Rule" by Richard J. Fidei, Esq. and Fred E. Karlinsky.
· Journal for Insurance Compliance Professionals, Vol. 23, No. 3, December 19, 2008 "Gulf States Region News" Mr. Fidei serves as Gulf States Region Co-Editor for the AICP's Journal.
· The Intermediaries and Reinsurance Underwriters Association Journal of Reinsurance, Volume 15, Number 4, Fall 2008 "Catastrophe Risk in Florida: Efforts to Manage the Unmanageable" by Richard J. Fidei, Esq., and Fred E. Karlinsky of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate.
· U.S. Exposure: A DMA Claims Service and ISAC Newsletter, Issue #2, October 2008 "Catastrophe Risk in Florida: Efforts to Manage the Unmanageable" by Richard J. Fidei, Esq., and Fred E. Karlinsky of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate.
· "Our Recent Federal Decision Requires Filing of Surplus Lines Insurance Forms in Florida" by Richard J. Fidei, Esq. Florida Association of Self Insurance, Fall/Winter 2008 E-Newsletter
· Florida Bar News, October 15, 2008 Richard J. Fidei of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate in Ft. Lauderdale has been elected vice president of the Gulf States Chapter of the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals.
· AM Best National Podcast, October 11, 2008. Rich Fidei Discusses Florida's new reinsurance collateral Rule. To listen to the podcast, click here.
· Journal for Insurance Compliance Professionals, Vol. 23, No. 3, September 23, 2008 "Gulf States Region News" Mr. Fidei serves as Gulf States Region Co-Editor for the AICP's Journal.
· "Florida Insurance Reform" by Richard J. Fidei, Esq. International Association of Insurance Receivers' Summer, 2008 edition of The Insurance Receiver.
· Florida Cabinet Meeting Report, Florida Association of Self-Insurers Summer, 2008 Update (Page 7). FASI Update
· Florida Underwriter: "New Capital, New Choices: The Domestic Homeowners’ Market Rises." Rich Fidei comments on surplus notes.
· Richard J. Fidei has been admitted to the Federation of Regulatory Counsel, an exclusive, national association of attorneys who qualify for admission based upon specialization in the practice of insurance regulatory law. To read the complete story, click here.
· Florida Update: American Bar Association Tort, Trial and Insurance Committee News by Richard J. Fidei, Florida Contributing Author. Summer, 2008.
·Presentation given at the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals Gulf States & Mid-Atlantic Chapters' E-Day, July 17, 2008 "Federal Emerging Issues & Florida Legislative Changes"
· "Florida Insurance Reform” Real Estate Finance Magazine, June, 2008. By Richard J. Fidei, Esq. A summary of Florida's legislative, regulatory and market developments during the past three years.
· Federation of Regulatory Counsel Journal, Vol. 19 Edition 1, Spring 2008 "Credit-Based Insurance Scores", co-authored by Fred E. Karlinsky and Rich Fidei. What determines how much a consumer will pay for automobile insurance?
· AAMGA News, April 7, 2008 "FLORIDA INSURANCE REFORM: One year after a massive legislative overhaul, is Florida any closer to finding a solution?" by Richard J. Fidei.
· Journal for Insurance Compliance Professionals, Vol. 23, No. 1, March 28, 2008 "Gulf States Region News" Mr. Fidei served as Editor for the Gulf States region news update in this issue of the AICP journal.
· Daily Business Review, July 18, 2007 "Attorney puts together funding for two insurers" Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate attorneys Mike Colodny, Fred Karlinsky, Rich Fidei, Sandy Fay and Erin Siska assisted in securing $16.5 million and $7 million loans from Florida’s Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program.
· Insurance Journal, Nov. 5, 2007 Richard J. Fidei and Fred E. Karlinsky and recently co-authored "Striking A Balance Over the Use of Credit-Based Insurance Scores," which closely examines the current scrutiny over the use of personal credit information in automobile and homeowners underwriting.
· Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate partners Fred Karlinsky and Rich Fidei were featured as guest columnists in the August 7, 2007 issue of Daily Business Review regarding consumer credit histories and insurance law. To view the article, click here.