Biography • Insurance & Reinsurance

Michael J Pinsel is a partner in the insurance and financial services group in Sidley's Chicago office and heads the firm's property and casualty alternative risk transfer practice. His practice is concentrated primarily in the corporate and regulatory representation of insurance companies, investors and financial advisors with a focus on alternative risk transfer transactions, including insurance securitisation and derivatives transactions (catastrophe bonds, sidecars, industry loss warranties); the organisation and operation of insurance-linked securities funds; complex reinsurance arrangements; acquisitions, divestitures and corporate reorganisations; the formation, capitalisation and corporate financing of insurance companies and related ventures; the regulation of insurance holding company systems; and the regulation of insurance company investment practices, including the use of derivative instruments. His practice also involves the representation of investment banks, hedge funds, private equity funds, investment advisors, derivative dealers and other sectors of the financial services industry, with respect to their insurance industry relationships and transactions.

From February 1999 until March 2001, Mr Pinsel served as senior vice president and general counsel of a property/casualty insurance organisation operating in both the excess and surplus lines commercial market and the personal lines market. Mr Pinsel previously had been a partner in the insurance practice of another law firm. He is also a frequent speaker on insurance topics, including alternative risk transfer, and is the author or co-author of numerous articles relating to his field.

Mr Pinsel received his JD from The University of Chicago Law School in 1991 and his BA (cum laude) from Duke University in 1988. He is admitted in Illinois.