Barry G. Skolnick

Barry Skolnick is a former major life insurance company general counsel and a highly experienced insurance regulatory attorney. He joined Mitchell Williams and the Insurance Regulatory Practice Group after serving 20 years as general counsel for Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. Mr. Skolnick has extensive experience in life insurance and annuity product development and detailed knowledge of the state insurance, federal securities, and tax laws relating to such products. He also has significant experience in connection with regulatory examinations conducted by state insurance departments, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and FINRA.

Experience

• Advised life insurance companies and insurance distributors in all areas of variable annuity, variable life, modified guaranteed annuity, and fixed index annuity product development.
• Drafted all forms of life insurance and annuity contracts for insurance company clients and oversaw the state filing and approval process.
• Advised insurance companies in connection with insurance holding company transactions.
• Drafted indemnity reinsurance and assumption reinsurance agreements.
• Advised insurance companies in connection with state insurance department examinations and SEC and FINRA examinations.
• Drafted and negotiated insurance company distribution agreements.
• Advised insurance companies and distributors in the establishment of compliance policies and procedures, including sales practices and sales supervision, audits, surveillance, and training.

Education

• Boston University School of Law LL.M., Taxation (1983)
• Western New England College School of Law J.D. (1976)
• Boston University College of Communication B.S. in Broadcast Journalism (1973)

Involvement

• Member, New York Bar Association