Eugene Benger, the general counsel for insurance at the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”), has joined Debevoise & Plimpton LLP as counsel in its New York office.
He will be a member of the firm's Financial Institutions Group and Insurance Practice.
During his tenure at the NYDFS, Mr. Benger advised senior officials, examiners, and actuaries on insurance regulatory, legislative, employment, and litigation matters and participated in developing proposed legislation and regulations. He also played a role in reviewing holding company filings in connection with M&A transactions, including a number of acquisitions of New York insurance companies by private equity firms.
Mr. Benger joined the Office of the General Counsel of the former New York Insurance Department in 2009 and was promoted from senior counsel to deputy general counsel for insurance in 2010. The New York Insurance Department and the New York Banking Department merged to form the NYDFS in 2011 and Mr. Benger advanced to his most recent position in 2013.
From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Benger served as counsel to the Commission to Modernize the Regulation of Financial Services, a blue-ribbon commission of Wall Street chief executive officers, government leaders, and consumer advocates appointed by former Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer and then-Insurance Superintendent and current Debevoise partner, Eric R. Dinallo.
Immediately prior to his time with the commission, Mr. Benger served as assistant attorney general in the Litigation Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General, a position he held from 2005 to 2007.
Mr. Dinallo, partner in Debevoise's Insurance Practice, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Gene to Debevoise. In the current environment, it is crucial to have expert advisors who can cover the full waterfront of regulatory issues facing the industry. Gene broadens Debevoise's already deep insurance capabilities, bringing with him significant experience working directly with the regulations affecting our clients. The NYDFS has become a highly active regulatory body for both foreign and domestic financial institutions, and our clients are sure to benefit from Gene's experience there.”
Mr. Benger said, “Debevoise's reputation as a legal advisor in the insurance industry is incomparable. I am looking forward to working alongside the international team to help clients navigate the evolving regulatory landscape that we face today.”
Mr. Benger began his legal career as an associate in private practice and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Nicholas G. Garaufis of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Mr. Benger earned his J.D., summa cum laude, in 2001 from St. John's University School of Law, where he was a member of the St. John's Law Review and valedictorian. He received his B.A., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in 1998 from Brooklyn College.
Mr. Benger is fluent in English and Russian.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].