(718) 310-3084
William Fawcett
Legal & Business Operations Executive / Driving Growth / Forging Legal & Business Strategies / Developing Top Performers
Senior Leadership Professional possessing a unique fusion of legal prowess and business acumen that bolsters profitability of domestic and international entities. An innovative and formidable leader applying a big-picture perspective and analytical detail in startup, turnaround, and established environments to develop and maintain prosperous, sustainable growth.
A dynamic and compelling teacher and mentor who develops teams and individuals who excel. Empathetic yet demanding in setting standards that yield results beyond expectations. Dependable and consistent in producing notable ROI in a variety of industries, including insurance, reinsurance, and international business.
Legal & Business Acumen
Fusing experience in the legal and business sides of companies to advise and execute on strategic plans, forge / lead business and growth initiatives, and optimize operational performance in alignment with business objectives.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Enabling better decision-making by developing collaboration and consensus through cultivating relationships, instilling mutual trust and confidence, facilitating win-win situations, and finding common ground among stakeholders.
Legal Department Leadership
Supporting evolving needs of companies by creating diverse, top-performing legal departments through managing all legal functions, leading complex transactions / negotiations, and fostering internal team knowledge / abilities.
Risk Management
Identifying and mitigating risk by ensuring regulatory compliance, managing all aspects of litigation and regulatory enforcement, staying current on legislative activity, and interfacing with regulators, when necessary.
Develop Top-Performers
Recruiting, mentoring, and guiding teams and individuals who excel by providing inspiration and motivation to set and achieve goals, developing talent and leadership abilities, and fostering commitment, team spirit, and trust.
Achievements
Complex Transactions / Negotiations
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$32.4 million returned to investors while serving as interim CEO by planning and guiding execution of a solvent run-off and orderly divestiture of the company’s reinsurance division. Read Full Story
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Averted millions in annual taxes by redomesticating the holding company, inverting the operating enterprise, restructuring dozens of internationally-based subsidiaries, and aggregating $1.1 billion in a closed-end fund.
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Expanded the business into new markets and new lines of business by acquiring a Lloyd’s managing agency and syndicate, a South African reinsurance company, and a Cypriot insurance firm with a UAE intermediary valued at $169.7 million through leveraging a two-step acquisition methodology.
Risk Management / Regulatory Compliance
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Saved the company from a disastrous $14 billion judgment and the industry from a devastating precedent by guiding the legal response as market leader of 22 co-insurers suing over coverage related to the World Trade Center collapse. Read Full Story
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Ensured company compliance by managing the regulatory and legal aspects of the business, including educating stakeholders on the impact of statutory changes.
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Reduced risk of international operations by ensuring global compliance in 42 organizations in 16 countries through implementation of a structured regulatory review protocol, adoption of regtech AI software, and preserving the company’s global reputation.
Strategic Planning / Tactical Execution
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Started the first European-based online insurance company producing a first-year profit, 24.1% return-on-capital, 58% combined ratio on reinsurance, and an eight-percent total return on investments. Read Full Story
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1.22x multiple price-to-book-value received when selling a company after three years of operation.
Business & Growth Initiatives
58% combined ratio on assumed reinsurance portfolio in year one with a 51% increase in gross written premiums produced by exercising disciplined underwriting practices.
Founded a multi-lined insurer by leading initial licensure, enactment of Solvency II, and expansion into four countries through crafting a dynamic capital management system and comprehensive risk management protocols encompassing governance, internal controls, and audit.
24.1% return on capital realized in the second year of a company’s operation by introducing an insurance underwriting platform that offered dynamic policy pricing and minimized provider risk.
Strategic Legal & Business Advisement
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$330+ million of alternative capital secured by creating special-purpose vehicles issuing catastrophe bonds and installing a reinsurance sidecar. Read Full Story
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$6.6 billion purchase facilitated by partnering with one party’s CEO to resolve a major contingent liability, providing contractual- and business-strategy advice, and influencing market cooperation.
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75% cap affected on a $45 million exposure by recognizing an error in agreeing to assume responsibility for other companies’ obligations and acting decisively to minimize the financial impact.
Legal Department Leadership
Bred a global, dedicated claims department by designing all procedures, designing supporting technology, and recruiting, training, coaching, and mentoring a combined legal and non-legal team.
Changed worldwide insurance procedures by leveraging market leadership and establishing contract certainty through a contract-drafting-and-support unit for ensuring clarity of contract terms, standardizing document language, and setting deadlines for policy issuance.
Ensured the company launched with the ability to meet regulatory requirements by serving as the company’s first in-house lawyer establishing claim procedures, reporting protocols, IT development, and a tracking system for legislative updates and legal precedents.
Collaborative, Cross-Functional Leadership
Resolved a years-old dispute costing millions by applying diplomacy and persuasion to convince a sister company to accept assistance in resolving claims processing issues including a London market spiral. Read Full Story
Built the company into a publicly traded market competitor by influencing expansion strategies, coordinating efforts for organic growth, assisting with the IPO, the acquisition of two renewal rights portfolios and the acquisition of two corporations that complimented the existing business.
Litigation / Regulatory Enforcement
Avoided the risk of an unfavorable judgment and continuing legal costs by supervising complex litigation, managing the activities of outside counsel, and negotiating a final settlement.
Overcame governmental interference with the run-off business by interfacing with regulators, staying current on legislative activity, and leading the division through the bureaucratic maze.
Protected the organization from the impact of uncovered claims, unfavorable judgments, and continuing legal costs by actively managing major litigation and outside counsel.
Develop High-Performing Teams & Individuals
Preserved profitability and managed liability exposure by forming a world-class claims team by hiring right, training thoroughly, and providing constant coaching and support to grow each member’s knowledge and skills. Read Full Story
Organized, trained, and led a legal team supporting clients of the company’s 16 operating entities in achieving business objectives. Recognized by the industry as in-house legal team of the year.
Operations Optimization
$57 million of surplus relief generated and the U.S. division returned to profitability by advising on legal strategies, acquiring special-skill personnel, and restructuring liability management into four teams.
Strengthened the corporate governance structure by designing operational processes, automating board books, and developing cross-functional communication systems.
Work History
Maryland Insurance Administration | Baltimore, MD
2023 –Present
The Maryland Insurance Administration is an independent State agency that is committed to providing fair treatment to consumers and to and the effective and efficient operation of insurance carriers and producers.
Associate Commissioner - Property & Casualty
Furnishing leadership of the Property & Casualty Division including the Rates & Forms Unit and the Consumer Complaints Unit while supporting the overall objectives of the Administration.
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty | New York, NY and Chicago, IL
2022 – 2023
The commercial division of the world's largest insurance company with $1.2T in assets and 155,000 employees. North American operations include the former Fireman's Fund companies as well as Bermudian and Canadian subsidiaries.
General Counsel, Secretary & Head of Legal - North America
Furnished legal supervision and advised on strategy, proper governance, litigation, M&A, and regulatory compliance.
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$2 billion M&A deal facilitated by restructuring US operating entities, selling and acquiring strategic vehicles, upstreaming capital and spinning off a technology subsidiary.
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Avoided unintended coverage and cured a major regulatory breach by establishing a Centralized Product Governance unit that coordinated product lifecycle management in collaboration with other functional units.
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Strengthened the corporate governance structure by designing operational processes, automating entity controls and implementing a board portal and entity management system that was eventually adopted worldwide.
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Rebuilt an out of touch legal department by recruiting the leadership A-Team, being client-centric, creating a Culture Committee, standing up a new Data, Digital & Privacy function, optimizing technology and establishing an Operations Unit.
Haverford Holdings Limited | Hamilton, Bermuda
2016 – 2022
An investment holding company with insurance, reinsurance, aviation, and manufacturing subsidiaries around the world.
General Counsel
Provide legal supervision and advice on strategy, proper governance, litigation, M&A, and regulatory compliance.
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$32.4 million returned to investors while serving as interim CEO by planning and guiding execution of a solvent run-off and orderly divestiture of the company’s reinsurance division.
-
Avoided the risk of an unfavorable judgment and continuing legal costs by supervising complex litigation, managing the activities of outside counsel, and negotiating a final settlement.
-
Ensured company compliance by managing the regulatory and legal aspects of the business, including educating stakeholders on the impact of statutory changes.
-
Strengthened the corporate governance structure by designing operational processes, automating board books, and developing cross-functional communication systems.
St Bernard Assure Limited | Queensway, Gibraltar
2012 – 2016
Europe’s first exclusively online insurance company grown from startup to underwriter of personal auto insurance, surety and performance bonds, and treaty reinsurance.
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Oversaw all aspects of operations including underwriting appetite, selection of IT systems, legal, claims, and personnel.
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Started the first European-based online insurance company producing a first-year profit, 24.1% return-on-capital, 58% combined ratio on reinsurance, and an eight-percent total return on investments.
-
1.22x multiple price-to-book-value received when selling the company after three years of operation.
Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings SA | Hamilton, Bermuda redomesticated to Luxembourg
2008 – 2012
Startup $1 billion insurance and reinsurance holding company operating in 16 countries with 500+ employees.
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Furnished legal supervision and advised on corporate strategy, proper governance, and board processes.
-
$330+ million of alternative capital secured by creating special-purpose vehicles issuing catastrophe bonds and installing a reinsurance sidecar.
-
Averted millions in annual taxes by redomesticating the holding company, inverting the operating enterprise, restructuring dozens of internationally based subsidiaries, and aggregating $1.1 billion in a closed-end fund.
-
Expanded the business into new markets and new lines of business by acquiring a Lloyd’s managing agency and syndicate, a South African reinsurance company, and a Cypriot insurance firm with a UAE intermediary valued at $169.7 million through leveraging a two-step acquisition methodology.
-
Organized, trained, and led a legal team supporting clients of the company’s 16 operating entities in achieving business objectives. Recognized by the industry as in-house legal team of the year.
Reduced risk of international operations by ensuring global compliance in 42 organizations in 16 countries through implementation of a structured regulatory review protocol, adoption of regtech AI software, and preserving the company’s global reputation.
AXA | New York, NY
2006 – 2008
A $113 billion French multinational insurance and asset management firm serving 105 million clients in 54 countries.
Executive Vice President – Chief Legal Officer
Led operational and legal activities for North American property and casualty run-off operations, with $2.8 billion in claims.
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$57 million of surplus relief generated and the U.S. division returned to profitability by advising on legal strategies, acquiring special-skill personnel, and restructuring liability management into four teams.
-
Overcame governmental interference with the run-off business by interfacing with regulators, staying current on legislative activity, and leading the division through the bureaucratic maze.
-
Resolved a years-old dispute costing millions by applying diplomacy and persuasion to convince a sister company to accept assistance in resolving claims processing issues including a London market spiral.
-
75% cap affected on a $45 million exposure by recognizing an error in agreeing to assume responsibility for other companies’ obligations and acting decisively to minimize the financial impact.
Endurance Specialty Holdings Limited | Hamilton, Bermuda
2002 – 2006
Startup global insurance-reinsurance enterprise generating $2 billion internationally per year and employing 300.
Senior Vice President – Chief Claims Officer
Served on the executive startup team and held concurrent responsibility for running the claims department.
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Built the company into a publicly traded market competitor by influencing expansion strategies, coordinating efforts for organic growth, assisting with the IPO, acquisition of two renewal rights portfolios, and acquisition of two corporations that complimented the existing business.
-
Ensured the company launched with the ability to meet regulatory requirements by serving as the company’s first in-house lawyer establishing claim procedures, reporting protocols, IT development, and a tracking system for legislative updates and legal precedents.
-
Preserved profitability and managed liability exposure by forming a world-class claims team by hiring right, training thoroughly, and providing constant coaching and support to grow each member’s knowledge and skills.
-
Protected the organization from the impact of uncovered claims, unfavorable judgments, and continuing legal costs by actively managing major litigation and outside counsel.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Swiss Reinsurance Company | Zurich, Switzerland
The world’s largest reinsurer with $49 billion in revenue, offices in 25 countries, and more than 15,000 employees.
Deputy General Counsel & Head of Claims
Managed the global claim portfolio, oversaw claim and legal staff, and third-party service providers.
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$6.6 billion purchase facilitated by partnering with one party’s CEO to resolve a major contingent liability, providing contractual- and business-strategy advice, and influencing market cooperation.
-
Changed worldwide insurance procedures by leveraging market leadership and establishing contract certainty through a contract-drafting-and-support unit for ensuring clarity of contract terms, standardizing document language and setting deadlines for policy issuance.
-
Saved the company from a disastrous $14 billion judgment and the industry from a devastating precedent by guiding the legal response as market leader of 22 co-insurers suing over coverage related to the World Trade Center collapse.
Supplemental Information
Education / Certifications / Military Service
Juris Doctorate, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, CA
Doctorate Business Administration in International Business, International School of Management, Paris, France
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Relations, Religion, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
Associate of Arts in Research; Planning & Management; Claims, Insurance Institute of America, Malvern, PA
Law Licenses: Maryland, DC, North Dakota, England & Wales, Bermuda, Ireland
Military Service: U.S. Marine Corps, Mustang 1st Lieutenant / Civil Air Patrol - Air Force Auxiliary, Captain
Testimonials
Dale Diamond
“Will is a hard working 'fast learner' who can be trusted to 'do the right thing' in all respects. Will's remarkable academic background and thorough insurance and reinsurance experience make him a solid leader and world citizen of the highest caliber.”
