Jay Thompson

Practice Areas

Top ranked by Chambers USA for Insurance in Texas, Attorney Jay Thompson has extensive experience in both regulatory and legislative issues involving the business of insurance. He regularly participates in regulatory proceedings involving contested case hearings, contested rate hearings, policy form approvals, rulemaking, licensing, mergers, acquisition, and dissolution of insurance companies and other regulatory matters before the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).

As a registered lobbyist, Jay represents the property and casualty and life, accident and health insurance industry on legislative issues impacting those insurers. insurance industry on legislative issues impacting those insurers. He has worked closely with leadership in Texas to find constructive solutions to legislative issues. Jay has written numerous bills and amendments to the Texas Insurance Code and has been recognized as a leading expert on insurance regulation.

Jay has also represented insurers in litigation involving insurance bad faith, tax disputes against the state of Texas, appeals from administrative actions at the Texas Department of Insurance, disputes involving reinsurance and disputes between companies and agents.

Experience

-Extensive experience representing life/health and property/casualty insurance companies in insurance regulatory matters and legislative issues.

-Represents various insurers and agents in disciplinary actions brought by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).

-Extensive experience in new insurance company formations.

-Assisted insurance industry client in the conversion of a reciprocal to a stock company

-Represents various insurers in filing and approval of withdrawal plans.

-Represents of various insurers in filing and approval of surplus debentures, reinsurance agreements, and other holding company transactions.

-Drafted legislation or amendments on various insurance industry issues including:

--Non-insurance benefits in life/health insurance

--Use of private placement offerings in variable products

--Funding for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association

--Unfair discrimination

--Permitting conversion of a mutual life company to a mutual holding company

--Reports to employers by health insurers

--Rate and form regulation for property/casualty insurers

--Prompt payment of claims

-Represented medical malpractice insurance rate case

-Co-counsel in a leading Texas Supreme Court bad faith case often cited in insurance seminars, American Physicians v. Garcia

-Serves as general counsel of the Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers (TALHI)

Professional Memberships

-State Bar of Texas

-Federation of Regulatory Counsel (FORC)

-Insurance Counsel of Texas

-Texas Association of Life & Health Insurers

-US Air Force Reserves as a Judge Advocate (1972 – 1999)

-Texas Tech University Student Body President

Education