Press Release

Date:  1/11/2006

Insurance And Financial Services Regulatory Team Joins Broad And Cassel

TALLAHASSEE, FL; January 11, 2006 — Statewide law firm Broad and Cassel continued implementation of a statewide strategic growth plan in its Tallahassee office by announcing the addition of a distinguished insurance regulatory team, which includes Partner A. Kenneth Levine, Associate Jose’ Pagan, and paralegal Kelly Castellanos from Tew Cardenas, LLP.

“We are excited to begin the New Year with the addition of this new practice group,” said C. David Brown II, Chairman. “Insurance regulation is an important focus in Florida, and Broad and Cassel is pleased to gain such experience in this area.”

A. Kenneth Levine, who will chair the firm’s newly formed Insurance and Financial Services Regulatory Practice Group, will also lead the transition of his team to Broad and Cassel. He has provided substantive regulatory counsel and representation to governmental and business clients for more than 15 years. Jose’ Pagan also joins the team, handling regulatory and related corporate matters primarily for financial services and insurance companies. Paralegal Kelly Castellanos will also be making the move to Broad and Cassel. 

“The addition of this outstanding team will surely make our Tallahassee office a leader in this industry,” said Stephen Turner, managing partner of the Tallahassee office. “We are proud to have them on board.”

Serving in various legal capacities with the Florida Department of Insurance (now the Florida Department of Financial Services), including Chief of Staff, Levine has yielded a well-positioned practice in Tallahassee. He has represented purchasers in some of Florida’s largest HMO mergers and acquisitions and also represented several of the country’s largest trade associations in administrative proceedings, bid protests, rule challenges, and negotiated solutions, before various agencies of the State, such as Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Environmental Protection, Board of Medicine, and others.  

Levine currently serves as national warranty counsel to numerous computer, electronic, appliance, HVAC, and other system manufacturers.  He serves as retained counsel for Philips-Magnavox, Frigidaire, Microsoft, IBM, and other global leaders and as general counsel to the American Manufacturers Warranty Association.  Ken also has served on an advisory council to the State of California with regard to extended warranty issues.  He has been retained by one of the nation’s top specialty retailers to serve as the company’s expert witness on these issues.

Utilizing his extensive financial and insurance experience, Pagan has litigated insurance defense cases, and handled coverage issues and other regulatory matters.  He also served as chief counsel at Granada Insurance Company, a Florida commercial property and casualty insurer, where he oversaw the Claims Department and SIU Departments and managed the company’s litigation.

Broad and Cassel established its Tallahassee office in 1987. The firm’s Tallahassee attorneys focus their practices primarily in the following areas of law: Appellate and Constitutional Law, Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain, Government Relations, Health Care Law, Land Use and Environmental, Legislative Affairs and Real Estate. Broad and Cassel, founded on January 1, 1946, has nearly 170 lawyers and 200 support personnel located in eight offices throughout the state of Florida. The firm has extensive experience in a wide variety of corporate practice areas and industries. For more information, please visit us online at www.broadandcassel.com.

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