Insights

Andy Barrengos

Chief Executive Officer

CEO Andy Barrengos has been a part of the Woodruff Sawyer team since 1996, and has served as CEO since 2016. Andy leads our firm with a focus on developing our people, delivering outstanding services, tools, and solutions for our clients, and growing the firm in new and existing sectors across our national platform.

415.399.6312

LinkedIn

Chad Follmer

Senior Vice President, Healthcare Practice Leader

Contributor, Property & Casualty

Chad leads the Healthcare Practice at Woodruff Sawyer. His expertise in the healthcare and medical industry includes regulatory risk, data privacy and cyber risks, alternative risk finance structures (captives, RRGs, SIRs and trusts) and risk solutions for ACOs and all forms of coordinate care structures. Chad is a Risk and Insurance Magazine “Power Broker” award recipient, and authors blog features on timely healthcare topics. 

415.399.6384

LinkedIn

Dan Hodges

Senior Vice President, Benefits

Dan brings a uniquely analytical and sophisticated approach to employee benefits and risk management. With over 16 years of consulting experience, Dan has worked with a large cross-section of employers including those in healthcare, not-for-profits, hi-tech, service, and hospitality. In 2010, Dan was honored with the Excellence in Partnership with HR award from the Silicon Valley HR Symposium. His areas of specialization include managing large, multi-state clients as well as outsourced benefit administration.

415.878.2463

LinkedIn

Darren Cartwright

Senior Vice President, Claims Audit and Consulting Group

Editor, Claims

Darren leads our Claims Audit and Consulting Group, offering expertise in the areas of occupational and non-occupational disabilities, leaves of absence, and workers’ compensation. In addition to his work in saving clients time and money on complex litigated claims and by auditing claim programs, he helps clients implement Integrated Disability Management (IDM) programs and come to understand the true cost of absence.

415.402.6542

LinkedIn

Diane Borden

Private Client Executive

Contributor, Private Client

Diane is co-leader of Woodruff Sawyer’s Private Client Practice, responsible for the strategic development and management of our personal insurance operations. With more than 25 years’ experience serving in underwriting and brokerage roles, Diane’s expertise as a trusted insurance advisor has helped generations of high net-worth individuals and their families design comprehensive personal insurance portfolios geared to their unique lifestyle and risk to loss.

855.738.1115

LinkedIn

Emily Maier

Vice President

Editor, Mergers & Acquisitions

Leading Woodruff Sawyer’s M&A practice, Emily provides consultation to clients seeking to minimize their risks associated with merger & acquisition activity. This includes Representations and Warranties, Tax Opinion Liability and Litigation Buy-Out coverages. She has worked with both strategic and private equity buyers and sellers over a wide range of transaction sizes and industries.

949.435.7378

Jessica Sailor

Vice President, Pacific Northwest Private Client Executive

Contributor, Private Client

With over 16 years of industry experience, Jessica specializes in risk management for high net-worth clientele. Jessica is responsible for managing the needs of property and casualty clients in this arena, as well as for new business development.

503.416.7759

LinkedIn

Kevin Panzera

Vice President, Private Client Growth Leader

Contributor, Private Client

Kevin co-leads our Private Client Practice to develop growth strategies and solutions to meet the needs of clients. With over 15 years of experience insuring the complex lifestyles, liability, and personal property assets of successful executives, business owners, and families of wealth, Kevin has a proven track record of innovation, production, and strategic leadership in the private client area.

Lauri Floresca

Senior Vice President, Management Liability

Editor, Cyber Liability

Lauri is a widely respected expert and frequent speaker on the issues of directors & officers liability and cyber liability. She has developed her expertise surrounding complex privacy breach claims and innovative Cyber Liability solutions, and has extensive experience placing D&O programs for public companies of all sizes, including NASDAQ 100 and Fortune 500 companies.

415.402.6523

LinkedIn

Priya Cherian Huskins, Esq.

Senior Vice President, D&O

Editor, Management Liability/D&O

Priya is a recognized expert and frequent speaker on D&O liability risk and its mitigation. In addition to consulting on D&O insurance, she counsels clients on corporate governance matters, including ways to reduce their exposure to shareholder lawsuits and regulatory investigations. Priya serves on the board of an S&P 500 public company and a large private company and has an impressive list of publications, speaking engagements, and awards for her influence and expertise in the industry. 

415.402.6527

LinkedIn

Vysali Soundararajan, Esq.

Assistant Vice President, Corporate Counsel

Vysali serves as Woodruff Sawyer’s Corporate Counsel. She is also a claims consultant on management liability policies, including Directors & Officers, Employment Practices, Cyber, and Errors & Omissions. Previously a class action litigator, Vysali is a frequent author and presenter, and is adjunct faculty on negotiation at RISE Austin and on intellectual property at University of Texas at Austin.  

415.399.6472

LinkedIn

Wade Pederson

Senior Vice President & Partner, Property & Casualty and Management Liability

Wade specializes in property & casualty and management liability exposures for companies in all stages of growth and risk complexities. Wade’s expertise across the spectrum of business risks enables him to take a holistic approach with clients. He manages client relationships and works directly with insurance markets to negotiate and place programs.

415.399.6354

LinkedIn

Andy Barrengos

Chief Executive Officer

CEO Andy Barrengos has been a part of the Woodruff Sawyer team since 1996, and has served as CEO since 2016. Andy leads our firm with a focus on developing our people, delivering outstanding services, tools, and solutions for our clients, and growing the firm in new and existing sectors across our national platform.

415.399.6312

LinkedIn

Chad Follmer

Senior Vice President, Healthcare Practice Leader

Contributor, Property & Casualty

Chad leads the Healthcare Practice at Woodruff Sawyer. His expertise in the healthcare and medical industry includes regulatory risk, data privacy and cyber risks, alternative risk finance structures (captives, RRGs, SIRs and trusts) and risk solutions for ACOs and all forms of coordinate care structures. Chad is a Risk and Insurance Magazine “Power Broker” award recipient, and authors blog features on timely healthcare topics. 

415.399.6384

LinkedIn

Dan Hodges

Senior Vice President, Benefits

Dan brings a uniquely analytical and sophisticated approach to employee benefits and risk management. With over 16 years of consulting experience, Dan has worked with a large cross-section of employers including those in healthcare, not-for-profits, hi-tech, service, and hospitality. In 2010, Dan was honored with the Excellence in Partnership with HR award from the Silicon Valley HR Symposium. His areas of specialization include managing large, multi-state clients as well as outsourced benefit administration.

415.878.2463

LinkedIn

Darren Cartwright

Senior Vice President, Claims Audit and Consulting Group

Editor, Claims

Darren leads our Claims Audit and Consulting Group, offering expertise in the areas of occupational and non-occupational disabilities, leaves of absence, and workers’ compensation. In addition to his work in saving clients time and money on complex litigated claims and by auditing claim programs, he helps clients implement Integrated Disability Management (IDM) programs and come to understand the true cost of absence.

415.402.6542

LinkedIn

Diane Borden

Private Client Executive

Contributor, Private Client

Diane is co-leader of Woodruff Sawyer’s Private Client Practice, responsible for the strategic development and management of our personal insurance operations. With more than 25 years’ experience serving in underwriting and brokerage roles, Diane’s expertise as a trusted insurance advisor has helped generations of high net-worth individuals and their families design comprehensive personal insurance portfolios geared to their unique lifestyle and risk to loss.

855.738.1115

LinkedIn

Emily Maier

Vice President

Editor, Mergers & Acquisitions

Leading Woodruff Sawyer’s M&A practice, Emily provides consultation to clients seeking to minimize their risks associated with merger & acquisition activity. This includes Representations and Warranties, Tax Opinion Liability and Litigation Buy-Out coverages. She has worked with both strategic and private equity buyers and sellers over a wide range of transaction sizes and industries.

949.435.7378

Jessica Sailor

Vice President, Pacific Northwest Private Client Executive

Contributor, Private Client

With over 16 years of industry experience, Jessica specializes in risk management for high net-worth clientele. Jessica is responsible for managing the needs of property and casualty clients in this arena, as well as for new business development.

503.416.7759

LinkedIn

Kevin Panzera

Vice President, Private Client Growth Leader

Contributor, Private Client

Kevin co-leads our Private Client Practice to develop growth strategies and solutions to meet the needs of clients. With over 15 years of experience insuring the complex lifestyles, liability, and personal property assets of successful executives, business owners, and families of wealth, Kevin has a proven track record of innovation, production, and strategic leadership in the private client area.

Lauri Floresca

Senior Vice President, Management Liability

Editor, Cyber Liability

Lauri is a widely respected expert and frequent speaker on the issues of directors & officers liability and cyber liability. She has developed her expertise surrounding complex privacy breach claims and innovative Cyber Liability solutions, and has extensive experience placing D&O programs for public companies of all sizes, including NASDAQ 100 and Fortune 500 companies.

415.402.6523

LinkedIn

Priya Cherian Huskins, Esq.

Senior Vice President, D&O

Editor, Management Liability/D&O

Priya is a recognized expert and frequent speaker on D&O liability risk and its mitigation. In addition to consulting on D&O insurance, she counsels clients on corporate governance matters, including ways to reduce their exposure to shareholder lawsuits and regulatory investigations. Priya serves on the board of an S&P 500 public company and a large private company and has an impressive list of publications, speaking engagements, and awards for her influence and expertise in the industry. 

415.402.6527

LinkedIn

Vysali Soundararajan, Esq.

Assistant Vice President, Corporate Counsel

Vysali serves as Woodruff Sawyer’s Corporate Counsel. She is also a claims consultant on management liability policies, including Directors & Officers, Employment Practices, Cyber, and Errors & Omissions. Previously a class action litigator, Vysali is a frequent author and presenter, and is adjunct faculty on negotiation at RISE Austin and on intellectual property at University of Texas at Austin.  

415.399.6472

LinkedIn

Wade Pederson

Senior Vice President & Partner, Property & Casualty and Management Liability

Wade specializes in property & casualty and management liability exposures for companies in all stages of growth and risk complexities. Wade’s expertise across the spectrum of business risks enables him to take a holistic approach with clients. He manages client relationships and works directly with insurance markets to negotiate and place programs.

415.399.6354

LinkedIn

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

New Brand. Same Values.

This year, we’re celebrating our 100-year anniversary. After 100 years of providing guidance and protection to some of the world’s most innovative companies, we have refreshed our brand identity to not only better reflect our 100-year legacy of guiding and protecting our clients, but also to set a course for how we communicate our mission for the future.

INSIGHTS

Editor, Mergers & Acquisitions

INSIGHTS

Reps and Warranties Insurance—The Basics

Representation and Warranties insurance is a complex solution for a complex situation. There is nothing standard about the sale or merger of a company and so very little is standard about the insurance that supports it.… More

Editor, Mergers & Acquisitions

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

Compliance Alert: Agencies Issue Guidance on Mental Health Parity Issues, Signal Enhanced Enforcement

On April 23, 2018, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services released several pieces of guidance on issues arising under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), including 2017 enforcement actions, guidance on mental health parity implementation, and an action plan for enhanced enforcement in 2018.

INSIGHTS

Editor, Management Liability/D&O

INSIGHTS

24th Annual Stanford Directors’ College: The Premier Education Event for Board Members

As I’ve been writing about lately (here and here), director training and continuing education is important, no matter where one is at in one’s career as a board member.… More

Editor, Management Liability/D&O

INSIGHTS

Editor, Management Liability/D&O

INSIGHTS

Trending in Life Sciences: More Class Actions Year Over Year for Public Companies

It’s no secret that publicly traded life sciences companies face risks that often result in securities class action lawsuits.… More

Editor, Management Liability/D&O

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

Active Assailant And Workplace Violence: Proactive Risk Management And Insurance Planning

It has long been standard risk management practice in corporate America to plan for emergencies resulting from traditional occurrences such as severe weather, fire or a medical emergency.… More

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

Looking Ahead: Considerations For The Employee Benefits Landscape In 2018

The current landscape of health care and employee benefits—which has become unrelenting in its complexities, compliance requirements, and rising costs—is requiring all of us to think and act differently. In this inaugural issue of our annual Employee Benefits Looking Ahead Guide, we highlight key trends we’re seeing, provide insight into some exciting developments that are pulling the industry forward, and share advice on how you can start thinking about your 2018 strategy.

INSIGHTS

Editor, Cyber Liability

INSIGHTS

The Intel Chip Flaw: What Does The Biggest Cyber Security Flaw Ever Discovered Mean For Cyber Insurance?

Reports this week of a staggering security flaw in processor chips from Intel, ARM and potentially other major manufacturers have prompted a new round of the (by now) age-old question: Would this be covered by cyber insurance?

Editor, Cyber Liability

INSIGHTS

Contributor, Private Client

INSIGHTS

Kids at College…Are They Covered?

While most families can think of at least one thing to worry about while their kids or grandkids are away from home, it’s rarely: Will my insurance cover their belongings or electronic devices if they get stolen? Or: What if they are in a car accident?

Contributor, Private Client

INSIGHTS

Contributor, Private Client

INSIGHTS

It’s Wildfire Season: Time to Ramp Up Your Risk Management

You can take steps to increase your home’s chances of surviving a wildfire. This includes not only the house itself, but the landscaping around it and seasonal cleaning tasks. If you build a new home or remodel an existing one, know that anything attached to the house (decks, porches, fences, etc.) is considered part of the house when it comes to the way fire behaves.

Contributor, Private Client

INSIGHTS

Contributor, Property & Casualty

INSIGHTS

Health Plan Risk Environment – Managed Care D&O, E&O and Cyber Market Update

Even with the new Federal administration’s stated pro-business mission, it remains clear that regulatory risks have not subsided and indeed appear as severe as ever.  Within the broader healthcare landscape no segment is more exposed to these risks than health plans and managed care providers.

Contributor, Property & Casualty

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

M&A Disclosure-Only Settlements: Still Happening

Whether plaintiffs can successfully litigate in another forum is often dependent on whether a Delaware forum-selection clause is in effect. But where plaintiffs don’t face that hurdle—either because the company in question doesn’t have a Delaware forum-selection clause or the company decides not to assert it—plaintiffs are motivated to litigate in plaintiff-friendly venues outside Delaware.

INSIGHTS

Editor, Claims

INSIGHTS

What’s Next? Workers’ Comp Regulatory Changes to Expect in 2017

Another year and another set of changes in the ever-changing world of workers' compensation. The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has recently released new regulatory guidelines to be aware of. The changes you can expect are summarized in this post.

Editor, Claims

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

Workers’ Comp for Life Science and Tech Companies: What You Should Know

As costly as workers' compensation insurance is for California employers, you may wonder if it’s really necessary. Legislated in the U.S. in the early 1900s, workers’ compensation insurance is an integral part of state and federal law.

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

Why Your Employees Aren’t Getting the Most from Their HSA

According to survey findings, 70 percent of people with health savings accounts (HSAs) don’t understand the full capacity of what it does. Part of this is due to lack of employer communication around the matter. But it seems most employers don’t necessarily know what they’re doing wrong. In this post, I’ll go over two ways to create an effective communication and implementation plan for your HSA, so everyone can get the most from it.

Compliance Alert: EEOC’s Status Report in AARP v. EEOC Creates Uncertainty for Wellness Programs

Employers continue to face uncertainty as to wellness program incentives subject to the ADA and GINA (i.e., those with medical exams or disability-related inquiries) as the EEOC awaits confirmation of Janet Dhillon as EEOC Chair and considers “a number of policy choices available.” In other words, the EEOC may wait until the Senate confirms outstanding nominations before re-engaging in the rulemaking process, leaving wellness programs open to challenge in 2019 by employees who feel that the incentives (or penalties) are so great that they render the program involuntary.

Compliance Alert: CMS Extends Transition Relief for Non-Compliant Plans through 2019

On April 9, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a one-year extension to the transition policy (originally announced November 14, 2013 and extended several times since) for individual and small group health plans that allows issuers to continue policies that do not meet ACA standards. The transition policy has been extended to policy years beginning on or before October 1, 2019, provided that all policies end by December 31, 2019.