Into the Breach

On the latest episode of Into the Breach, Bryan and Gena welcome back return guest A.J. Kritzman, for a discussion about his new role as Vice President, Transaction Risk Solutions, at First American. Topics discussed include: • The intersection of title insurance and transactional risk insurance • How A.J. and his team can help provide unique solutions in commercial real estate transactions • Rate...

On this episode of ITB, Bryan and Gena are joined by the wonderful Aon team of Stephen Davidson, Jennifer Drake and Anthony Dragone. Topics discussed include: • ITB’s award-winning status! Thank you to Million Podcasts for ranking us as one of the Top 60 M&A Podcasts! • Key takeaways from the Aon Claims Report, including: • Frequency and severity of claims and record high recoveries • How the high...

On this episode of ITB, Bryan and Gena are joined by Paige Brewin, Senior Vice President and Head of Transactional Liability QBE North America, to talk about the benefits of using representations and warranties insurance in oil and gas transactions. Topics discussed include: • Paige and Gena’s axe throwing skills • How Paige’s background serving as underwriting counsel prepared her for her current...

On this episode of ITB, Bryan and Gena are joined by Philip Z. Glorieux, Managing Director – Healthcare, Ambridge Partners LLC to discuss his career underwriting in the healthcare space and how the market has changed with respect to the availability of coverage for these deals Topics discussed include: • Gena’s experience at Othello and her horror at the lack of cell phone access (for the whole sh...

In another career oriented episode of Into the Breach, Bryan and Gena are joined by Caroline Barry, Assistant Vice President & Counsel at Ryan Transactional Risk, for a discussion of how she transitioned from big law associate to RWI underwriter. Topics discussed include: • Gena’s early morning encounter with a canine friend • Caroline’s background as a corporate associate working in big law • How...

On this episode of ITB, Bryan and Gena are joined by Ephraim Stulberg, Partner, MDD Forensic Accountants, for a discussion on the resolution of financial statement claims on RWI policies. Topics discussed include: • Bryan and Gena’s shared history of forensics/debate in high school! (Hi Miss Esslinger at Syosset High School!) • Ephraim’s studies at The University of Toronto and his career trajecto...

On this episode of ITB, Bryan and Gena are joined by Simon Wood, Head of Real Estate, CFC Underwriting, to discuss utilizing RWI on real estate transactions. Topics discussed include: • Bryan and Gena’s favorite activities at the 2025 Aon M&A and Transactional Solutions Symposium • How Gena invited herself to CFC’s “puppy day” • Simon’s status as a “real estate nerd” • The Growth of CFC’s real est...

Bryan and Gena welcome back the only two-time insurer guest on Into the Breach with a return visit from Dennis Kearns, Chief Executive Officer of Sands Point Risk. Topics discussed include: • The launch of Sands Point Risk • How Sands Point Risk will utilize transactional risk insurance as a flagship offering for a new full-service MGA • How Dennis came up with the name “Sands Point Risk” and the...

In the latest episode of Into the Breach, Bryan and Gena tackle a topic near and dear to their hearts: the critical role that underwriting counsel play in the RWI process. For this enlightening discussion, our hosts are joined by Sara Josselyn, a Partner at Gowling WLG, who frequently serves as underwriting counsel to RWI insurers in Canada. Topics discussed include: • How Sara’s work as a corpora...

In a first for the podcast, Bryan and Gena are joined by special guest co-host Christine Kim, Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw, for a discussion with Phil Casper, Principal at Euclid Transactional, on RWI claims. Topics discussed include: • How Phil’s prior work as an underwriter helped prepare him for his current role in managing Euclid’s claims • Background on Euclid’s claims team and how they are able to...

Bryan and Gena are joined by Jason Bertoldi, Head of Contingent Risk Solutions, WTW, for a discussion on new opportunities in contingent risk, including how law firms and plaintiff side litigation can benefit from this transactional risk solution. Topics discussed include: • How Jason’s background as a litigator at a major law firm and an analyst in litigation funding prepared him for his current...

Bryan and Gena are joined by Randy Hein, President of Berkley Transactional, for a discussion on the underlying economics of RWI policies and the implications of these economic factors for your next transaction. Topics discussed include: • Randy’s professional insurance background and how it led him to success at Berkley Transactional • Why economic factors such as human capital and financial capi...

Bryan and Gena are joined by Lidore DeRose, Senior Partner and Leader of Transactional Risk, Baldwin Risk Partners and Emily Short, National Director of Cyber Product, Baldwin Risk Partners, for a discussion of underlying cyber insurance coverage and how cyber insurance intersects with transactional risk insurance on deals. Topics discussed include: • How Lidore and Emily got into the insurance in...

Kicking off the new year with their first guest of 2024, Bryan and Gena welcome Megan Quail, Managing Director and Head of Reps and Warranties Insurance – North America, VALE Insurance Partners for a discussion of where RWI stands in the first few months of 2024 and what we can expect in the year to come. Topics discussed include: • How Megan transitioned from an initial career path in litigation...

Returning from a summer hiatus, Bryan and Gena are joined by veteran broker Sandra Lee, Chief Executive Officer – Asia, BMS Group, for a discussion on the state of transactional risk insurance in Asia. Topics discussed include: • How Sandra transitioned from working as a M&A attorney to being one of the first transactional risk brokers in Asia • How BMS created a premier global platform for transa...

Archer Transactional, a Balanced Partners Program, recently launched in the RWI space, with long-time transactional risk leader Ben Welch at the helm. In this episode, Bryan and Gena are joined by Ben for a discussion of Archer’s birth and how this new carrier will seek to become the best RWI platform in the United States by marrying underwriting efficiency with strong claims handling experience....

Combining a global underwriting platform with deep experience in the North America RWI space, RiskPoint has quickly established itself as a premier transactional risk carrier since launching in 2021. In this episode, Bryan and Gena are joined by Michael McGowan, Managing Director and Head of M&A Americas, for a discussion of where RiskPoint sees itself in the current market and plans for the futur...

One of the industry’s most prominent brokers, Matt Heinz, Partner & Co-Practice Leader, Transactional Liability, at Lockton Companies, joins Bryan and Gena for an enlightening discussion on the newest transactional risk trend: using RWI on secondaries transactions. Topics reviewed include: • What is meant by a GP-led “secondaries” transaction • Why secondary transactions are attractive risks for R...

Palisade Insurance Partners is open for business, becoming the first transactional risk insurer with a primary focus on contingent risk. In this episode, Bryan and Gena are joined by John McNally, President at Palisade Insurance Partners, for a discussion of his new venture and how transactional risk insurance can be creatively utilized on contingent risk matters. Topics reviewed include: • How Jo...

In a more philosophical episode, Bryan and Gena are joined by world renowned tax expert Harry Ballan, Managing Director, Global M&A Group, Alliant Insurance Services, for a wide-ranging discussion of how transactional risk insurance fits into the broader history of risk allocation between parties. Topics discussed include: • How Harry’s background as a PhD recipient, university professor, and then...

Continuing our international theme, Bryan and Gena kick off ITB’s 2023 season with Joshua Begner, Head of Private Equity and M&A Israel at WTW, for a primer on how transactional risk insurance can be utilized on deals in Israel. Topics discussed include: • How Josh developed the first RWI brokerage shop based in Israel with WTW • Why RWI is well positioned for Israel’s “start-up nation” mentality...

While the dramatic growth in RWI in recent years was driven primarily by private equity, corporate buyers have implemented transactional risk insurance with increasing frequency in the last eighteen months. Yet, due diligence for corporate buyers can be different from PE purchasers and many corporate dealmakers are still in the dark about the RWI underwriting process. In this episode, Bryan and Ge...

With an emphasis on technology and efficiency, io.insure recently launched Mio, a new global RWI underwriting platform for SME deals. In this episode, Bryan and Gena are joined by David Rogers, the co-founder of io.insure, for a discussion about this innovative approach to underwriting RWI. Topics reviewed include: • How Mio uses technology to offer a streamlined RWI underwriting process for up to...

Building on its incredible growth since its formation in early 2020, Dual Transaction Solutions is now launching a stand-alone tax insurance product. In this episode, Bryan and Gena are joined by Yash Jafari, Senior Vice-President Tax at Dual Transaction Solutions, for a discussion on Dual’s latest transactional risk offering. Topics reviewed include: • The “three buckets” of tax risks that Dual f...

Continuing with our “career theme,” Bryan and Gena are joined by Heith Rodman, Vice-President and Transactional Risk Underwriter at Berkley Transactional, for a discussion on making the career jump from M&A counsel at an international law firm to transactional risk underwriter at Berkley. Topics discussed included: • Heith’s background as a long-time M&A attorney at Jones Day in Atlanta • Why Heit...