Mark F. Bennett

Partner

mfbennett@cb-firm.com

vCard

Mark F. Bennett, was born in Yonkers, New York. He completed his education receiving a Political Science degree with honors from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, and his J.D. from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York.

Mr. Bennett was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1984, and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.  He belongs to the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Travis County Bar Association.

Mr. Bennett has served as Insurance Counsel to state insurance regulators on a large number of insurance company restructurings and rehabilitations.  He was a key contributor to the Fidelity Bankers Life Insurance Company Rehabilitation Plan and negotiated the terms of the Company's sale to Hartford Life Insurance Company. He has been charged with the responsibility of operating the day-to-day affairs of Fidelity Bankers.

While in private practice, he is credited with having structured a guaranty association rescue and rehabilitation plan for an insolvent property and casualty insurance company in Texas, as well as devising rehabilitation or reorganization plans for other troubled insurers.  As former counsel to the Liquidation Division of the Texas State Board of Insurance, he was involved in the takeover, administration, and management of many insurers, including International Fidelity Life Insurance Company, National County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Best Lloyds Insurance Company, and Southeast Indemnity Company, to name a few.

He has extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions, reinsurance transactions, and general corporate areas.  Mr. Bennett has also acted as Insurance Counsel to the Deputy Liquidator of two health maintenance organization insolvencies, Foundation Health Plan of New Jersey and MedCenters of North Dakota, as well as legal counsel for other managed health care insurance companies.  Furthermore, he has acted as insurance administrative, regulatory, corporate, and reinsurance counsel to the Deputy Receiver of Home Warranty Corporation and its affiliates for the administration of those companies.   He has also acted as legal counsel to firms that provide policy administration, claims, EDP, and accounting services on an "outsource basis" to both the property and casualty and life insurance industries.

Mr. Bennett is currently a named and founding partner of the law firm Cantilo & Bennett, L.L.P. ("C&B"). Prior to his involvement with C&B, he was a partner in the law firm of Rubinstein & Perry, LLP and Cantilo, Bennett & Wisener, L.L.P.   Mr. Bennett’s practice concentrates on insurance mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, corporate law, insurance administration and regulation, insurance insolvency and receivership, reinsurance, and insurance outsourcing matters.

Mr. Bennett has also participated in various National Association of Insurance Commissioners committees regarding the Receiver's Handbook; he contributed to the drafting and editing of several handbook chapters.  He consults frequently with state insurance regulators regarding insurance rehabilitations and liquidations.  He also consults with members of the insurance industry concerning insurance consolidations, restructurings, sales, start-up insurance organizations, health care, and insurance company outsourcing activities.

Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization