Speaker and Writer

I am regularly engaged as a speaker and writer on insurance, financial services, and on the law that governs both. It’s one of the things I do best. I pioneered a speaking and writing style that effectively communicates important and timely information, but does so in a manner that is interactive, engaging, and amusing—so that the messages register.

Over the decades I have spoken on insurance and financial services one or more times in: California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,  Texas, as well as Canada and in London.

Below are descriptions of several specific kinds of engagements.

1990-2017

Educational Presentations to Insurance Trade Associations, Insurers, and Financial Service Companies

Between 1990 and 2017, I appeared before all the organizations and companies listed below (where indicated, I made multiple appearances):

  • Allianz Life Insurance Company
  • American Council of Life Insurers (multiple)
  • Association of Advanced Life Underwriters (multiple) 
  • Banner Life Insurance Company
  • BB&T Insurance Services, Inc. (multiple)
  • Compliance and Ethics Foundation for Life Insurance (multiple)
  • Crump Life Insurance Services (multiple)
  • CNA Insurance Companies (multiple)
  • Insurance Society of Philadelphia
  • Jefferson Pilot Life Insurance Companies          
  • John Hancock Life Insurance Company (multiple)
  • Lincoln National Life Insurance Companies      
  • Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (multiple)
  • Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
  • Mutual of Omaha Insurance Companies (multiple)
  • National Structured Settlements Trade Association
  • New York Life Insurance Company
  • Insurance Department of Pennsylvania
  • Estate Planning Council of Philadelphia
  • Pacific Life insurance Company
  • Principal Life Insurance Company
  • Prudential Life Insurance Company
  • RIMS, the Risk Management Society (multiple)
  • Southwestern Life Insurance Company
  • State Farm Life Insurance Companies
  • Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
  • Swiss Re Insurance Companies (multiple)
2005-2016

National Life Insurance Law Symposiums

  • I initiated, developed, and led four roughly biennial national two-day life insurance law symposiums held in Philadelphia and elsewhere.
  • The substantive programs were approved for continuing legal education and other professional credit. I was responsible for developing and supervising all educational content, and for significant individual content presentation.
  • I chaired each of the symposiums.
2007

Intercompany Long Term Care Insurance Conference

Address: “Class Action Vaccination”

2009-2010

The Secondary Market Academy

This legal and business half-day presentation was given for client and non-client insurers at various dates and places in 2009 and 2010, largely in response to the wave of stranger-originated life insurance, aka “STOLI.” It was sometimes presented under the name “Steve’s STOLI School”.

2012

HighCap Sales Forum

Address: “A Few Million Here, a Few Million There, and Before Long It’s Real Money”

2012

American Council of Life Insurers Litigation Committee Meeting

Address: “STOLI: Over the Next Hill”

2014

Frontiers of Property & Casualty Insurance: Anticipating Tomorrow

Address: “Dangerous Intersection—Liability Exposures and Coverage Issues Arising From Financial Products and Strategies”

I have been the author and the subject of many news, client bulletins, and trade journal articles. The examples below are illustrative.

  • Philadelphia Business Journal, (July 26, 2022), "Personal Loss Brings Rainmaking Lawyer Out of Retirement to Open Local Office for Scranton Firm," by Jeff Blumenthal. 

  • "SEC Seeks to Bring Down Ponzi Scheme Selling Life Settlements," Client Alert, by Stephen C. Baker, Katherine l. Villanueva, and Nolan B. Tully, November 17, 2015.

  • "Seventh Circuit Slams STOLI Scheme, Permits Insurer to Retain Premiums and Recover Fees," Client Alert, by Stephen C. Baker, Jason P. Gosselin and Katherine L. Villanueva, October 28, 2015.

  • "Convictions of Life Insurance Producers for Mail and Wire Fraud Result in Lengthy Sentences and Millions in Restitution," Client Alert by Stephen C. Baker, Katherine L. Villanueva, and Nolan B. Tully, August 1, 2014. 

  • "Texas Court Departs from Previous Decisions: Investment in Life Settlements are Securities," Client Alert by Stephen C. Baker, Katherine L. Villanueva, and Nolan B. Tully, August 8, 2013.

  • "Life Settlement Investors Sue Auditor," Client Alert by Stephen C. Baker, Katherine L. Villanueva, and Nolan B. Tully, August 21, 2013.

  • "Pension Factoring Alert," Client Alert by Timothy J. O’Driscoll and Stephen C. Baker, December 19, 2012.

  • The Legal Intelligencer, (January 9, 2007) "Drinker Biddle Makes Changes to Reflect Post-Merger Identity," by Gina Passarella.

  • The Legal Intelligencer, (February 14, 2005), "Making the Move: Harder and More Rewarding Than Imagined," by Stephen C. Baker.

  • The Legal Intelligencer, (January 28, 2002), "Top Lateral Hires," by Jeff Blumenthal.

  • The Legal Intelligencer, (June 6, 2001), "Drinker Snares Insurance Litigation Group: Stradley Ronon Loses 3 Partners, 10 Lawyers," by Jeff Blumenthal.

  • The Legal Intelligencer, (August 4, 1993), "Jury Awards $2.4 Million Over Contract: Medical Supply Firm Wins Case," by Shannon Duffy.