P. Bruce Wright counsels multinational clients on a variety of tax and insurance law issues including formation of commercial offshore privately and publicly held entities and the development of structured financial products such as securitizations, swaps, options and similar products used as alternatives to conventional risk financing mechanisms such as “rent-a-captives” and “cell companies.”
Bruce focuses his practice on the representation of property and casualty insurance companies, the formation of single parent/group captive insurers, and counseling risk retention groups. He has extensive experience counseling clients on federal income tax issues such as debt or equity characterization, engaging in U.S. trade or business issues, continuity of interest, passive foreign investment company status, controlled foreign corporation status, limitations on the use of net operating losses, cancellation of indebtedness income, consequences of debt modification, original issue discount, federal excise tax and state premium tax on premiums paid to foreign investors.
PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS
- Ranked No. 9 in Captive Review magazine’s “Power 50,” which recognizes the 50 most important figures in the international captive insurance community (2012)
- Recognized as a distinguished benefactor by the Nevada Captive Insurance Association (2011)
- Recipient, 2012 U.S. Captive Outstanding Contribution Award
PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Co-author, “Taxation: Risk Distribution and the Meaning of Harper,” Captive Insurance Company Reports (March 2012)
- Co-author, “Tailor-made Captives,” Captive Review, Latin America Report (2011)
- Co-author, “Proposed Treasury Reg: Series LLCs and Cell Companies," Client Alert (April 2011)
- Co-author, “Captives: Creeping State Tax Reach,” Captive Insurance Company Reports (October 2010)
- Co-author, “Update: FET Applies on a Cascading Basis,” Captive Insurance Company Reports (March 2010)
- Co-author, “Scrutinizing TAM on Partnerships and the True Insured,” Captive Insurance Company Reports (August 2008)
- Co-author, “IRS Guidance: FET Applies on a Cascading Basis,” Captive Insurance Company Reports (May 2008)
- Author, “IRS Weighs in on Cell Captives,” Captive Insurance Company Reports (April 2008)
- Co-author, “Considerations in Forming a Risk Retention Group,” AHRMNY News (Spring 2008)
- Co-author, “Effects of Proposed IRS Regulation on Tax Benefits of Captives,” Risk Financing Perspectives (January 2008)
- Co-author, “The Rules of Insuring Employee Benefits in Captives,” Risk Management (August 2002)
- Co-author, “Purchasing Insurance from Unlicensed Insurers,” Risk Management (August 1998)
- Columnist, Risk Management (June 1980–April 1995)
- Co-author, “Despite IRS Attempts, Captive Wall Remains Intact,” Risk Management (September 1991)
- Co-author, “Enforceability of the Regulatory and Insured v. Insured,” Exclusion in D&O Policies, Bank Risk (April 1991)
- Co-author, “FIRREA Enforcement Provisions,” Bank Risk (September 1990)
- Contributing author, Department of Commerce Report, “The Risk Retention Act — Bane or Blessing?,” Society of CPCU (1989)
- Contributing author, “Risk Financing—A Guide to Insurance Cash Flow,” International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (1987)
- Contributing author, “Essentials of Risk Financing,” Insurance Institute of America (1986)
- Speaker, “Hot Topics for Captives" and "Captive Tax Round Table," World Captive Forum (January 29, 2013)
- Speaker, “Advanced Captive Tax Update,” Vermont Captive Insurance Association (August 2012)
- Speaker, "Captive Hot Topics,” Bermuda Captive Insurance Conference, Southampton, Bermuda (June 6, 2012)
- Speaker, New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner’s Symposium, East Brunswick, NJ (November 30, 2011)
- Speaker, 23rd Annual Federal Bar Association Insurance Tax Seminar, Washington, DC (May 26, 2011)
© 2013 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
Education
CPCU, 1984
CPD, 1984
LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 1974
J.D., cum laude, Brooklyn Law School, 1971
B.S., City University of New York, Brooklyn College, 1967
Bar AdmissionsDistrict of Columbia, New York