Brett advises insurance companies, underwriters, and public and private companies in corporate, securities, and finance matters. His practice encompasses public and private offerings of securities, compliance with federal and state securities laws, corporate governance, reorganizations, demutualizations, and mergers and acquisitions. Brett has a deep understanding of the complexities involved in IPOs, equity and debt securities offerings, and corporate restructuring.

Brett collaborates closely with bankruptcy lawyers to address corporate and securities issues related to bankruptcy and acquisitions of troubled companies.

Brett is a frequent speaker and lecturer on corporate and securities law topics, including whistleblowing developments under the Dodd-Frank Act and Sarbanes Oxley Act, and the duties of directors and officers to manage entanglement risk. He also speaks on panels at the Ray Garrett Jr. Corporate and Securities Law Institute of Chicago addressing ethics in transaction negotiation and securities offering reform.

• Acted as company counsel in IPOs and other offerings of equity and debt securities, including for Houston International Insurance Group, Ltd.; Vericity, Inc.; State National Companies, Inc.; National General Holdings, Inc.; Old Republic International Corporation; Patriot Risk Management, Inc.; and Ottawa Savings Bancorp, Inc.
• Acted as underwriters’ counsel in numerous IPOs and other public offerings of equity and debt securities, including Imperial Holdings, Inc.; CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd.; AMERISAFE, Inc.; SeaBright Insurance Holdings Inc.; Tower Group, Inc.; Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc.; and RLI Corp.
• Acted as company counsel in the subscription rights demutualization of Members Mutual Holding Company and the related IPO of Vericity, Inc.
• Acted as underwriters’ counsel in the subscription rights demutualization/IPO of Eastern Insurance Holdings, Inc., Mercer Insurance Group, and Old Guard Group.
• Acted as counsel to a standby purchaser in the subscription rights demutualization/IPO of ICC Holdings, Inc.
• Represented public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, sales of assets, and sales of books of insurance business.
• Represented stock and mutual insurance companies, reciprocal inter-insurance exchanges, and mutual holding companies in connection with acquisitions, capital raising, mutual holding company reorganization, and governance matters.
• Acted as company counsel in mutual holding company reorganizations, including Mag Mutual Insurance Company; Fidelity Life Association; Millers First Insurance Company; and First NonProfit Insurance Company.