AmTrust Title Insurance has announced the expansion of its Energy Team within its National Commercial Division.
The team’s role includes facilitating title insurance transactions for renewable and conventional energy projects, including refineries, LNG facilities and wind and solar farms, along with various other energy related transactions.
These transactions are for some of the largest insured real estate matters in the US.
Lou Canaras will serve as SVP and Underwriter for the Energy Division, responsible for overseeing the team of underwriting, sales and production specialists, including Lynn Babineaux with whom he has worked with for 25 plus years.
Nine others will also be joining AmTrust Title in Houston, with the aim to expand the company’s Energy Division whilst adding to the company’s insurance underwriting and production experience.
Mellissa Atle will serve as Vice President of the Energy Division and will oversee the work of six dedicated Energy Project Coordinators.
Rob Concepcion will serve as Vice President, Business Development, Energy Division. Concepcion relies on his strong renewable energy development background when helping clients get through the many stages of project development.
Jason Gordon, President of AmTrust Title Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AmTrust Financial said: “This extremely knowledgeable and experienced team was added to address some of the most complicated transactions in the real estate industry, with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake per transaction.
“A typical energy project presents complex underwriting issues that can involve thousands of acres with acquisition, easement, mineral estate, access, development and project finance challenges. There is no room for error in the transaction process. This team has successfully insured hundreds of these transactions.”
Steven Napolitano, President of First Nationwide Title Agency, a subsidiary of AmTrust Financial, added: “Lou’s ability to understand and insure complex transactions is well known throughout the energy industry. Mellissa and Rob have led remarkably successful careers in the energy space, overseeing operations and sales under Lou and forging one of the largest energy focused groups in the country.”
Randy Elkins, Executive Vice President of First Nationwide Title Agency’s Texas operations noted: “We have been searching for additional expertise and bandwidth to specifically address our growing client list of energy companies, developers, lenders and tax equity purchasers.” Citing the activity in both conventional and renewable energy projects and their unique needs for title insurance coverage, Elkins said, “We’ve added the most respected experts in the space.”
