Elizabeth Gates

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
[email protected]
Share

Elizabeth Gates

Partner
“When you live and breathe insurance regulation, you know how to spot what others miss—pathways that protect businesses today and unlock opportunity for tomorrow.”

Elizabeth Gates is a highly respected insurance lawyer, with nearly 35 years of experience guiding clients through complex regulatory frameworks. She represents insurers, HMOs, producers, and other insurance-adjacent businesses operating under the oversight of state departments of insurance.

With a national practice, Elizabeth handles everything from licensing, holding company filings, and approvals tied to mergers and acquisitions to compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act and other evolving regulatory regimes. Her counsel spans rate filings, administrative challenges, privacy disclosures, and product development—always with an eye toward helping clients meet regulatory requirements while pursuing innovation and growth.

She regularly defends insurers in multi-state market conduct exams and enforcement actions brought by the California Department of Insurance. Her work also includes SIU-related matters, appearances at administrative hearings, and advising clients facing CID subpoenas, government data requests, and other inquiries.

Elizabeth’s reputation as a preeminent insurance lawyer is underscored by her recognition by Chambers USA, where she has been ranked annually since 2015.

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Associated Industries

Insurance

Life Sciences

Mining

Real Estate

Associated Practice Areas

Regulatory & Administrative Law

Representative Matters

  • Represented an insurance holding company with more than $16 billion in assets under management in the negotiation and execution of a complex restructuring transaction involving the sale of a controlling interest in a life insurance company, capital support for affiliated insurers, and the use of a captive insurance structure. Guided the client through months of intensive negotiations, helping establish a path toward regulatory approval and closing of a transaction critical to the stabilization and long-term growth of the insurer group.
  • Guided a publicly traded property and casualty insurer through the regulatory approval process for the acquisition of a Louisiana-domiciled insurance company. Advised on regulatory aspects of the transaction, prepared and submitted Form A and related filings, responded to regulator inquiries, participated in a public hearing, and secured approval from the Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance, clearing the final regulatory hurdle to closing.
  • Represented insurers in multiple California market conduct examinations involving rating, underwriting, and claims-handling practices. Advised clients throughout the examination process, coordinated responses to regulator requests, and worked with insurance regulators to resolve compliance and operational issues.
  • Represented an insurance industry client in obtaining approval of a Form A application before the Illinois Department of Insurance in connection with the acquisition of control of an insurance company. Managed the regulatory approval process, including preparation of filings, responses to regulatory inquiries, and coordination with regulators in states where the company was licensed.
  • Serve as outside general counsel to multiple California-domiciled insurance companies, advising on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, transactional matters, policy and operational issues, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Advised on the formation and licensing of a California underwritten title insurance company, including corporate structuring, regulatory filings, licensing requirements, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Represented insurers in regulatory enforcement actions arising from market conduct examination findings and consumer complaints. Defended clients in administrative proceedings before the California Office of Administrative Hearings and in related writ proceedings, advising on regulatory strategy, compliance issues, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Prepared an amicus brief on behalf of an insurance trade association in support of the California FAIR Plan Association in appellate litigation challenging whether the California Insurance Commissioner could require the FAIR Plan—the state’s insurer of last resort—to offer liability coverages as part of “basic property insurance.” The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court, holding that the governing statutory scheme limits the FAIR Plan to first-party property coverage. The decision reflected key arguments advanced in the amicus brief, including that private-market capacity exists for the liability coverages at issue.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California

Professional Affiliations

  • Federation of Regulatory Counsel (FORC)
  • Association of Life Insurance Counsel (ALIC)
  • Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP)
Education
  • UC College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D.
  • Williams College, B.A. (cum laude)

Recognition

  • Chambers Ranked, Insurance: Insurer (Band 4)

Insights & News

Media Mentions / January 23, 2026

Top LA Fire Issues Implicated In Trio Of New Insurance Bills

Law360

Media Mentions / November 6, 2025

Calif. Insurer Solvency Rule Draws Mixed Reactions On Reach

Law360

Media Mentions / October 22, 2025

California’s Cost-Sharing Plan Could Reshape Who Pays for Climate Disasters

Insurance Business

Articles / August 29, 2025

Viewpoint: Earthquake Insurance and Surplus Lines: Clarifying a Legal Grey Zone

Insurance Journal

Media Mentions / July 9, 2025

State Farm Investigation In Calif. Spotlights Adjuster Issues

Law360 Insurance Authority

Headlines / June 10, 2025

M&R Ranked & Recognized by Chambers USA 2025

Chambers USA

Articles / April 23, 2025

Viewpoint: California’s Latest Insurance Privacy Bill Would Add Layer of Regulation

Insurance Journal

Articles / March 14, 2025

California’s Push to Address the Property Insurance Crisis

Federation of Regulatory Counsel

Media Mentions / January 18, 2025

Top Climate Stories For Insurance Attys To Watch In 2025

Law360

Media Mentions / October 4, 2024

What the End of the Chevron Deference Could Mean for Insurers

Insurance News Net

Articles / July 8, 2024

Big Data, AI and the Rate-Making Revolution Can Mean Intellectual Property Trouble for Rating Organizations

Insurance Journal

Media Mentions / April 5, 2024

Last-Resort Insurers Grapple with Increasing Exposure

Law360

Media Mentions / March 15, 2024

Insurer Climate Info Partnership Ups Federal Monitor’s Role

Law360

Media Mentions / February 15, 2024

Michelman & Robinson Adds Regulatory, Administrative Law Partner

Bloomberg Law

See All Insights Arrow Right

Elizabeth Gates

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
[email protected]
“When you live and breathe insurance regulation, you know how to spot what others miss—pathways that protect businesses today and unlock opportunity for tomorrow.”
Overview

Elizabeth Gates is a highly respected insurance lawyer, with nearly 35 years of experience guiding clients through complex regulatory frameworks. She represents insurers, HMOs, producers, and other insurance-adjacent businesses operating under the oversight of state departments of insurance.

With a national practice, Elizabeth handles everything from licensing, holding company filings, and approvals tied to mergers and acquisitions to compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act and other evolving regulatory regimes. Her counsel spans rate filings, administrative challenges, privacy disclosures, and product development—always with an eye toward helping clients meet regulatory requirements while pursuing innovation and growth.

She regularly defends insurers in multi-state market conduct exams and enforcement actions brought by the California Department of Insurance. Her work also includes SIU-related matters, appearances at administrative hearings, and advising clients facing CID subpoenas, government data requests, and other inquiries.

Elizabeth’s reputation as a preeminent insurance lawyer is underscored by her recognition by Chambers USA, where she has been ranked annually since 2015.

Practice Area

Insurance

Regulatory & Administrative Law

Representative Matters

  • Represented an insurance holding company with more than $16 billion in assets under management in the negotiation and execution of a complex restructuring transaction involving the sale of a controlling interest in a life insurance company, capital support for affiliated insurers, and the use of a captive insurance structure. Guided the client through months of intensive negotiations, helping establish a path toward regulatory approval and closing of a transaction critical to the stabilization and long-term growth of the insurer group.
  • Guided a publicly traded property and casualty insurer through the regulatory approval process for the acquisition of a Louisiana-domiciled insurance company. Advised on regulatory aspects of the transaction, prepared and submitted Form A and related filings, responded to regulator inquiries, participated in a public hearing, and secured approval from the Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance, clearing the final regulatory hurdle to closing.
  • Represented insurers in multiple California market conduct examinations involving rating, underwriting, and claims-handling practices. Advised clients throughout the examination process, coordinated responses to regulator requests, and worked with insurance regulators to resolve compliance and operational issues.
  • Represented an insurance industry client in obtaining approval of a Form A application before the Illinois Department of Insurance in connection with the acquisition of control of an insurance company. Managed the regulatory approval process, including preparation of filings, responses to regulatory inquiries, and coordination with regulators in states where the company was licensed.
  • Serve as outside general counsel to multiple California-domiciled insurance companies, advising on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, transactional matters, policy and operational issues, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Advised on the formation and licensing of a California underwritten title insurance company, including corporate structuring, regulatory filings, licensing requirements, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Represented insurers in regulatory enforcement actions arising from market conduct examination findings and consumer complaints. Defended clients in administrative proceedings before the California Office of Administrative Hearings and in related writ proceedings, advising on regulatory strategy, compliance issues, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Prepared an amicus brief on behalf of an insurance trade association in support of the California FAIR Plan Association in appellate litigation challenging whether the California Insurance Commissioner could require the FAIR Plan—the state’s insurer of last resort—to offer liability coverages as part of “basic property insurance.” The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court, holding that the governing statutory scheme limits the FAIR Plan to first-party property coverage. The decision reflected key arguments advanced in the amicus brief, including that private-market capacity exists for the liability coverages at issue.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Federation of Regulatory Counsel (FORC)
  • Association of Life Insurance Counsel (ALIC)
  • Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP)
Education
  • UC College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D.
  • Williams College, B.A. (cum laude)
Recognition
  • Chambers Ranked, Insurance: Insurer (Band 4)

Elizabeth Gates

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
[email protected]
https://www.mrllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tosaris-Elizabeth-SF.png
“When you live and breathe insurance regulation, you know how to spot what others miss—pathways that protect businesses today and unlock opportunity for tomorrow.”

Overview

Elizabeth Gates is a highly respected insurance lawyer, with nearly 35 years of experience guiding clients through complex regulatory frameworks. She represents insurers, HMOs, producers, and other insurance-adjacent businesses operating under the oversight of state departments of insurance.

With a national practice, Elizabeth handles everything from licensing, holding company filings, and approvals tied to mergers and acquisitions to compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act and other evolving regulatory regimes. Her counsel spans rate filings, administrative challenges, privacy disclosures, and product development—always with an eye toward helping clients meet regulatory requirements while pursuing innovation and growth.

She regularly defends insurers in multi-state market conduct exams and enforcement actions brought by the California Department of Insurance. Her work also includes SIU-related matters, appearances at administrative hearings, and advising clients facing CID subpoenas, government data requests, and other inquiries.

Elizabeth’s reputation as a preeminent insurance lawyer is underscored by her recognition by Chambers USA, where she has been ranked annually since 2015.

Associated Industries

Insurance

Life Sciences

Mining

Associated Practice Areas

Regulatory & Administrative Law

Representative Matters

  • Represented an insurance holding company with more than $16 billion in assets under management in the negotiation and execution of a complex restructuring transaction involving the sale of a controlling interest in a life insurance company, capital support for affiliated insurers, and the use of a captive insurance structure. Guided the client through months of intensive negotiations, helping establish a path toward regulatory approval and closing of a transaction critical to the stabilization and long-term growth of the insurer group.
  • Guided a publicly traded property and casualty insurer through the regulatory approval process for the acquisition of a Louisiana-domiciled insurance company. Advised on regulatory aspects of the transaction, prepared and submitted Form A and related filings, responded to regulator inquiries, participated in a public hearing, and secured approval from the Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance, clearing the final regulatory hurdle to closing.
  • Represented insurers in multiple California market conduct examinations involving rating, underwriting, and claims-handling practices. Advised clients throughout the examination process, coordinated responses to regulator requests, and worked with insurance regulators to resolve compliance and operational issues.
  • Represented an insurance industry client in obtaining approval of a Form A application before the Illinois Department of Insurance in connection with the acquisition of control of an insurance company. Managed the regulatory approval process, including preparation of filings, responses to regulatory inquiries, and coordination with regulators in states where the company was licensed.
  • Serve as outside general counsel to multiple California-domiciled insurance companies, advising on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, transactional matters, policy and operational issues, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Advised on the formation and licensing of a California underwritten title insurance company, including corporate structuring, regulatory filings, licensing requirements, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Represented insurers in regulatory enforcement actions arising from market conduct examination findings and consumer complaints. Defended clients in administrative proceedings before the California Office of Administrative Hearings and in related writ proceedings, advising on regulatory strategy, compliance issues, and interactions with state insurance regulators.
  • Prepared an amicus brief on behalf of an insurance trade association in support of the California FAIR Plan Association in appellate litigation challenging whether the California Insurance Commissioner could require the FAIR Plan—the state’s insurer of last resort—to offer liability coverages as part of “basic property insurance.” The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court, holding that the governing statutory scheme limits the FAIR Plan to first-party property coverage. The decision reflected key arguments advanced in the amicus brief, including that private-market capacity exists for the liability coverages at issue.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Federation of Regulatory Counsel (FORC)
  • Association of Life Insurance Counsel (ALIC)
  • Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP)
Education
  • UC College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D.
  • Williams College, B.A. (cum laude)

Recognition

  • Chambers Ranked, Insurance: Insurer (Band 4)