Learn more about who we are, our team of experts, and our story.

Who we are

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Independence:

  • -Serve solely as an extension of and fiduciary to clients

  • -Sound opinions with no third-party financial influence or conflict

  • -Strong safeguards against bias, providing clients the advantage of sound decision making

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Deep Domain Expertise:

  • -Proven expertise across a spectrum of industry sectors, transaction and risk types

  • -Decades of experience advising management teams

  • -Highly skilled at unearthing and addressing complex issues that impact value

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Unparalleled Market Access:

  • -Demonstrated market makers

  • -Trusted relationships with carriers, brokers, forensic claims adjusters and other insurance professionals globally

  • -Strategic partnerships with legal, loss valuation and claims advisors, and financial restructuring experts

CRS has created a value system that defines how we operate and represent our clients. This shared value system informs all of our engagements, and how we navigate and access our partners for the benefit of our clients. We honor our commitments to our clients building trust, enhancing credibility and broadening opportunities. These values and commitments differentiate us in the following ways:

Effort:

We focus the entirety of our resources into every client engagement; delivering a multiple ROI comprised of coverage enhancements, expense reduction and collateral mitigation, impacting the total cost of risk.

Transparency:

We provide clarity to our clients, neutralizing politics that cloud traditional insurance transactions. We create trust, accountability and open communication for informed decision-making.

Honesty:

We are open and realistic about options and results with our clients, regardless of the ultimate outcome. Our decades of experience reinforces the age old adage: “honesty is the best policy".

Collaboration:

We adhere to principles of cooperation in our interactions with clients and partners. Our culture of collaborative leadership enables us to achieve optimal outcomes for our clients.

Our team

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Joseph F. Coughlin

CEO & Founder

Joseph F. Coughlin

CEO & Founder

Joe has over 30 years of experience in the consulting, advisory, underwriting and brokerage segments of the insurance industry. Over that time he has originated thousands of engagements and provided services for many of the largest and most intricate transactions within the private equity and distressed debt markets.

Before forming CRS in March of 2002, Joe served as President of JFC Consulting, Inc., the first truly innovative risk advisor to the sponsored alternative capital space. From 1985 until its sale in 2000 he aggregated the largest centralized block of private equity insurance buying power in the industry.

During the past 30+ years he has been an active investor in a number of private equity and venture capital partnerships. He has also been an active individual investor and board member in a host of start-up companies. He has continually served on not-for-profit boards and currently sits on the board of Vault Insurance company and the Westchester-Putnam Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was formally a member of the University of Hartford board of regents for nine years.

Joe graduated from the University of Hartford and is an Eagle Scout.

“Over the years I have had a blast meeting and helping some of the smartest people on the planet solve problems and explore opportunities. I can’t help but feel like Forrest Gump at times. The right place, the right time with the right people. Thank you to all for being along on the ride. It’s been a good one!”

Office: 212.686.4111

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Kimberly Patlis Walsh

President & Managing Director

Kimberly Patlis Walsh

President & Managing Director

Kimberly brings over 20 years of insurance underwriting, program structuring, and multinational client risk advisory representation to her CRS engagements. Prior to joining CRS in 2003, she served as SVP of AIG’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group, structuring insurance, financial and transactional risk solutions to a variety of publicly traded and privately held corporations. Within typical engagements at CRS, Kim focuses on providing sound insurance and operational risk management advice to global investment clients (and their respective portfolio company assets), as well as stand-alone commercial companies and financial institutions from start-ups to the Fortune 10. She also guides clients across the risk continuum as they navigate corporate transactions and M&A, recapitalizations, bankruptcies and other non-traditional risk finance situations.

She is a member of RIMS, PLUS and ACG. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany.

Office: 212.686.4111

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James P. Fay

Managing Director

James P. Fay

Managing Director

Jim has served large, global, complex risk management clients for more than 36 years and leads the Transaction Advisory Practice within CRS, which focuses on the operational, financial and contractual risk management elements that may impact the enterprise value of a deal. This would include the consideration of a wide variety of transactional risk solutions, such as Reps & Warranties, Tax Indemnity and Litigation Risk Transfer coverages, as well as mitigation strategies around corporate guarantees and collateral posted to sureties, insurers and governmental agencies. Jim also leads the Stewardship teams for clients with unique product liability exposures (football, hockey, baseball, cycling, skiing and motorcycles) and personally serves as the lead advisor to global clients in the power, utility, marine terminal, midstream, infrastructure, construction, transportation and manufacturing sectors.

Jim has developed a unique expertise in bankruptcies and restructuring projects, which began with our introduction into Chrysler and GM by outside counsel and President Obama’s Auto Task Force. After emergence, Jim continued to serve as risk management advisor to Motor Liquidation Company (old GM) during the wind down. Our other restructuring projects have included YRC, Eastman Kodak, General Maritime, Bally Total Fitness, MGM, Schutt Sports, Cooper Standard Automotive, Bavaria Yachts, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Muzak, Wind Hellas and other large global projects.

Prior to joining CRS upon formation in 2002, Jim served as the Regional Manager for a global broker’s Strategic Risk Management practice, with oversight and managerial responsibility for the risk management client relationships in 10 regional offices and personally serve as lead advisor for a number of US and UK clients, many of whom owned captive subsidiaries in Guernsey, Bermuda, Barbados and Grand Cayman. He graduated from Florida State University and is a long time member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society. Jim serves on a number of non-profit boards in the Atlanta area, is an avid tennis player, a Master Scuba Diver and happiest at the helm of a charter boat in the Caribbean.

Office: 404.543.5899

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Carolynn A. Burns

Managing Director

Carolynn A. Burns

Managing Director

Carolynn has been with CRS since its inception and has more than 20 years insurance experience in the property and casualty insurance arena. She is involved in all aspects of the business from initial engagement, relationship management with our investment fund clients, coverage evaluation and analysis of the fund’s exposures and their portfolio company investments, with a concentration in the management, professional and executive lines.  She has deep domain expertise in coverage analytics and understanding the unique nuances of policy wording and complex claim negotiations. She also oversees and manages portfolio company programs, focused on manuscript coverage enhancements and pricing leverage. In addition, she is actively involved in special project management such as insurance audits and cross portfolio strategies and solutions.

Prior to joining CRS, she held various positions within a retail brokerage firm where she specialized exclusively in Management Liability protection (D&O, General Partnership /Fund Coverage, E&O, Employment Practices and Fiduciary). Her experience spans alternative investment fund coverage, as well as corporate (both private and public companies), ranging from start-ups to the Fortune 50.

 

Carolynn is active within the private Equity, hedge fund and venture community and is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS). She is also involved with the Risk & Insurance Management Society (RIMS), High Water Woman, a not for profit organization dedicated to women in the financial services arena and the MFA.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University and a property & casualty insurance license.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Brian M. Warren

Chief Operating Officer

Brian M. Warren

Chief Operating Officer

Brian joined CRS in July of 2014 and has nearly a decade of experience as a finance and operations professional. Throughout his career, Brian has led strategic initiatives focused on leveraging data and processes to drive efficiencies, effectuate organizational change and grow revenue across many business disciplines including: accounting, finance, operations, marketing, human resources and IT.

Prior to CRS, Brian served as Controller and Assistant Controller for a startup public REIT and as Accounting Associate for a boutique real estate investment and development firm.

Brian is a graduate of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, where he earned both an MBA and MS in Business Analytics, as well as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his Bachelor’s.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Michael F. Gallagher

Senior Vice President & General Counsel

Michael F. Gallagher

Senior Vice President & General Counsel

Michael is an attorney and advisor with broad, hands-on experience enhancing business outcomes for CRS’s clients. At CRS, Michael works on internal corporate matters, as well as client engagements, including analysis of clients’ risk exposures, insurance coverage, and advice on claims advocacy and enterprise risk issues. He also works extensively with CRS’s clients on Cyber insurance and risk mitigation initiatives.

Prior to joining CRS, Michael was a member of Katten Muchin Rosenman’s Insurance and Risk Management practice group in New York. Michael was a litigator representing clients across a range of fields, including financial services, banking and real estate, and provided strategic advice and claims management for major corporations, including insurance coverage analysis; enterprise risk analysis; and oversight of outside counsel. He also conducted internal investigations on behalf of clients and represented several clients in complex commercial arbitrations in matters arising in the Middle East, South America and Europe.

Michael holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Fordham University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center, a pediatric medical and educational facility dedicated to the care of medically complex and technology-dependent children.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Nicole M. Katz

Senior Vice President

Nicole M. Katz

Senior Vice President

Nicole Katz has more than 20 years in the insurance industry specializing in large Property & Casualty programs in various industry sectors including manufacturing, retail, hospitality, financial institutions, and professional services firms. At CRS, she leads the overall Stewardship practice and is responsible for the development of strategies around the growth of that business and conversion opportunities post diligence. She also serves as an outsourced risk management advisor for a number of CRS’ large multi-national PE investment fund clients.

Prior to joining CRS, Nicole held various positions within large brokerage firms, and was most recently the Director of Risk Management for The New York Racing Association (NYRA), where she managed all aspects of operational and enterprise risk, as well as claims, safety, loss control and occupational health care services for three New York State horse racing tracks, Belmont, Aqueduct & Saratoga. Prior to her role at NYRA, she served as the Risk Manager for Praxair, Inc., the largest global industrial gas company in North & South America.

Nicole holds a Bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a Master’s of Business Administration, with a focus in International Finance, from Boston College. She continues to remain active on a number of Not-for-Profit Boards of Directors in the New York and CT areas and is the Chair of the Insurance and Risk Management Advisory Committee for her town. Given her family’s love of golf, she recently became a committee member of the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Board of the First Tee of CT.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Thomas Heering

Senior Vice President

Thomas Heering

Senior Vice President

Thomas has more than 18 years of insurance experience in various roles of risk management consulting, brokerage and underwriting.

Prior to joining CRS in February 2008, Thomas served as Vice President of Marsh’s Private Equity and M&A Services, focusing on risk management due diligence analysis for private equity clients including structuring transactional solutions and the implementation of insurance programs. Previously, Thomas was a client executive with Frenkel, a New York brokerage firm, and a casualty underwriter with Allianz Insurance Company in California and Germany, handling for 8 years all aspects of large risk multinational companies.

Thomas holds a JD from Freiburg University School of Law, Germany, and a LLM / Master of Laws from Fordham University School of Law, New York. He is admitted to practice law in New York and Germany and he is fluent in English, German and French.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Kristen Coiro

Vice President

Kristen Coiro

Vice President

Kristen joined CRS in November of 2014. She is a part of the executive/professional team, with a focus on day-to-day stewardship and project management with CRS’ private equity fund clients as well as their portfolio companies. Kristen has a concentration on cross-portfolio oversight, management, soundboard and advocacy specific to Executive Risk and Cyber / E&O coverage lines as well as provides thought leadership and advisement and serves as a Navigant on all risk and insurance related areas. Kristen is also heavily involved in CRS’ transaction services, M&A and special project engagements including but not limited to insurance audits, broker RFPs, insurance due diligence reports and implementation and other project-based engagements.

Kristen graduated from Montclair State University in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Katelyn Everhart

Vice President

Katelyn Everhart

Vice President

Katelyn joined CRS in April 2019, bringing over four years of experience from Aon’s Financial Services Group in New York, where she specialized in placing and negotiating management liability products for financial institutions. At CRS, Katelyn is a key member of the executive/professional team, focusing on daily stewardship and project management for private equity fund clients and their portfolio companies. She also plays a crucial role in the Special Projects vertical, managing insurance audits, broker RFPs, and strategic risk management and due diligence initiatives.

Katelyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Risk Management and Insurance from St. John’s University, where she gained hands-on experience at Munich Re, underwriting large property risks. She recently earned her ARM designation (June 2024) and completed the Women’s Leadership Program at Yale School of Management.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Rae J. McVey

People Operations Manager

Rae J. McVey

People Operations Manager

Rae joined CRS in August of 2019. She is responsible for daily office management and administrative operations. Prior to CRS, Rae provided administrative support for a real estate investment firm in New York City.

Rae earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Arkansas with an emphasis on Psychology, Writing and Art.

Rae earned her SHRM-CP Certification in May 2021.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Giovanni Umattino

Assistant Vice President

Giovanni Umattino

Assistant Vice President

Giovanni joined CRS in August of 2018. He supports CRS’s due diligence, stewardship, and special project engagements with our private equity clients and their respective portfolio companies.

These engagements consist of a wide range of services which include overseeing the insurance renewal process, conducting broker RFPs, performing insurance audits, supporting our clients during a claim, and providing insurance and risk management due diligence for direct investments.

Giovanni graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 2017.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Kari Hunter, MBA

Assistant Vice President

Kari Hunter, MBA

Assistant Vice President

Kari joined CRS as an Analyst in November 2019. She supports CRS’s due diligence, stewardship, and special project engagements with our clients and their respective portfolio companies.

Before joining CRS, Kari was at Orion Resource Partners, specializing in financial risk and due diligence within the private equity sector.
Kari graduated The City College of New York in 2018 with a Bachelor’s in Finance as well as a minor in Math. Kari earned her MBA at Baruch College in 2021.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Angel Song

Assistant Vice President

Angel Song

Assistant Vice President

Angel joined CRS as an Assistant Vice President in 2024. She supports CRS’s due diligence, stewardship, and special project engagements with our clients and their respective portfolio companies. She graduated from the Fox School of Buisness at Temple University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and Insurance. Angel has over 6 years of progressive underwriting experience in commercial property and casualty insurance from working at global insurance carriers – Chubb and Sompo International.

She is actively involved in many professional organizations including Risk and Insurance Management Society, Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association, Captive Insurance Companies Association, InsurTech and Spencer Educational Foundation and has presented topics such as “Captive Insurance Solutions / Utilizing Risk Retention Group” and “Attracting & Keeping Young Talents in the Insurance Industry” at their international conferences. Angel is fluent in Chinese Mandarin, English and conversational in Spanish.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Stephanie Collazo

Marketing Manager

Stephanie Collazo

Marketing Manager

Stephanie joined CRS in January 2021 as a marketing associate for CRS’ sales team. She is responsible for tracking sales research, producing marketing deliverables and maintaining CRS’ client leads via Salesforce. Prior to joining CRS, Stephanie worked for Cushman & Wakefield providing administrative support for a high producing leasing brokerage team.
Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the College of William and Mary. She is currently completing the AIDA designation.

Office: 212.686.4111

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Rosie Sconzo

Senior Analyst

Rosie Sconzo

Senior Analyst

Rosie joined CRS as an Analyst in October 2022. She supports CRS’s due diligence, stewardship, and special project engagements with our clients and their respective portfolio companies.

She graduated from University of Hartford with her Bachelor of Science with a focus in Marketing and minors in Economics and Computer Science in 2021. Rosie acquired her MBA with a specialization or concentration in data analytics in 2022 from Central Connecticut State University.

Office: 212.686.4111

Our Story

Today

CRS is the pre-eminent, independent risk management and insurance advisor, with primary service focus on alternative capital firms, their respective portfolio company investments, as well as stand-alone companies from start-ups to the Fortune 10 (both publicly traded and privately held).

2002

For a variety of reasons, disconnects in the insurance industry and post 9/11 client needs, CRS is founded in 2002.

2000

After 15 successful years in his own advisory business (JFC Consulting), Joe Coughlin sells the business to Aon.

1985

JFC Consulting (Joe Coughlin's Named Firm is founded) dedicated to PE advisory support.

Originated both the first true mandated "property portfolio program" and "D&O portfolio program" within the private equity context in the insurance industry.