Jay is the founding partner of JA Walker & Associates, Inc., a law firm specializing in international insurance, re-insurance and finance matters. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia with honors (member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honors Society in Economics) and his law degree Cum Laude from the University of Georgia (member Georgia Law Review).
Jay is a nationally recognized expert on international life insurance and annuities and a frequent speaker on insurance topics. He is a contributing author to the textbook International Life Insurance published by Chancellor Publications and has been actively involved in drafting insurance related legislation for the State of Georgia, Puerto Rico and The Cayman Islands. He is a founding member of the Puerto Rico International Insurers Association (PRIIA).
His global insurance expertise and experience allows Jay to effectively co-ordinate with (Rexach & Picó) the Puerto Rico legal counsel of US Commonwealth Life and other legal, insurance and tax experts at firms used by US Commonwealth Life in the US, Canada, Europe, Israel, Mexico, and Latin American, including Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Ana María H. de Alba is the founder and CEO of the consulting firm CSMB, which she founded in 1997, specializing in risk management, financial research, and corporate strategy. She is also the founder of RiskRator®, the first technology software in the industry that has been created to quantify and assess the AML/CFT risk at the institutional level. Ana Maria is also an instructor and academic advisor to FIBA and is associated as a subject matter consultant with several international intelligence, research, and security firms. Ana María has more than 30 years of experience and professional training in the banking and consulting services industry. As a banking executive she held managerial positions in domestic and international banking at institutions such as SunTrust, Banco Atlántico, International Finance Bank and BICSA (Banco Internacional de Costa Rica.)
As a consultant, she has led multiple projects in financial research, risk management and assessments, due diligence in support of mergers and acquisitions, and evaluation of internal controls primarily related to the prevention of money laundering, and compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, OFAC, and FCPA laws. Ms. de Alba is a recognized and frequent international speaker, exhibiting at international congresses on issues related to the prevention of money laundering and against the financing of terrorism, anti-corruption and bribery, and prevention of fraud and embezzlement of public funds. In addition, as a speaker, he has presented her knowledge in multiple international congresses in the USA, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, and Spain – among other countries.
Ms. de Alba holds a Bachelors' Degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Miami, as well as an MBA in Banking and Finance from Nova Southeastern University. In turn, in the field of AML/CFT she is certified by FATF as an expert country evaluator in "Mutual Evaluation Methodology" and maintains multiple designations and accreditations such as the AMLCA and CPAML certifications of FIBA in partnership with Florida International University (FIU), and CCRS certification (Crypto Currency Risk Specialist) issued by CypherTrace®.
He specializes in cross border transactions, government affairs, and government procurement and contracting. His corporate practice has been focused primarily on insurance and banking regulatory issues and insurance M & A transactions, involving both insurance company and insurance brokerage asset purchase and stock purchase transactions. Mr. Ramirez has also been involved in the organization and authorization of insurers, including the incorporation and organization of the first domestic life reinsurer in Puerto Rico and the incorporation and authorization of the first mutual insurance company in Puerto Rico. He also assists clients in responding to Request for Proposals (RFP) processes, and in their negotiation of contracts with the Government of Puerto Rico.
He holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation from the American Institute of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters, as well as Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations from the Insurance Institute of America. Mr. Ramirez is a past president of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the CPCU Society. Prior to rejoining the Firm, Mr. Ramírez acquired extensive experience in the Property and Casualty insurance field at the Philadelphia offices of General Accident Insurance Co., and American International Group. In the latter, he was responsible for the management of a book of large limits excess and umbrella liability policies, and in developing markets for such products in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.
Mr. Ramírez held the position of General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Caribbean Financial Group Holdings, L.P. (“CFG”), a holding company for several consumer finance companies in Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, and Puerto Rico, and a captive reinsurance company (CFG Insurance Ltd.) in Barbados. During his tenure at CFG, Mr. Ramirez acquired extensive experience in cross border transactions and regulatory issues, including divesting of operations, licensing and regulatory compliance issues, negotiation of financing arrangements, and debt issuance processes. Mr. Ramírez also acted as President of CFG Insurance Ltd., and as such, was involved in the financial and operational oversight of the operation, and the negotiation of treaty reinsurance agreements with credit life, unemployment, and disability insurers in Panama and the United States.
Having served as Deputy Executive Director of the Economic Development and Tourism Department of the Municipality of San Juan under former Mayor Sila M. Calderón, Mr. Ramírez acquired invaluable experience in government affairs and in the building of lobbying coalitions. Mr. Ramirez was involved in the creation of the Consumer Loan Companies Association (FINANCO), an association grouping consumer loan companies operating in Puerto Rico. In representation of FINANCO, he has led lobbying efforts to defeat several bills that would have been harmful to the industry, including attempts to regulate interest rates on small loans. More recently, Mr. Ramirez was instrumental in the creation of the Coalition of Retailers, a lobbying coalition composed of several of the principal national retailers, and has been extensively involved in lobbying involving tax and consumer affairs matters affecting retailers in Puerto Rico. He has also participated in drafting of pivotal legislation, such as the Electronic Transactions Act and the Viatical Settlements Act.
Mr. Ramírez does Pro Bono legal work for the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art. He also does photographic work to document the Museum's collection and for use in publications by the Museum.