Structured Settlements in Complex Claims: Integrating MSAs, Special Needs Trusts, and Attorney Fee Deferrals

Mr. Krause is the Principal of Structured LLC, a settlement consulting firm specializing in the resolution of complex casualty, class action, mass tort, captive and commercial insurance claims. He works with attorneys, insurance carriers, self-insured organizations, captive insurance companies, municipalities, corporations and mediators to develop customized settlement and risk transfer solutions that achieve favorable financial and tax outcomes. Mr. Krause's areas of expertise include structured settlement annuities, attorney fee deferral strategies, IRC §468B Qualified Settlement Fund administration, settlement & special needs trusts, government benefits preservation, and the design of settlement distribution strategies for catastrophic injury and high-exposure claims. He has advised on numerous complex settlements, including high-profile mass tort and catastrophic injury matters. Mr. Krause's experience includes consulting on the NFL Concussion Settlement and the Dr. Larry Nassar–Michigan State University Settlement, where he assisted in developing settlement distribution strategies designed to preserve claimants' government benefits eligibility while protecting settlement proceeds through appropriate trust and financial planning techniques.

Mr. Montero is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago and The John Marshall Law School. He was admitted to the Illinois and Florida Bars in 1980 and 1982, respectively. Mr. Montero is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. For over thirty years, he has devoted himself to representing plaintiffs in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases, including traumatic brain injury cases. Mr. Montero has tried over 350 jury trials and 200 non-jury trials during his career. He is recognized in the International Who’s Who of Professionals. Mr. Montero is licensed in both Florida and Illinois. His professional affiliations include the American Bar Association, American Justice Association, The Florida Bar Association, Florida Justice Association, The Illinois Bar Association, Illinois Justice Association, Broward County Bar Association, Broward County Justice Association, Cuban American Bar Association, and Broward County Hispanic Bar Association where he served as president during 2006-2007. Mr. Montero is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which recognizes excellence in advocacy and limits its membership to trial lawyers who have achieved verdicts, awards, or settlements in an amount of $1,000,000.00 or more. He has also been recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate for his special knowledge, skills and proficiency as a civil trial lawyer.