Regulatory/Legislative Year in Review

With over ten years of regulatory and legislative strategy experience, Christopher Bao serves as the Vice President –Regulatory and Legislative Strategy in the Employee Benefits division of Brown & Brown. In his role, Christopher is responsible for researching, analyzing, presenting and advising parties on strategies and best practices for group health plans. He also supports internal colleagues and Brown & Brown customers by reviewing and analyzing both federal and state aws that govern Employee Health and Welfare Benefit plans. These areas include HIPAA, the Affordable Care Act, ERISA and COBRA.

Christopher has experience in employee health and welfare benefits and seven years of litigation experience. Prior to joining Brown & Brown, he worked at a large international insurance brokerage firm in the areas of compliance and Employee Health and Welfare Benefits. Prior to that role, Christopher worked as a litigator in private practice. He joined Brown & Brown in August of 2022. 

Brittany serves as the Associate Vice President of the Regulatory and Legislative Strategy Group in the Employee Benefits Division of Brown & Brown. Brittany assists colleagues and customers in evaluating risk areas and understanding strategies and best practices to comply with federal, state and local regulations affecting employee benefits. She is responsible for providing guidance and presenting on the areas of HIPAA, ERISA, ACA, COBRA, Mental Health Parity, the Internal Revenue Code and a variety of other areas impacting health and welfare group health plans.

Before joining Brown & Brown, Brittany worked at large insurance brokerage firms for nearly ten years providing compliance assistance in a consultative role, as well as conducting over 100 compliance audits and presenting at national seminars. She has supported customers in a wide range of industries including school districts, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, biotech and pharmaceutical. Prior to working in health and welfare compliance, Brittany practiced civil litigation and worked in intellectual property law and licensing for a biosciences company.

Erin serves as an Associate Director of Regulatory & Legislative Strategy, assisting teammates and customers with the application of federal law to employee health and welfare plans. In her role, Erin tracks emerging legislation and regulatory changes, and translates agency guidance on COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, Section 125 and other laws affecting employee benefits into articles and presentations to help employers manage legal compliance.

Erin comes to Brown & Brown with over 15 years of experience in employee health and welfare compliance. Erin previously led the compliance department of a national third-party administrator, serving as HIPAA Privacy Officer and ensuring administrative compliance with laws regulating consumer-directed benefit plans, COBRA and ERISA. She also served on the board of directors for the Employer’s Council on Flexible Compensation, developing best practices alongside other industry leaders and lobbying federal legislators for improvements to tax-advantaged employee benefit plans. Earlier in her career, Erin worked as a compliance attorney for a regional insurance brokerage, providing education and consultation on employee benefits compliance to agents and customers. Erin has also worked in private legal practice and nonprofit leadership.

Matt Gerard is a Senior Compliance Associate on the Regulatory & Legislative Strategy team. In his role, Matt not only develops and articulates information on federal and state rules, regulations and legislation governing employee health and welfare benefit plans but also responds daily to inquiries from teammates and Brown & Brown customers. Matt also contributes articles and guides for teammates and creates and presents compliance presentations for various audiences.

Before joining Brown & Brown, Matt honed his skills as a compliance attorney for ERISA pension and welfare benefit plans for over eight years with a third-party administrator. His extensive experience in this role, doing much of what he presently does for Brown & Brown, underscores his legal knowledge and expertise.

Additionally, Matt worked as an associate attorney for a general practice law firm handling real estate, intellectual property, family law, mediation and litigation. He brought this wealth of experience to Brown & Brown when he joined in December 2024.

As the Regional Employee Benefits Compliance Consultant with Brown & Brown, Peter Strouss provides regulatory and compliance guidance to Employee Benefits teammates and their customers throughout the Southeast region. Since joining Brown & Brown in 2021, Peter has developed extensive experience on a broad range of employee benefits compliance matters, including ERISA, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), COBRA, HIPAA, and related federal regulatory requirements.

Peter began his career with Brown & Brown supporting compliance initiatives for the Fort Lauderdale office before joining the Regulatory & Legislative team in 2026. In his current role, he serves as a trusted compliance resource for more than a dozen offices across the Southeast, helping customers and internal teammates navigate complex employee benefits regulations. He also coordinates regional compliance resources and delivers training and educational programs designed to strengthen compliance knowledge and best practices among Employee Benefits teams. He is an early member of the Regulatory & Legislative Compliance Committee and collaborates nationally with the Regulatory & Legislative Strategy Group Team and Employee Benefits leaders.

A South Florida native, Peter enjoys spending time on the water, enjoying nature, and exploring his passion for music.

With a robust background in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, Barb is a dedicated Employee Benefits Compliance Specialist adept at ensuring organizations adhere to federal and state laws governing employee benefits programs. Barb possesses a comprehensive understanding of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and other relevant regulations, enabling precise interpretation and implementation of compliance strategies.

Barb's expertise includes conducting audits, developing policies and procedures, and providing training to HR teams and employees on compliance matters. Known for a meticulous attention to detail and a proactive approach to compliance challenges, Barb has successfully supported numerous organizations in maintaining compliant and competitive benefits packages while mitigating legal risks.