Transact with
confidence

Innovative Risk Advisors

Birch Risk Advisors is a leading independent insurance advisory firm providing innovative risk solutions for complex transactional, tax and litigation risks.

Our team of experienced tax attorneys, investment bankers and risk mitigation specialists leverage their deep expertise in executing comprehensive risk transfers across the global specialty insurance markets.

Expert Solutions

Tailored insurance and advisory services for high-stakes financial transactions

Tax Insurance

Transfer uncertain tax exposure to top-rated insurance carriers, inside and outside of M&A Transactions.

Tax Credit Transfer

Navigate the intricate market of renewable energy tax credits, from sourcing to deal closure.

R&W Insurance

Protect against financial loss resulting from breaches of seller representations and warranties.

Contingent Risk Insurance

Mitigate legal and judgment risks arising from litigation, including judgment preservation and successor liability.

Trusted Advice in a Complex World

With an international client roster, we deliver bespoke insurance solutions for unique transactional risks.

100+

years of combined tax advisory experience

$10B+

transactional risk executed

300+

satisfied clients
 globally

*including prior to Birch formation

Our Team

Leveraging unrivaled deal expertise and unparalleled industry relationships

Steve Bunson

Advisory Director

Steve Bunson is an Advisory Director at Birch Risk Advisors, with particular expertise advising clients on both structuring and global tax risks. 

Prior to Birch, Steve was a Partner at Goldman Sachs where he served as Global Head of Tax from 2000 until 2020. Steve has nearly 40 years of experience overseeing financial statement tax preparation, tax legislation lobbying, structured products tax advisory, international tax planning, IRS controversy and effective tax rate management.

Steve serves on the Board of Trustees at Brandeis University. He was formerly Chair of the Wall Street Tax Association and the Federal Tax Committee of the Securities Industry Association, a board member at the Advisory Council of the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University, and a board member at the Goldman Sachs Trust Company.

Steve holds a BA in Economics from Brandeis University, and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University.

Barry Sklar

Partner

Barry Sklar is a Partner at Birch Risk Advisors, with a focus on advising clients on structured transactions and renewable energy risks.

Previous to Birch, Barry was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs serving as U.S. Head of Structured Investing from 2007 until 2023. At Goldman Sachs, he managed a team that optimized firm-wide investing, lending and treasury activities for tax, regulatory capital and financial accounting purposes. In this capacity, he employed tax risk insurance as a risk mitigant.

A former tax attorney and investment banker, Barry leverages 30 years of developing efficient strategies to the structuring of comprehensive insurance solutions for global financial risks.

Barry received a BA in Economics and Mathematics from Columbia University, a JD from Columbia Law School, and an LLM in Tax from New York University Law School.

Sheldon Elefant

Partner

Sheldon Elefant is a Partner at Birch Risk Advisors, where he develops and executes specialty insurance structures for unique transactional risks.

Prior to Birch, Sheldon served as U.S. Head of Tax Insurance at Willis Towers Watson. A pioneer of specialty insurance, Sheldon has advised underwriters and clients since the inception of transactional risk insurance, and is continually sought by industry advisors for his creative risk transfer expertise.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Sheldon also practiced as an M&A tax attorney for nearly 20 years, most recently with Norton Rose Fulbright, where he regularly worked with private equity sponsors on strategic transactions worldwide and advised financial sponsors and developers operating in the renewable energy space.

Sheldon received a BS in Accounting from Touro University, a JD from Brooklyn Law School and an LLM in Tax from New York University Law School.

David Danesh

Partner

David Danesh is a Partner at Birch Risk Advisors, where he sources, negotiates, and structures specialty insurance solutions globally. 

Before Birch, David was a lead tax attorney-broker at Alliant Insurance, and practiced as a federal and state tax attorney at Goldman Sachs, McDermott Will & Emery, and TD Bank.

David has advised on billions of dollars worth of transactional risk insurance coverage for M&A transactions, corporate reorganizations, tax qualifications, tax controversy, tax credits, and other financial risks. His specialty insurance clients have included Fortune 500 companies, investment banks, private equity & sovereign wealth funds, and high-net-worth individuals.

David holds a BS in Business Management from Yeshiva University, Sy Syms School of Business, and a JD from Yeshiva University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Troy Lauterbach

Renewable Energy Advisor

Troy Lauterbach is a Renewable Energy Advisor at Birch Risk Advisors, where he advises renewable energy and power developers on optimizing their renewable energy tax investments and financing structures, and associated project finance matters.

Before Birch, Troy served as Chief Executive Officer & President at NovaSource Power Services, the global leader in solar and storage services provider for renewable energy assets, where he led over 1,500 employees in 10 countries.

A recognized leader and veteran of the renewable energy industry, Troy has particular expertise in the construction and operational lifecycle of renewable assets. Troy enjoys interfacing with sustainable energy owners and operators in developing solutions to emerging challenges in their businesses.

Troy received his BS in Computer Science from Oklahoma Christian University, and an MBA in Business Administration from Colorado State University.

Birch Risk Advisors

Copyright © 2023 Birch Risk Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.