10 New York Life legal leaders
Rachel Schwartz, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Chief Insurance Counsel at New York Life, is one of ten New York Life legal leaders listed here, alongside people who hold associate general counsel, deputy general counsel and practice group head roles at the company. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at New York Life from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Charles Whites, Jr.
LinkedInExperience: Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Head of Product Solutions Practice Group · New York Life
Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Head of Product Solutions Practice Group at New York Life since August 2005, based in Mount Vernon, New York. Charles Whites, Jr. was Corporate Associate (Mergers & Acquisitions) at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (2001–2005) and Electrical Engineering Project Manager at Metropolitan Transportation Authority (1993–2001).
David Chan
LinkedInExperience: Vice President and Associate General Counsel · New York Life Insurance Company
Vice President and Associate General Counsel at New York Life Insurance Company since March 2018, based in New York and tagged at vice president level in legal. David Chan also holds Director Associate General Counsel at New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2007), and was Associate at Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP (2000–2007).
Erica Edman Carrig
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Associate General Counsel · New York Life
Vice President & Associate General Counsel at New York Life since October 2022, based in the New York City area; the profile describes serving as lead counsel at New York Life for areas including Service Experience. Erica Edman Carrig was Associate General Counsel at New York Life (2015–2022), Corporate Counsel, Business Law Department at MetLife (2012–2015) and Senior Associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (2001–2012).
Karen Lamp
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Associate General Counsel · New York Life
Vice President & Associate General Counsel at New York Life, based in New York and tagged at vice president level in legal; the profile headline reads Vice President & Associate General Counsel at New York Life Insurance Company, and the listing gives no start date and no other employer for Karen Lamp.
Kathleen O'Neill
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Associate General Counsel · New York Life
Vice President & Associate General Counsel at New York Life since March 2022, based in New York City. Kathleen O'Neill was Associate General Counsel at New York Life (2014–2022), Associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (2007–2013), Law Clerk to the Honorable Kermit V. Lipez at First Circuit Court Of Appeals (2006–2007) and Assistant Professor of Government at Cornell University (2000–2003).
Paul Goldstein
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Associate General Counsel, ERISA, Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits · New York Life
Vice President & Associate General Counsel, ERISA, Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits at New York Life since October 1996, based in Teaneck, New Jersey; the profile describes serving as Chief ERISA & Benefits Counsel and ERISA Practice Leader, managing New York Life's ERISA attorneys. Paul Goldstein was Counsel, ERISA, Employee Benefits & Exceutive Compensation at Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl (1990–1996).
Peter T Sailor, Esq.
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Group Benefit Solutions · New York Life
Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Group Benefit Solutions at New York Life since April 2024, based in Ocean City, New Jersey; the profile says the role reports directly to the Deputy General Counsel and leads a team of legal professionals. Peter T Sailor, Esq. was Vice President, Group Benefit Solutions Claims Operations (2021–2024) at New York Life and Chief Legal Counsel, Group Insurance at Cigna Healthcare (2020).
Rachel Schwartz
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Chief Insurance Counsel · New York Life
Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Chief Insurance Counsel at New York Life since March 2026, based in New York. Rachel Schwartz was Vice President and Associate General Counsel (2023–2026), Chief of Staff to the General Counsel (2023–2024), Associate General Counsel (2021–2023) and Legal Officer, New York Life Foundation (2020–2022) at New York Life.
Rebecca Strutton
LinkedInExperience: Vice President and Associate General Counsel · New York Life
Vice President and Associate General Counsel at New York Life since July 2016, based in the New York City area; the profile describes serving as Head of International Advisory Practice Team in the Office of General Counsel. Rebecca Strutton was Director and Associate General Counsel at New York Life (2007–2014), Global Legal and Compliance Coordinator at Candriam (2014–2016) and Associate at Freshfields (1999–2007).
Valerie A. Vilsaint
LinkedInExperience: Corporate Vice President & Associate General Counsel · New York Life
Corporate Vice President & Associate General Counsel at New York Life since July 2021, based in New York City; the profile headline reads Corporate Vice President & Associate General Counsel - Technology and describes engaging as lead counsel. Valerie A. Vilsaint was a 2023 LCLD Fellow and Attorney - Director of Contracts at Northwell Health (2016–2021).
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own title, practice area and region are closest to your question, and check the dates on each role. Match scope as well, since a lawyer supporting one business or country and one leading a practice across the company will answer from different vantage points.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What took most of your time in your current legal role, and how did you decide what to handle yourself and what to delegate?
- 02How did you work with business leaders when legal risk and commercial goals pulled in different directions?
- 03What did you carry over from earlier roles that changed how you approach in-house legal work?
Reaching New York Life legal leaders
How can I contact one of these New York Life legal leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: New York Life and New York Life Insurance Company, based on profile data retrieved on October 17, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach New York Life legal leaders?
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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