Who We Are
Encouraged by the federal tax code since 1983, structured settlements provide strong financial security to victims of physical injuries and their families. Using a tailored stream of payments, a structured settlement provides a long-term payment stream that is completely exempt from state and federal income taxes.
Founded in 1984, the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA) represents nearly 1,200 licensed consultants, attorneys, insurance companies, and other professionals who work with accident survivors and their dependents.
Eric Vaughn
Executive Director
Eric Vaughn joined NSSTA as Director of Government Affairs in 2001 and has previously served on the White House Domestic Policy Council and the National Security Council. He also served in senior policy positions with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
A longtime veteran of Capitol Hill, Eric has worked for the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. After his Congressional service, he became president of the Renewable Fuels Association, the national ethanol and bio-fuels industry trade association.
He has a Masters Degree in International Economics from the Maxwell School of Public Policy and International Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Sciences Degree from Alfred University.
John Stanton
General Counsel
John Stanton is a partner at Hogan Lovells, successor firm to Hogan & Hartson, where he practices in the area of federal income taxation, with emphasis on legislative matters, regulatory issues, and controversy proceedings. He has served as NSSTA’s general counsel for more than 20 years.
During his service as lobbyist and counsel, John successfully sought tax changes broadening the use of structured settlements and facilitating their use to resolve workers compensation claims. He also successfully sought the retention of current law treatment of derivative claims for physical injury tort damages.
His court admissions include the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, and the U.S. Tax Court.
Peter Arnold
Deputy Director
A former White House speechwriter and Capitol Hill press secretary, Peter Arnold has handled NSSTA’s marketing and public relations operations since 1996.
Peter's experience includes serving as the executive director and spokesman for several Washington-based lobbying organizations including a high-tech coalition that successfully lobbied for a federal Internet tax moratorium and a cable television coalition that opposed “open access” regulations on broadband service.
He is a cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College.
Media inquiries: Please contact Peter at 703 629 8552.
Craig Ulman
Counsel
A partner at Hogan Lovells, successor firm to Hogan & Hartson, Craig Ulman practices primarily in the commercial area, with particular emphasis on financing transactions, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) issues, and bankruptcy and insolvency matters. He specializes in disputes involving secured financing and creditors' rights issues, including structured financings; bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy workouts and financing; and creditors' rights issues affecting insurance companies, including issues pertaining to structured settlements.
Craig lectures regularly on secured transactions issues, UCC Article 8 and commercial law issues affecting insurance companies. His legal publications include “Transfers of Structured Settlement Payment Rights — What Judges Should Know About Structured Settlement Protection Acts,” ABA Judges’ Journal, Spring 2005.
In his capacity as counsel to the National Structured Settlements Trade Association Craig was the principal drafter of the Model State Structured Settlement Protection Act, the prototype for state structured settlement protection legislation recently enacted in more than 40 states.
