Section 109-E. Rights and duties of superintendent of insurance as administrator of the fund

The superintendent of insurance may designate
  or appoint a duly authorized representative or representatives to appear
  and defend an insured against a liability  claim  under  the  employer's
  liability  portion  of  the  standard New York workers' compensation and
  employer's liability insurance policy, and to appear and  defend  before
  the  board  any  or  all  claims for compensation or benefits against an
  employer insured by an  insolvent  carrier  or  against  such  insolvent
  carrier.  The  superintendent of insurance shall have, as of the date of
  the insolvency of any carrier, only all the rights and duties which  the
  insurance  carrier  would have had with respect to awards made or claims
  for compensation or benefits filed  or  pending,  or  pending  liability
  claims,  if  it  had  not  become  insolvent.   For the purposes of this
  article the superintendent shall have  power  to  employ  such  counsel,
  clerks  and  assistants  as  may by him be deemed necessary, and to give
  each of such persons such powers to assist him as he may consider wise.