Agenda

This session provides a practical introduction to how professional liability developed, what legally defines a “profession,” and the primary sources of liability professionals face from statute and contract to common law duties. We will explore core insurance concepts including negligence elements, policy structure, claims-made mechanics, underwriting fundamentals, and key coverage considerations that distinguish professional liability from other liability forms. Real-world case studies (US and UK) bring defenses, damages, and policy triggers to life.

For UK practitioners dealing with US or cross-border exposures, this session demystifies the CGL policy’s structure, operation, and legal environment. We will explore how Coverage A and B operate, major exclusions, occurrence triggers, additional insured mechanics, and the role of excess and umbrella policies. Special focus is given to uniquely American doctrines such as the duty to defend, long-tail trigger litigation, and jury-driven awards so participants can better navigate US-based risks.

This session will equip you with the financial literacy needed to assess insureds’ stability and risk profile. We will explore how to interpret balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, identify red flags, understand IFRS vs GAAP context, and apply financial analysis to underwriting decisions, claims strategy, and capacity setting. The focus is on practical use of financials in liability risk evaluation.

This session will provide a step-by-step look at the lifecycle of a professional liability claim under UK claims-made policies. Topics include notification obligations, key coverage dates, reserving, defense management, use of panel counsel, and settlement strategy. The session also examines profession-specific claim nuances (brokers, accountants, design professionals, healthcare, D&O) and contrasts UK claims handling with US practices like the duty to defend and independent counsel rules.

This session provides an overview of how reinsurance supports the professional liability market by expanding capacity, stabilizing results, and providing catastrophe protection. We will explore treaty vs facultative reinsurance, global market structures, regulatory considerations, and how reinsurance agreements function under principles like utmost good faith and follow the fortunes. Through this session, you will gain insight into how reinsurance shapes insurer strategy, pricing, and product availability.

This session will provide a deep dive into D&O liability fundamentals, including directors’ fiduciary duties, sources of corporate liability, securities and derivative actions, and the structure of Side A, B, and C coverage. We will explore indemnification, corporate governance factors, underwriting considerations, and how market cycles influence coverage terms and pricing. This session is ideal for understanding how D&O protects both individuals and the entity.

This session will provide an examination of modern workplace risks driving EPL claims, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour issues, and emerging remote-work exposures. The session reviews governing laws, claim trends, workplace torts, and loss control strategies. By attending this session, you will gain insight into how employment practices, corporate change, and social developments shape EPL underwriting and claims.

This session explains fiduciary liability exposures under the US ERISA framework and how these differ from UK trust and pensions governance. We will explore who qualifies as a fiduciary, key duties, prohibited transactions, and how fiduciary liability policies respond. Coverage structure, exclusions, defense costs, and underwriting factors are discussed, along with how fiduciary risks intersect but should not be confused with D&O and EPL.

This session provides a comprehensive overview of medical malpractice exposures affecting hospitals, physicians, dentists, and allied health professionals. Topics include legal elements of malpractice, industry history, current market trends, claims-made coverage mechanics, rating factors, and key policy provisions. The session also explores evolving risks such as AI, telehealth, EHR issues, and cyber-related healthcare exposures.

This session examines ransomware, social engineering, breach costs, market conditions, and the three pillars of cyber coverage: breach response, first-party, and third-party liability. The session also addresses underwriting, vendor ecosystems, regulatory pressures (e.g., GDPR/CCPA), and emerging coverage challenges in a rapidly evolving risk environment.