Insurance UK
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Featured
Insurers Brace For Travel Claims After Thomas Cook Fails
The U.K.'s top insurers are watching for a bump in vacation-related claims after Monday's sudden collapse of travel agency Thomas Cook, though industry experts cautioned frustrated travelers to try their credit card company or a government-backed bailout scheme before turning to insurance.
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November 15, 2019
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London
The past week in London has seen Libya's sovereign wealth fund sue Credit Suisse amid a long-running bribery battle, retailer Sports Direct take on its former accountant Grant Thornton, and a host of underwriters file claims against a shipowner and its bank a month after winning a case over a fake pirate attack. Here, Law360 looks at those and other new claims in the U.K.
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November 15, 2019
Insurers Push EU For Access To In-Vehicle Data In 2020
Auto insurers have called on Europe’s policymakers to put measures in place to give businesses in the sector equal access to "real-time" data that drivers generate while on the road.
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November 15, 2019
Co-op Insurance Gets Jan. Trial Date For £130M IBM Case
Tech giant IBM will defend itself against a £130 million ($168 million) breach of contract case brought by Co-op Insurance in a trial that will begin in January, a London judge said Friday.
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November 15, 2019
Amtrust Sued Over Coverage For Repairs To £5M Penthouse
The owners of a £5 million ($6.5 million) penthouse on the edge of Regent's Park in London have sued insurer Amtrust Europe Ltd. for more than £250,000 to recover the cost of fixing up the lodgings after the developer went belly-up.
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November 15, 2019
Insurer Fights Suit Over £95M General Insurance Deal
Insurance group Surestone has hit back at claims that it fleeced a buyer out of £95 million ($122 million) by selling an allegedly worthless company, maintaining that it correctly prepared and represented financial reports on the business.
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November 14, 2019
No Brexit? Then Name A Commissioner, EU Says
The European Commission took steps Thursday toward taking the U.K. to court over its refusal to nominate a new commissioner to serve in Brussels, saying the country still has to live up to its obligations after its exit from the European Union was delayed again in October.
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November 14, 2019
National Authorities Get Guidance On Handling Int'l Insurers
Global insurance regulators on Thursday detailed the first worldwide frameworks aimed at helping national supervisors monitor international insurance groups, a move designed to contribute to financial stability across borders.
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November 14, 2019
Shipper, Coffee Co. Start Talks Over Spoiled Cargo Suit
A judge at a London court has given two food companies until at least January to strike a settlement with shipping giant MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA over a cargo of coffee that spoiled en route to Malaysia.
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November 14, 2019
Broker Denies Liability In Construction Co.'s £1.4M Suit
A U.K. brokerage has hit back against a construction supplier's lawsuit accusing it of underselling insurance on the eve of a fire, telling a London court that coverage was set at the other business' exact specifications.
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November 14, 2019
Pension Watchdog Snares More Execs In Criminal Crackdown
Two company bosses are set to be sentenced after pleading guilty in separate cases to lying about whether they had placed their staff into a workplace savings plan, the pensions watchdog said Thursday.
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November 14, 2019
Australian Insurance Group Buys Lloyd's Broker For £3.4M
An Australian insurance group said it has bought British broker Carroll Insurance Group for approximately £3.4 million ($4.4 million), adding the London company to its U.K. business.
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November 13, 2019
Shipowners Fight Insurers For $41.5M Over Detained Vessel
The owners of a Libyan cargo ship seeking $41.5 million for a vessel that was seized and fraudulently detained by Bulgarian authorities disputed its insurer's claim that the Balkan nation’s actions were simply “court processes” and not an “insured peril.”
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November 13, 2019
No Harm To Halliburton From Arbitrator's Past, Chubb Says
Chubb’s choice of arbitrator in a Deepwater Horizon dispute didn't put Halliburton at a disadvantage, the insurer told the U.K.’s top court on Wednesday in a closely watched case that could clarify the test for apparent bias in arbitration.
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November 13, 2019
Pension Scheme Converts Longevity Swap To £750M Buy-In
The Pension Insurance Corp. has converted an existing longevity swap for the Scottish Hydro-Electric Pension Scheme into a £750 million ($963 million) buy-in, joining a trend among companies seeking to offload pension liabilities.
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November 13, 2019
Halifax Dodges Customer Suit Over PPI Sales
A London court refused Wednesday to revive a customer's claim that lender Halifax wrongly sold her unnecessary payment protection insurance, siding with a financial ombudsman's decision that she would have purchased coverage even if she had been warned about its flaws.
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November 13, 2019
PRA Warns Insurers To Mull Risks To UK Pensioners In France
The Bank of England’s regulatory arm has warned insurers to seek legal advice after France rejected a proposal that would see cross-border insurance claims continue to be paid if the U.K. leaves the European Union without a deal or transition period.
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November 13, 2019
FCA To Apply Levy On Proxy Advisers For Shareholders
The Financial Conduct Authority announced plans Wednesday to force proxy advisers to fork over £5,000 ($6,400) to fund the cost of policing revised European Union investor transparency rules.
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November 13, 2019
Irish Regulator To Investigate Insurance 'Dual Pricing'
Ireland’s central bank has said it will investigate whether insurers are exploiting the loyalty of long-term customers through higher premiums to finance discounted prices for new customers.
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November 13, 2019
UK Insurers Urge Next Gov't To Protect Flood Disaster Fund
British insurance brokers have called on whoever forms the next government to promise to set money aside for protection against floods, as extreme weather washes across the North of England and the December general election looms.
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November 12, 2019
ECB Warns Against Watering Down Bank Capital Rules
European legislators must stand strong in the face of ferocious industry lobbying in favor of watering down incoming global rules aimed at making the financial sector more resilient to market shocks, a banking regulator said Tuesday.
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November 12, 2019
Deepwater Horizon Arbitration Battle Lands At Top UK Court
Oil services company Halliburton told the U.K.’s highest court on Tuesday that the failure by an arbitrator appointed by insurer Chubb to disclose his involvement in multiple proceedings connected to the Deepwater Horizon disaster robbed Halliburton of its right to impartial arbitration.
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November 12, 2019
Middleman Told To Pay Aviva For Selling Stolen Crash Data
A judge in London has ordered a middleman to pay back Aviva after he was fined for selling information on car crashes that was illegally obtained from the insurer.
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November 12, 2019
Gov't-Backed Terror Reinsurer Launches Intelligence Unit
The U.K.’s government-backed terrorism reinsurance fund launched a specialist division on Tuesday to provide intelligence that will help shape pricing for insurers.
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November 12, 2019
Insurer Pushes Back At Gov't Car Crash Damage Suit
Advantage Insurance has resisted claims by the U.K.'s transport ministry that it should pay for repairs to a major road barrier caused by a speeding Mercedes with a policyholder behind the wheel, insisting that proof is needed that the driver’s negligence is to blame.
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November 12, 2019
Insurtech Co. Backed By Swiss Re Becomes Regulated Insurer
An insurance technology business has become the first of its kind in the U.K. to be granted a license to operate as an insurer, offering what is hoped to be a road map for other startups to follow.
Editor's Picks
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The Big Picture: A Look Back At PPI As Deadline Looms
With the Financial Conduct Authority's deadline for consumers to file claims for compensation for missold payment protection insurance fast approaching, the watchdog is set to put a cap on the long-running scandal. Here, Law360 looks back at how the regulatory response unfolded.
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AI, Blockchain Pose Regulatory Issues For Insurtech Firms
The recent explosion in technological innovations designed to streamline the insurance business has raised a host of questions for carriers, including whether they can use artificial intelligence and blockchain in their underwriting and claims handling processes. Here, Law360 looks at three emerging types of insurance technology and the regulatory questions they raise.
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So Far So Good For FCA's Little-Used Settlement Process
Even though the Financial Conduct Authority only used its partial settlement process for the third time in April, attorneys say the system is proving to be a success for individuals and companies facing disciplinary action from the watchdog.
Expert Analysis
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The Evolution Of GDPR Enforcement Across The EU
With the last few months bringing significant fines to major businesses that have breached the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, it is clear that regulators are moving away from the light-touch approach they employed during the transition to the new rules, says James Simpson of Blaser Mills.
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Series
Why I Became A Lawyer: Being There For Families In Trouble
My parents' contentious, drawn-out divorce was one of the worst experiences of my life. But it taught me how to be resilient — and ultimately led me to leave corporate litigation for a career in family law, helping other families during their own difficult times, says Sheryl Seiden of Seiden Family Law.
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3 Ways To Leverage Vulnerability For Lawyer Well-Being
Admitting to imperfection is an elusive construct in the legal industry, but addressing this roadblock by capitalizing on vulnerabilities can increase personal and professional power, says life coach and attorney Julie Krolczyk.
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Zurich Case Brings Clarity To Complex Contempt Proceedings
The U.K. Court of Appeal's recent decision in Zurich v. Romaine provides insight into the meaning of "in the public interest" in the context of bringing contempt proceedings against a party or witness who verifies false claims, says Matt Peacock of Signature Litigation.
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What A No-Deal Brexit Would Mean For Dispute Resolution
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, arbitration may become a more attractive option as a dispute resolution mechanism, as it offers relatively easy enforcement and clauses that could negate some uncertainty caused by Brexit, says Donna Goldsworthy of BDB Pitmans.
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The Problem — And Opportunity — Of Implicit Bias In The Bar
Law firms are beginning to recognize implicit bias as a problem. But too few recognize that it is also an opportunity to broaden our thinking and become better legal problem solvers, says Daniel Karon of Karon LLC.
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Roundup
Pursuing Wellness
In this Expert Analysis series, leaders at some of the law firms that committed to the American Bar Association's 2018 pledge to improve mental health and well-being in the legal industry explain how they put certain elements of the initiative into action.
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Series
Why I Became A Lawyer: Expanding The Meaning Of Diversity
My conservative, Catholic parents never skipped a beat when accepting that I was gay, and encouraged me to follow my dreams wherever they might lead. But I did not expect they would lead to the law, until I met an inspiring college professor, says James Holmes of Clyde & Co.
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2 Perspectives On Navigating The Litigation Funding Process
Paul Martenstyn of Vannin Capital and Daniel Spendlove of Signature Litigation share their top tips on how to get a case funded, drawing from their respective experience as a funder and a lawyer.
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Answers To Key Legal Finance Ethics Questions
While there is discussion in some quarters about new regulations on commercial legal finance, the hands-off approach taken by the majority of courts and legislatures is an implicit recognition that it is already sufficiently regulated, says Danielle Cutrona of Burford Capital.
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Competing Legal Factors Vex Insurance Arbitration Disputes
The Fifth Circuit ruled in May that international arbitration policy trumped state insurance law in McDonnel Group v. Great Lakes Insurance. But the courts have been inconsistent in applying conformity-to-statute clauses, the McCarran-Ferguson Act and a related U.S. treaty in the battle between federal preemption and state reverse preemption, says Gilbert Samberg at Mintz.
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Cannabis Investors Should Beware Money Laundering Risk
Even if marijuana-related businesses are in compliance with local laws, their investors are not free of legal risk so long as cannabis remains a controlled drug in other countries, such as the U.K., say Robert Dalling and Wade Thomson of Jenner & Block.
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Real-Life Lessons For Lawyers From 'Game Of Thrones'
What lessons can the various hands, maesters, council members and other advisers in "Game of Thrones" impart to real-life lawyers? Quite a few, if we assume that the Model Rules of Professional Conduct were adopted by the Seven Kingdoms, says Edward Reich of Dentons.
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UK Firms Should Be Prepared For Government Raids
Recent enforcement activity from the Financial Conduct Authority and other regulators highlight the penalties firms face for procedural breaches, and the value in ensuring that employees are well-equipped to handle unannounced inspections, say James Marshall and Sonja Hainsworth of Bryan Cave.
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Series
Why I Became A Lawyer: Completing The Journey Home
My mother's connection to her Native American heritage had a major influence on my career — my decision to enter the legal profession was driven by the desire to return to my tribal community and help it in any way I could, says Jason Hauter of Akin Gump.