Legal
Broker claims debate: Restoring relations
With insurers under-resourced to cope with growing credit-hire volumes, the industry is feeling the strain. Chris Shaw asks how relations can be improved.
Market Watch - Professional indemnity: Cover-all expertise
Emmanuel Kenning takes a whistle-stop tour of the post-recession professional indemnity market to find the transferable skills brokers can learn from specialists in a range of sectors.
Focus - Start-ups: Making your own space
Edward Murray investigates the key considerations involved in establishing a new broker
Dual launches packaged office product
Dual Corporate Risks has announced the launch of a packaged office product as the inaugural product from its new property and casualty division.
Reportage - D&O: Scare tactics
Louise Meeson asks if the recession has highlighted the true benefits of D&O or whether providers and distributors are just using it to frighten business leaders into taking out unnecessary cover
Reportage - solicitors' PI: The domino effect
The much publicised troubles of Quinn and its solicitors' PI book have had a knock-on effect on other providers in the market. Liz McMahon asks what opportunities and responsibilities for brokers now exist.
Your letters: Open letter to the ABI, FSA and FOS
We have it all: human rights, data protection, statutory obligations, regulatory regimes, codes of conduct, corporate governance, rules of engagement, terms of reference, standards for this, standards for that and, ah yes, let's not forget, 'complaints…
MSL policy gets makeover
MSL Legal Expenses has revamped its legal expenses policy for businesses, which provides up to £50,000 financial protection for legal costs per claim.
AIG's insurance operation Chartis maintains operating income while group makes loss
American International Group’s (AIG) general insurance operation Chartis, has reported operating income before net realised capital gains of $955m for Q2 2010 (Q2 2009: $1bn).
RPC research shows FSA resignations up 128% in a year
There has been a 128% leap in the number of staff resigning from the Financial Services Authority in just one year as the government proposes to abolish the regulator, according to city law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain.
Howden appoints law firms to surveyors’ panel
Lloyd’s broker, Howden, has created a panel of law firms to provide a range of legal services to its surveying clients. The panel members are Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, Beale and Company, Weightmans and CMS Cameron McKenna.
E-commerce: Groupama pilots ‘first stand-alone PI cover for SMEs’
Groupama Insurances has expanded its Optima online product range with the pilot launch of what it claims is the first stand-alone professional indemnity (PI) cover for small to medium- sized enterprises (SMEs).
News review: July 2010
A review of July's industry news.
Reportage - online security: Storing online data securely
As the world of e-trading moves on apace, the legal obligations of companies that receive, store and disseminate client information can often be forgotten. Liz McMahon examines the responsibilities brokers have in regards to data
Arag service comes out on top in legal expenses insurer questionnaire
Brokers have voted Arag the best legal expenses insurer (LEI) in terms of overall service in a survey by Insurance Age's sister industry insight unit Insurance 360.
Jackson consultation slated for leaving brokers in dark
Experts have criticised the Government's Jackson review consultation, claiming it has left the industry "in the dark" on key measures.
Autofocus goes into administration.
The credit hire reporting company Autofocus has entered administration.
Hill Dickinson confirms Halliwells acquisition
Hill Dickinson has acquired Halliwells’ Liverpool and Sheffield operations.
BLG scoops Halliwells' insurance partners
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has bolstered its insurance practice with the former Halliwells partners joining the firm in Manchester.
Heath Lambert loses director to Argo International
Argo International has appointed James Russell as underwriter to its professional indemnity (PI) team.
First Assist and Morgan Cole join forces
First Assist has signed a deal with Morgan Cole which it claims makes it the first law firm in Wales with delegated authority to provide after the event (ATE) insurance in commercial cases.
Market watch - commercial motor: Has commercial motor gone flat?
Though the economy continues to be troublesome and commercial motor is still highly competitive with small margins, there are some areas of improvement and growth, writes Fiona Nicolson.
DAS confirms Canadian launch date
DAS UK Group has confirmed that its new Canadian subsidiary, DAS Legal Protection Insurance Company , will start writing business in Ontario on 5 July, followed later this summer in Alberta and British Columbia.