Opinion
Pre-action protocol becomes compulsory in Scotland
Those of us who represent defenders in personal injury litigation in Scotland have long bemoaned the lack of a compulsory pre-action protocol. The voluntary pre-action protocol came into force in Scotland on 1 January 2006, but the title gives the game…
Editor's Comment: Shout out to the start-ups
Several times in my life I've stopped and taken stock and upon realising things weren't quite as they should be, I've chosen a new path.
Articulating terror risks with construction policies
As the areas affected by war and terrorism expand, the number of risks seeking insurance in those regions is increasing.
QBE's Richard Pryce on why the insurance industry must seek certainty on Brexit
We all planned for it but it’s fair to say that few among us believed we would actually have to execute our Brexit contingency strategies.
Aston Scott's Peter Blanc on challenging assumptions on client needs
What brokers believe clients want can be far from the reality
Why the government was aiming its arrows in the wrong direction on whiplash
News broke recently that the Ministry of Justice has no appetite to go ahead with proposed whiplash reforms at the moment.
Bluefin's Kenny Hogg on why drones can't replace human contact
In the uniquely information-obsessed world we now inhabit, the personal transactional nature of an insurance broker has never been more in the spotlight.
LV's Steve Treloar on why the commercial lines market must decide on its future direction
The commercial lines market finds itself at a crossroads: does it stick to the tried and trusted road of face-to-face interaction and relationships or does it follow personal lines down a digital highway?
Legal Update: Use whiplash claims to pilot the Online Court
Keen to modernise the justice system, the government should use whiplash claims to trial the Online Court.
Allianz's Jon Dye on taking a cautious approach to autonomous vehicles
National newspapers ran a story recently on autonomous driving based on research from the University of Michigan. The academics claimed that British drivers would trust autonomous vehicles less than drivers from other countries.
Brexit raises health and safety law questions
Some health and safety rules might come under review after Brexit but excessive deregulation could have an impact on fatalities and insurance premiums.
Perkins Slade's Richard Doubleday on insuring the future Team GB
As an avid armchair sports fan I spent most August evenings sitting on the edge of said chair cheering Team GB on as they ran, swam, pedalled and penalty shuffled their way to a record 67 medals.
Lloyds' Bill Cooper on why M&A is looking more attractive despite Brexit
As the dust settles on the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, some of the initial predictions about the impact of 'Brexit’ on mergers and acquisitions activity in the insurance market appear unfounded.
Brodies' Elena Fry on why legislation could open the door to a new category of child abuse legacy claims
On 6 September 2016, the Scottish government announced its legislative programme for 2016/17.
Top 100 UK Insurers 2016
How have the top 100 insurers fared over the past year? What have been the highs and lows faced by the market?
Editor's Comment: What would AI make of insurance?
At a recent Claims Club meeting I was introduced to IBM’s Watson, an artificial intelligence technology platform that uses natural language processing and machine learning to reveal insights from large amounts of unstructured data, and it got me thinking.
The Hanjin insolvency and its insurance implications for the logistics market
Four weeks into the insolvency of Hanjin Shipping, the movement of billions of dollars of container cargoes on board Hanjin vessels, or stuck in port container yards, remains in limbo while the logistics chain - traders, freight forwarders and carriers -…
Zurich's David Roberts on why risk never sleeps
Interconnected threats call for new skills beyond insurance procurement
Why the government's proposed limitations and banning of whiplash are a mistake
Headlines continue to scream out - compensation culture, crash-for-cash, ambulance-chasing lawyers.
Brightside's Mark Cliff on how apprenticeships will help UK insurance retain its world-class position
Brightside launched its first apprenticeships programme in September this year. Four bright young students from the Bristol area have signed on for a one-year course, where they will aim to achieve Chartered Insurance Institute status and complete an NVQ…
Liberty's Kadidja Sinz on why opportunity, not politics, is keeping Europe front of mind
Opportunity, not politics, has kept Europe front of mind for most businesses in 2016 as many companies are increasingly multi-national and have offices and ambitions across the continent.
Fair presentation for MGAs important for Insurance Act
The issue of transparency was a discussion point at the Managing General Agent's Association annual conference in July. As a watch word for the industry, it can, of course, mean different things to different people.
XL Catlin's Simon Cook on the role of reinsurers in cyber
Data breaches, ransomware attacks and social media scams are all making the headlines and are the stuff of nightmares for risk managers. It’s not surprising then that the insurance industry has been occupied with trying to develop solutions that respond…
Rising Star: Mike Boast, Smithers Purslow
Mike Boast joined structural engineers and chartered building surveyors straight from Nottingham Trent University.