The expansion of the ‘cat’ (catastrophe) bond market and ‘seismic’ changes to the medical malpractice insurance market are among the top 10 predicted highlights of 2018, according to law firm RPC’s Annual Insurance Review. A government-backed scheme will help resolve the problem of GPs leaving practice due to rising insurance premiums. In the ‘cat’ market, drones, satellite imaging and other gadgetry will help the insurance industry write better risks. Overall, technology ‘from the higher risks related to data breaches to the impact of blockchain and driverless ships’ is a common theme of 2018, said Simon Laird, RPC’s global head of insurance.
25 January 2018
Insurers’ predictions for 2018
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Clarke Willmott—Megan Bradbury
Corporate team welcomes paralegal in Southampton
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Howard Kennedy—Paul Moran
London firm strengthens real estate team with partner appointment
Cripps—Radius Law
Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire
NEWS
Pathfinder courts—renamed ‘Child focused courts’—are to be rolled out nationally, following a successful pilot where backlogs halved and cases were resolved up to seven and a half months faster
The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed a £385,000 costs order against a father, in a case that centred on what is required to meet the threshold of ‘reprehensible or unreasonable’ behaviour
Centuries-old burial laws would be overhauled, under Law Commission proposals to address the burgeoning problem of shortage of cemetery space
The government has committed an extra £32m to women’s charities and services tackling addiction, trauma, abuse and homelessness
The Financial Ombudsman is poised for major reform to return it to a simple, impartial dispute resolution service
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