The FCA has published a consultation paper (CP20/20) describing its approach to the authorisation of international firms.  In the context of Brexit, the FCA’s comments will be relevant to firms (including insurers and insurance intermediaries) who have established EEA hubs to mitigate the loss of passporting rights, while continuing to conduct some of their activities … Read more

With UK/EU deal negotiations in the balance and a no-deal scenario still possible, a panel of experts from Herbert Smith Freehills, the Financial Conduct Authority and McCann FitzGerald (for the Ireland perspective) will review the current state of play on Brexit and what comes next for the regulation of cross-border financial services. The webinar will take place between 2-3pm on 23 July 2020. Read more

In Niramax Group Ltd v Zurich Insurance Plc [2020] EWHC 535 (Comm) the High Court held it was material to the assessment of a risk under an all risks contactors’ mobile plant policy (the “Policy”) that the insured had failed to disclose the fact that risk requirements concerning a separate buildings policy remained outstanding and that special terms had been imposed. Read more

The PRA and FCA have set out their expectations for UK-regulated firms under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime ("SMCR") in the light of the COVID-19 outbreak. A joint statement from the PRA and FCA applies to dual-regulated firms, while the FCA has published a separate statement for solo-regulated firms. Read more

We are pleased to invite you to our weekly webinar series discussing the business challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak. The third webinar, entitled, ‘People: the challenges being faced’, will be broadcast on 7 April 2020 and will focus on a number of the key issues currently being faced by UK employers, as well as the government support that may be available. The webinar will be chaired by James Palmer, Chair and Senior Partner of Herbert Smith Freehills, who will be joined by expert colleagues who will share their experience and views on these issues.   Read more

The UK Government has published guidance requesting that schools and other educational institutions provide limited care for children whose parents have roles that are critical to the COVID-19 response. This includes parents working in certain financial services roles, including in the insurance sector, that are essential to the functioning of the economy (referred to as … Read more

The updated Insurance section of our Brexit Legal Guide is now available. This provides a useful overview, amongst other things, of whether the end of the transition period: requires incoming EEA (re)insurers and (re)insurance intermediaries to apply for, and obtain, full authorisation for their UK operations; will impact UK firms wishing to conduct activities in other jurisdictions without … Read more

We are pleased to share with you our Insurance and Reinsurance Disputes Annual Review of 2019, published today, which provides an overview and analysis of the key cases and developments affecting those engaged in or with contentious matters in the insurance and reinsurance market. Please click here or on the picture below to access the … Read more