Author Info for Woodruff Sawyer

Tracey Heeter Allen

What to Consider When Choosing a Mental Health Solution for Your Employee Benefits Program

Untreated mental health challenges can have a direct impact on how well employees perform at work—and the number of employees affected is rising. In 2021, 48% of employees said their mental health affected their work. That…more

Employee Benefits, Employee Retention, Employees, Health Care Providers, Healthcare

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David Anderson

[Ongoing Program] Risk Management for Your Life Sciences Company: Webinar 2 - AI In Real Life (Science): Exploring Real World Risks and Implications of Using AI in the Life Sciences Industry - July 22nd, 10:00 am PT

From lab to commercialization: Navigate the evolving risks of life science companies - Life science companies face rapidly evolving risks—from navigating insurance needs during early funding stages to understanding…more

Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, C-Suite Executives, Clinical Laboratories, Clinical Trials

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Russell Anderson

What Are Self-Funded Health Plans?

Many employees—and some employers—don’t realize how much companies pay for fully funded health insurance premiums. According to the KFF 2022 Employer Health Benefits Survey, premiums cost an average of $7,911 for single coverage…more

Employee Benefits, Health Insurance, Self-Funded Health Plans

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Joshua Andrews

P&C Looking Ahead Guide for 2025: Experts Expect Stabilized Rates

After years of sustained rate increases, 2025 offers a brighter outlook for commercial insurance buyers. We expect premiums to stabilize or rise modestly, varying by line of business and industry. Increased market competition…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Life Sciences

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Munish Arora

Managing the Impact of Rising Auto Liability Claims Volatility – Part II

Last year, we documented the steady trend of increasing catastrophic auto liability claims since 2012 and explained some of the legal and social factors driving up the cost of these claims. In this article, we present updated…more

Auto Insurance, Bodily Injury, Car Accident, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Sid Bahadkar

Q4 2023 International Benefits Update

In the final quarter of 2023, South Africa issued guidance on the new two-pot retirement system, Peru launched a new holiday starting in 2024, Singapore doubled its paid paternity leave, and Costa Rica reformed its pension…more

Employee Benefits, Employee Contributions, Employer Contributions, Pensions, Retirement

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Camellia Baker

[Ongoing Program] Risk Management for Your Life Sciences Company: Webinar 3 - International Clinical Trials Country Requirements- What You Need To Know - August 12th, 10:00 am PT

From lab to commercialization: Navigate the evolving risks of life science companies - Life science companies face rapidly evolving risks—from navigating insurance needs during early funding stages to understanding…more

Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, C-Suite Executives, Clinical Laboratories, Clinical Trials

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Kristin Beaulieu

[Ongoing Program] Risk Management for Your Life Sciences Company: Webinar 2 - AI In Real Life (Science): Exploring Real World Risks and Implications of Using AI in the Life Sciences Industry - July 22nd, 10:00 am PT

From lab to commercialization: Navigate the evolving risks of life science companies - Life science companies face rapidly evolving risks—from navigating insurance needs during early funding stages to understanding…more

Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, C-Suite Executives, Clinical Laboratories, Clinical Trials

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Anne Belinn

An Industry at Risk: Addressing Mental Health in Construction

Construction occupations have the highest rates of death by suicide 1 and drug overdose 2 in the United States, and it’s increasing. It’s no secret that construction is a tough industry, built by hard-working laborers who put in…more

Construction Industry, Construction Workers, Employee Benefits, Mental Health

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Dan Berry

Transactional Risk in 2023: A Guide to Insurance Trends and Due Diligence

As we move deeper into the 2023 deal landscape, one thing is abundantly clear: Deal flow has experienced a significant slowdown over the last few quarters. According to PWC, private equity deal volume declined 22% during the…more

Acquisitions, Commercial Insurance Policies, Contract Terms, Due Diligence, Mergers

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Arthur Bojan

Claims Cost Transparency: Using Data to Optimize Medical Benefits Costs

How much would you get back in your budget if you could save up to 10% on your medical and Rx benefits costs? Employee benefits are the second largest budget item in employee compensation, with medical benefits consuming the…more

Benefit Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Employer Group Health Plans, Health Insurance, Self-Insured Health Plans

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Nikki Brissette

Hawaii Insurance Division Approves 8.2% Increase in Workers’ Compensation Loss Cost Rates

The National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) recently requested an 11.2% average workers’ compensation (WC) loss cost rate increase for 2022, subject to approval by the Hawaii Insurance Division. After reviewing…more

Construction Industry, Employer Liability Issues, Hawaii, Insurance Industry, Underwriting

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Parker Bunbury

Environmental Liability Insurance versus RWI Environmental Coverage in M&A Transactions

A growing concern in many mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is the potential for environmental risks. Whether you are looking to acquire a manufacturing site or even just a tract of land for future construction, some environmental…more

Acquisitions, Contaminated Properties, Due Diligence, Environmental Liability, Environmental Site Assessment

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Dan Burke

Cyber 101: Understand the Basics of Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber risk has grown demonstrably in frequency and severity in the past 10 years—and, in tandem, the cyber insurance policy has grown in breadth and complexity. This past year, a record number of organizations fell victim to the…more

Business Interruption, Cyber Attacks, Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, Data Breach

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Patrick Cagney

SPAC Sponsor Liability and Insurance Solutions

The SPAC market is finally making a comeback. As we enter a period of the long-awaited SPAC revival, some liability dangers persist. Two common questions that keep being raised by our clients are: How much liability should…more

Corporate Governance, D&O Insurance, Enforcement Actions, Insurance Litigation, Liability

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Ian Campbell

A Win for Contractors in Oregon: New Law Repeals Retainage Escrow Requirements

Oregon contractors and subcontractors now may receive the full amount of their progress payments by posting a specified retainage surety bond with the owner and lender. On March 7, Gov. Tina Kotek signed HB 4006, an…more

Construction Contracts, Construction Industry, Construction Project, Escrow Accounts

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John Canepa, Sr.

Implementing “Highly Protected Risk” Programs Will Lower Property Insurance Costs

“Highly protected risk” (HPR) is an insurance industry term referring to a risk that has been controlled and managed through various measures…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, Commercial Property Owners, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation

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Aaron Casey

How E&O Insurance Supports Fintech Companies

Fintech companies face many potential liabilities. I previously discussed their cybersecurity risks. This time, I’ll focus on the operational risks these companies face due to the heavily regulated nature of the financial…more

Banking Sector, Banks, Cybersecurity, Financial Services Industry, FinTech

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Elena Chen

Nation-State Cyber Attacks and Insurance Response: Revisiting the War Exclusion

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted renewed concerns from many cyber insurance policyholders as to the insurability of nation-state sponsored cyber attacks. In a previous Woodruff Sawyer blog post, we have outlined the…more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Insurance, Cyber Threats, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy

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Bridget Quinn Choi, Esq.

Managing Your Supply Chain Cyber Risk

Most organizations rely on complex supply chains, and that reliance has become a point of vulnerability for cyberattacks. This spring, we have witnessed a large-scale cyberattack on a major British multinational retailer due to…more

Cyber Attacks, Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Ransomware, Risk Assessment

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Jennifer Chung

Critical Compliance Issues for Employee Benefits in 2025

With a new presidential administration in place and various reforms already underway, the landscape of employee benefits compliance is poised for significant changes. To help organizations prepare, Woodruff Sawyer hosted a…more

Affordable Care Act, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor (DOL), Employee Benefits, Executive Orders

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Sean Coady

[Webinar] D&O Insurance Trends Looking Ahead to 2024 - September 26th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

The softening D&O market has continued into 2023, with 91% of our clients experiencing a cost reduction in their renewal in the first half of the year. Self-insured retentions have also continued to fall. The soft market is a…more

Class Action, Contract Renewal, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance, Disclosure Requirements

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Jeff Colby

Medicare Guidance for Employers

More Americans are turning 65 than at any other time our country has ever known. We are now in the era of what is being called Peak 65, but rather than seeing a reduced workforce we’re finding more baby boomers opting to delay…more

Health Care Providers, Health Insurance, Hospitals, Medicare

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Jacob Decker

Crypto Gets a Market Value Nod from FASB

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is close to issuing final guidance for the accounting treatment of crypto assets. FASB will vote on the guidance in the coming weeks, but the most anticipated outcome is that…more

Cryptocurrency, D&O Insurance, Digital Assets, FASB, FinTech

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Dianna Del Collo

Does Your Company Have Foreign Exposure? Here Are Your Insurance Options

Whether your company has physical operations in another country or only engages in international sales, you have what is known in the insurance world as foreign exposure. And that means you should be intentional about how you…more

Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Industry, Liability Insurance, Policy Exclusions

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Emily Dobbins

Open Enrollment Tips for Employers: Steps to Success

Open enrollment can be a hectic time for even the most seasoned HR professionals, but the right mix of organization and communication can take your open enrollment from good to great. More than likely, you are already knee-deep…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Liability Issues, Open Enrollment

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Kristina Dorer

Insurance for Non-Profits: The Crisis Within the Low-Income Housing Crisis

Homelessness in the United States has reached a critical point. A significant contributor? The lack of affordable housing. No state has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing for the lowest-income renters, as…more

Affordable Housing, Commercial Insurance Policies, Housing Market, Insurance Regulations, Landlords

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Todd Dorsey

New Sustainability Laws Will Transform US Manufacturing and Food Processing

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is becoming a key regulatory strategy in sustainability, holding companies accountable for the lifecycle impacts of their products, especially packaging. Governments worldwide, including…more

California, Colorado, Environmental Policies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Manufacturers

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Yelena Dunaevsky

De-SPACs Are Ready to Take Off

With the SPAC market heating up, we are seeing a huge uptick in activity on the SPAC IPO side. All these new SPACs will be searching for great deals in no time, so in this edition of the SPAC Notebook we dive into what is…more

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Initial Public Offering (IPO), Insurance Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Securities Regulation

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Emanuel Enes

Property Loss: Guidelines for Making an Insurance Claim

The recent fires in California had a devastating impact on various communities, with many homeowners losing or facing severe damage to their properties. As residents begin the challenging process of recovery, understanding how…more

California, Homeowners, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Natural Disasters

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Lee Exton

3 Trends Reshaping Pharmacy Benefits Management

In this blog and the webinar linked below, we offer a comprehensive analysis of three critical areas transforming the sector: GLP-1 medications, biosimilars, and PBM transparency. Our analysis covers diabetes and weight loss…more

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Chris Featherstun

The Voluntary Parting Exclusion: What You Need to Know

The US Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 880,000 cybercrime complaints in 2023. Overall financial losses from cybercrime last year reached $12.5 billion, a record-setting year-over-year increase of about…more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Crimes, Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Data Privacy

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Joe Feigenbaum

Protecting Your Revenue with Trade Credit Insurance (TCI)

Why do companies go to such great lengths to insure almost every aspect of their business, but fail to look out for the one component without which they couldn't survive? Companies can't live without revenue, yet less than 5% of…more

Commercial Bankruptcy, Creditors, Debtors, Insurance Industry, Trade Credit

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Michael Ferraro

Looking Ahead: Expert Insights into the 2022 D&O Market

As predicted in last year’s Looking Ahead, D&O insurance rates continued to rise in 2021. However, there are early signs that the market is in transition and that some relief may be on the way. As documented in this year’s…more

Board of Directors, Corporate Governance, Corporate Officers, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance

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Robin Fischer

Ransomware Attacks Continue to Cause More Underwriter Scrutiny

Continued widespread cyber attacks have leaders in just about every industry wary and watchful, and insurance underwriters are no exception. Given the increase in claims from recent ransomware attacks, cyber insurers are…more

Business Interruption, Cyber Attacks, Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, Data Breach

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Lauri Floresca

AI and Insurance: Bridging Innovation and Risk

As AI technologies like ChatGPT and other generative AI tools have gained prominence, our clients have started raising questions about their insurance coverage. Among the most frequently asked are: These questions highlight…more

Artificial Intelligence, Corporate Governance, Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance

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Chad Follmer

MICRA Reform: What It Means for California Healthcare Providers

MICRA, or the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act of 1975, is a California statute that limits the non-economic damages portion of medical malpractice claims with the intent of reducing tort liability for healthcare…more

Health Care Providers, Malpractice Insurance, Medical Malpractice, MICRA, Negligence

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Tyson Freeburg

R&W Insurance: What to Know About Sell-Side Policies

We’ve recently received a handful of inquiries regarding the placement of sell-side reps and warranties insurance (RWI) policies. Given the relative rarity of these policies compared to their buy-side counterparts, we felt a…more

Acquisitions, Contract Terms, Indemnification, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Marie Gallanar

New Sustainability Laws Will Transform US Manufacturing and Food Processing

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is becoming a key regulatory strategy in sustainability, holding companies accountable for the lifecycle impacts of their products, especially packaging. Governments worldwide, including…more

California, Colorado, Environmental Policies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Manufacturers

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Stephen Glazier

The Aging Workforce: Ergonomics, Comorbidities, Lighting, and Strategies for Reducing Claims

The aging of the American workforce is the most important demographic shift impacting businesses today. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census Bureau, and the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and…more

Age Discrimination, Employee Benefits, Employee Rights, Employees, Employer Responsibilities

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Paul Glover

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Scott Goettelman, Esq.

AI in the Healthcare Industry: Balancing Risk and Reward

Are the rewards of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry worth the inherent risks? Whether you find yourself on one side of this issue or on the fence, we encourage you to listen to our recent webinar…more

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Health Care Providers, Machine Learning, Physicians

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Ron Guerena

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Debbie Hammer

Navigating Workers’ Compensation Psych Claims

Workers’ compensation stress claims can be, well, stressful. Both the employee who has filed the claim and the employer who must handle it experience frustrations. Also, stress claims (also called psych claims) are often highly…more

Employer Liability Issues, Workers' Compensation Claim, Workplace Injury, Workplace Safety

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Stacey Hammer

RWI Retention Dropdowns: How They Work and Why They Matter

As a transactional liability brokerage, we place policies including reps and warranties insurance (RWI), tax liability policies, and contingent liability policies. We also oversee claims for these policies. As someone who…more

Contract Terms, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Liability, Policy Terms

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Suzanne Haslam

Employer Cost Saving Strategies for Fully Insured Health Plans

When you have a fully insured health plan, you might think you don’t have a viable way to reduce benefits costs. After all, you can’t access the data analytic insights you would see if you were self-funded. But switching to…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Group Health Plans, Health Insurance, Medical Reimbursement Plans

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Evan Hessel

Strategies for Mitigating Liability Risks in Multifamily Real Estate

The world of multifamily real estate is fraught with unique challenges, especially when it comes to managing liability risks. We spoke with Andrea Ward, SVP and casualty broker at CRC Insurance Group, about the current landscape…more

Insurance Claims, Insurance Rates, Liability, Multi-Family Development, Property Insurance

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Dan Hodges

3 Trends Reshaping Pharmacy Benefits Management

In this blog and the webinar linked below, we offer a comprehensive analysis of three critical areas transforming the sector: GLP-1 medications, biosimilars, and PBM transparency. Our analysis covers diabetes and weight loss…more

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Andrew Holloway

It’s Either Here or Looming: How a Recession Could Impact Your Surety Program

COVID-19 brought uncertainty to the construction and surety industries. Surprisingly and fortunately, both industries have proven resilient in the face of unknowns brought about by the pandemic. Now it’s time to plan for what’s…more

Construction Industry, Economic Downturn, Financial Planning, Market Conditions, Recessions

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Philip Howes

P&C Looking Ahead Guide for 2025: Experts Expect Stabilized Rates

After years of sustained rate increases, 2025 offers a brighter outlook for commercial insurance buyers. We expect premiums to stabilize or rise modestly, varying by line of business and industry. Increased market competition…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Life Sciences

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Doug Huntington

Business Interruption Insurance: Planning for Disaster

No one wants to think about a business interruption loss, let alone plan for it. However, fire claims, water damage claims, and more frequent extreme weather-related disasters have made business interruption (BI) losses more…more

Business Interruption, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Policy Terms

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Priya Cherian Huskins

Guide to Private Company D&O Insurance, 2025

Most private companies operate for years without ever facing a directors & officers (D&O) insurance claim. That’s why the risks can be easy to overlook. But D&O litigation isn’t just about major scandals or headline-making…more

D&O Insurance, Insurance Claims, Insurance Litigation, Private Equity, Risk Management

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Gil Isidro

EPL Update: Ending Forced Arbitration for Claims of Sexual Assault and Harassment

A recent bipartisan bill will change the litigation landscape when it comes to sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. At the same time, employers should be on guard because a recent court decision may have the impact of…more

Arbitration, Arbitration Agreements, Employer Liability Issues, Federal Arbitration Act, Mandatory Arbitration Clauses

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Jon Janes

Managing Through Financial Distress: The Board’s Oversight Role and Protecting Against Litigation

When a public company faces significant financial challenges and uncertainty, the pressure on management teams and boards of directors to make the “right” decisions intensifies. If those financial challenges are not successfully…more

Board of Directors, Commercial Bankruptcy, Corporate Governance, Corporate Restructuring, Creditors

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Hector Jaramillo

The Untapped Potential of Benefits Data Analytics

Woodruff Sawyer’s “Mission to More” series leads you through today’s Benefits news and serves as a guide for everything from competitive programs to compliance. In this blog post, Hector Jaramillo shares the power of using data…more

Analytics, Data Collection, Data Management, Data Privacy, Employee Benefits

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Jeffery John

Examining Electric Vehicle Hazards in Parking Garages

Renewable energies are the key to our sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gases. US automakers and legislators/regulators have been focused on moving from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs) to…more

Electric Vehicles, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Lithium Batteries, Parking Lots

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Drew Johnston

Non-Owned Aircraft Insurance: What You Need to Know

When your company uses non-owned aircraft, such as when chartering a plane or permitting employees to operate owned or rented planes on company business, what do you need to think about? Do you need to do anything to manage this…more

Aircraft, Aviation Industry, Insurance Industry

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Kristina Keck

Pooled Employer Plan: An Efficient Alternative to a Traditional 401(k)

In 2022, less than half (46%) of American households had no savings in retirement accounts. Part of the savings shortfall could be lack of access to retirement programs through work, which is the case for 56 million privately…more

401k, Employee Benefits, Retirement, Retirement Plan

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Lilian Khanjian

Workplace Stress Claims: The Intersection of Workers’ Compensation and Employment Practices

In response to the rise in mental health issues, there has been an increase in legislation to expand eligibility for workers' compensation (WC) benefits. Employees file stress-related claims for various reasons, such as…more

Employer Liability Issues, Employment Discrimination, Hostile Environment, Mental Health, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Thomas Kim

Workers’ Comp for Remote Employees: Here’s What You Need to Know

Much has changed in the two-and-a-half years since March 2020, when most of the country went into lockdown due to COVID-19 and most businesses moved to remote work models. As a result of mass layoffs and employee absences due to…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Going and Coming Rule, Popular, Safety Standards, Workers Compensation Awards

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Brandi Kyle

Medicare Guidance for Employers

More Americans are turning 65 than at any other time our country has ever known. We are now in the era of what is being called Peak 65, but rather than seeing a reduced workforce we’re finding more baby boomers opting to delay…more

Health Care Providers, Health Insurance, Hospitals, Medicare

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Michael Landucci

Construction Insurance Market Update: Rate Consistency for Most Lines

Despite a slowing economy and continuing supply chain issues, rates in most lines of coverage for construction companies are showing signs of stabilization. Even cyber, which had some of the highest increases last year, slowed…more

Construction Industry, Construction Project, Contractors, Insurance Industry

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Sandi Leung

Strategies for Effective Employee Communication and Engagement

In today’s fast-paced work environment, keeping communication clear and engaging with your team is more important than ever. With the increasing complexities brought on by diverse workforces, remote teams, and various…more

Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I), Email, Employee Benefits, Employees, Human Resources Professionals

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Kaitlyn Lillard

Commercial Auto Liability Insurance: Ensuring Coverage in a Hard Market

The auto insurance industry faces significant hurdles. As businesses grapple with rising costs and evolving risks, two key factors are reshaping the claims environment: social inflation and third-party litigation financing…more

Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation

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Jan Lim

Employees Using Their Personal Cars for Work: Which Auto Policy Applies?

Many businesses have employees use their personal cars for work purposes. It may be that they drive their own vehicles routinely for sales calls, or they may occasionally pick up or drop off company mail or handle banking…more

Auto Insurance, Best Practices, Employer Liability Issues, Policy Terms

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Lenin Lopez

Cracks in the Boardroom: Governance Lessons from a High-Profile Public Company Director Exit

Most director resignations are routine affairs, but that was not the case with a recent and very public director resignation. This resignation and others like it may serve as a cautionary tale for any board. In this week’s blog,…more

Board of Directors, Corporate Governance, Disclosure Requirements, Investors, Publicly-Traded Companies

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Jeanna Madlener

P&C Looking Ahead Guide for 2025: Experts Expect Stabilized Rates

After years of sustained rate increases, 2025 offers a brighter outlook for commercial insurance buyers. We expect premiums to stabilize or rise modestly, varying by line of business and industry. Increased market competition…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Life Sciences

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Samuel Magill

Commercial Property Construction Plan Review: Tips for Your Business

New construction is the hallmark of your growing business. But did you know that new building additions and renovations are subject to the same code requirements as your existing infrastructure?…more

Commercial Property Owners, Construction Project, Insurance Litigation, Policy Terms, Property Insurance

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Emily Maier

Analyzing the State of M&A in 2025: Key Survey Insights

At the start of the year, we surveyed M&A lawyers to gather their perspectives on the market dynamics, the year ahead, and the impact of representations and warranties insurance (RWI) on deals. These insights are invaluable for…more

Acquisitions, Artificial Intelligence, Due Diligence, Financial Markets, Geopolitical Risks

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Gary Mann

Crypto Gets a Market Value Nod from FASB

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is close to issuing final guidance for the accounting treatment of crypto assets. FASB will vote on the guidance in the coming weeks, but the most anticipated outcome is that…more

Cryptocurrency, D&O Insurance, Digital Assets, FASB, FinTech

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Heidi Martin

Commercial Auto Liability Insurance: Ensuring Coverage in a Hard Market

The auto insurance industry faces significant hurdles. As businesses grapple with rising costs and evolving risks, two key factors are reshaping the claims environment: social inflation and third-party litigation financing…more

Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation

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Daniel Mattioli

Update: What Medical Liability Reform Means for Healthcare Providers

Almost two years ago, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 35 into law, reforming California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) of 1975. As discussed in this previous blog about MICRA reform, the…more

Health Care Providers, Medical Malpractice, Physicians, Professional Liability

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Mark McEvoy

P&C Looking Ahead Guide for 2025: Experts Expect Stabilized Rates

After years of sustained rate increases, 2025 offers a brighter outlook for commercial insurance buyers. We expect premiums to stabilize or rise modestly, varying by line of business and industry. Increased market competition…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Life Sciences

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Shelley Medeiros

The Voluntary Parting Exclusion: What You Need to Know

The US Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 880,000 cybercrime complaints in 2023. Overall financial losses from cybercrime last year reached $12.5 billion, a record-setting year-over-year increase of about…more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Crimes, Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Data Privacy

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Ryan Meissner

What’s Driving Benefits Renewal Hikes and How Can You Prepare?

With many healthcare renewal costs expected to have significant increases in 2024, some even by 20% or more, employers are facing an uncomfortable decision. How should they adjust employee benefits to accommodate the significant…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employee Benefits, Health Insurance

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Kimberly Michell

Employees Working Abroad: The Insurance Implications

As employers of all sizes expand globally, they must know how to address the global insurance rules, regulations, and best practices. Your company may have operations only in the US, but that doesn’t mean it you don’t have…more

Employer Liability Issues, Insurance Industry, Workplace Injury, Workplace Safety

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Teresa Milano

D&O Risk and Insurance in a Post-Chevron World

To modify an old saying: “Nothing is certain but death, taxes...and corporate opposition to government regulations.” Over the decades, companies and interest groups have frequently challenged government regulations in court—and…more

Administrative Procedure Act, Chevron Deference, D&O Insurance, Insurance Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

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Rachel Miller

Life Sciences Insurance: Navigating Risk from Lab to IPO

In our new webinar series, Risk Management for Your Life Sciences Company, we discuss the insurance and risk management milestones life science companies should prepare for as they move from early funding through clinical…more

Biotechnology, Clinical Trials, Commercial Insurance Policies, Cyber Insurance, D&O Insurance

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Susan Miner

Clawbacks Can’t Touch This: Executives, Protect Your Pay with Clawback Insurance

It’s been a year since the SEC’s compensation clawback rules took effect. Since then, US-listed public companies have implemented compliant compensation clawback policies that require executive officers to pay back compensation…more

Clawbacks, Dodd-Frank, Final Rules, Incentive Compensation, Indemnification

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Kevin Moore

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Donna Moser

Foreign Private Issuers: Time to End the Free Lunch?

Foreign private issuers (FPIs) are non-US companies that are traded on US exchanges. They have access to US capital markets even though FPIs are subject to less-stringent disclosure requirements. A good question to ask is…more

Capital Markets, D&O Insurance, Disclosure Requirements, Foreign Private Issuers, Investors

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John Neuhalfen

The Commercial Insurance Landscape Continues to Evolve: A Q2 2023 Update

The outlook for the commercial lines insurance market remains largely unchanged since the first quarter, with the supply of capital driving pricing behavior in all segments. For the directors and officers (D&O) market, rates…more

Business Interruption, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation

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Walker Newell

Expanding Retail Investor Access to Private Funds: A Spider-Man Problem

Private funds could be facing a Spider-Man problem. Let me explain. Because he was bitten by a radioactive spider, Spider-Man has superpowers. He can jump really high. He can shoot webs from his hands. When his Spidey-Sense…more

Accredited Investors, Disclosure Requirements, Investment Funds, Investment Management, Private Funds

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Leslie Newman

Why You Need a Designated Occupational Clinic

Are you familiar with this scenario? One of your employees has a seemingly minor injury while working. After hitting her hand on the corner of her desk, she decides to visit her primary care doctor through her private medical…more

Employer Liability Issues, Health and Safety, Human Resources Professionals, Labor Regulations, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Aparna Niroola

An Employer’s Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance

Research shows that 70% of Americans may need long-term care at some point in their lives. Although that need is greatest for older adults, anyone at any age may suffer an accident or illness that results in the need for…more

Employee Benefits, Health Care Providers, Health Insurance, Long Term Care Facilities, Long-Term Care

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Jane Njavro

Life Sciences Insurance: Navigating Risk from Lab to IPO

In our new webinar series, Risk Management for Your Life Sciences Company, we discuss the insurance and risk management milestones life science companies should prepare for as they move from early funding through clinical…more

Biotechnology, Clinical Trials, Commercial Insurance Policies, Cyber Insurance, D&O Insurance

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Brian O'Regan

Managing Transactional Risk in 2025: Our Strategy Guide

In Q4 2024, the private equity deal landscape experienced a resurgence, largely driven by the Federal Reserve’s monetary easing policies, which fostered a favorable financing environment. According to EY’s “Private Equity US…more

Acquisitions, Investment, Investors, Mergers, Private Equity

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Rick Ortiz

Global Benefits Landscape: Key Updates Across EMEA

As we move further into 2025, significant changes are on the horizon for employee benefits across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). From increases in national insurance contributions in the UK to landmark pension…more

Compensation & Benefits, Employee Benefits, Health Insurance, International Labor Laws, Labor Reform

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Cheryl Park

Workers’ Compensation Investigations: The Why, When, and How

Workers’ compensation claims are costly and can drag on for years. The average cost of a lost time claim (indemnity and medical only) in California has increased from $54,712 in 2018 to $58,843 in 2021, according to the Workers’…more

Employer Liability Issues, Fraud, Health & Safety Standard, Workers Compensation Awards, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Luke Parsons

Managing Transactional Risk in 2025: Our Strategy Guide

In Q4 2024, the private equity deal landscape experienced a resurgence, largely driven by the Federal Reserve’s monetary easing policies, which fostered a favorable financing environment. According to EY’s “Private Equity US…more

Acquisitions, Investment, Investors, Mergers, Private Equity

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Judith Pearson

Does a Successor Trustee Need Liability Insurance?

A successor trustee is the individual named in a trust document to step in as trustee in the event of the original trustee’s death, incapacitation, or resignation. A successor trustee assumes the role of safeguarding the trust…more

Insurance Industry, Liability Insurance, Successors, Trustees

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Wade Pederson

P&C Looking Ahead Guide for 2025: Experts Expect Stabilized Rates

After years of sustained rate increases, 2025 offers a brighter outlook for commercial insurance buyers. We expect premiums to stabilize or rise modestly, varying by line of business and industry. Increased market competition…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Life Sciences

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Seth Pfalzer

D&O Insurance Trends: Looking Ahead to 2025

In this increasingly litigious and regulatory intense environment, D&O Looking Ahead provides a bridge to help you stay on top of the evolving D&O risk landscape. – Priya Huskins The streak of good news in D&O litigation risk…more

D&O Insurance, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation, Policy Exclusions

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Heidi Phillips

Protecting Employees Abroad: International Insurance Choices

There are a variety of different coverages to consider and choose from when employees travel internationally. We are currently seeing an uptick in situations and receiving questions about matters that used to be rare or even…more

Foreign Workers, Kidnapping, Terrorist Acts, Traveling Employee

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Byron Pogir

Bed Bath & Beyond, Bankruptcy, and Fiduciary Litigation

In September 2023, former employees of Bed Bath & Beyond sued members of the company’s 401(k) committee, the committee responsible for the prudent management of the company’s 401(k) plan. The former employees allege they lost…more

401k, Breach of Duty, Employee Benefits, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Fiduciary Duty

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Carolyn Polikoff

Q1 2025 Commercial Insurance Snapshot: Property Market Continues Downward Trend

The soft market persists across most sectors of commercial insurance. In the property sector, rates continue to decline—a trend we expect to persist as property insurers see strong profits and benefit from decreasing reinsurance…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, Commercial Real Estate Market, Cyber Insurance, D&O Insurance, Property Insurance

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Kathy Prosser

How Your Employee Assistance Program Supports Mental Health

We’re just starting to understand the effects of more than two years of lockdowns, closures, and isolation, but one thing is clear—the mental health of various populations has been severely affected. Whether you have a…more

Employee Assistance Programs, Employee Benefits, Firm Leadership, Health and Safety, Mental Health

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Tiffany Purcell

[Ongoing Program] Risk Management for Your Life Sciences Company: Webinar 3 - International Clinical Trials Country Requirements- What You Need To Know - August 12th, 10:00 am PT

From lab to commercialization: Navigate the evolving risks of life science companies - Life science companies face rapidly evolving risks—from navigating insurance needs during early funding stages to understanding…more

Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, C-Suite Executives, Clinical Laboratories, Clinical Trials

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Paul Quinn

Work-From-Anywhere Culture: Do Your Employees in Other States (or Countries) Have Workers’ Compensation Coverage?

Ask any business owner, Human Resources manager, or hiring placement specialist and they will tell you about the challenges of hiring and retaining employees since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. We have all heard the…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Policies, Hiring & Firing, State Labor Laws

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Stephen Quintana

[Virtual Event] Managing Media Risk in the Age of Social Media Influencers: Risk Mitigation and Insurance Considerations - March 26th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Influencer marketing has become one of the fastest growing trends in marketing, yet it comes with a growing set of media liability claims. In this webinar, we will contextualize some of the legal liability issues in using…more

Influencers, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Marketing, Media Liability Policies

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Megan Rath

Life Sciences IPO Summit: Insurance and Factors That Impact IPO

Experts from the life sciences industry shared their insights on the steps to going public in a virtual summit hosted by Woodruff Sawyer. The Summit featured leaders representing Cooley, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE),…more

Board of Directors, Capital Markets, Corporate Governance, Initial Public Offering (IPO), Joint Venture

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Qiana Redmond

Workers’ Compensation Investigations: The Why, When, and How

Workers’ compensation claims are costly and can drag on for years. The average cost of a lost time claim (indemnity and medical only) in California has increased from $54,712 in 2018 to $58,843 in 2021, according to the Workers’…more

Employer Liability Issues, Fraud, Health & Safety Standard, Workers Compensation Awards, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Mike Ritthaler

P&C Looking Ahead Guide for 2025: Experts Expect Stabilized Rates

After years of sustained rate increases, 2025 offers a brighter outlook for commercial insurance buyers. We expect premiums to stabilize or rise modestly, varying by line of business and industry. Increased market competition…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Life Sciences

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Jeremy Roberts

Environmental Liability Insurance versus RWI Environmental Coverage in M&A Transactions

A growing concern in many mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is the potential for environmental risks. Whether you are looking to acquire a manufacturing site or even just a tract of land for future construction, some environmental…more

Acquisitions, Contaminated Properties, Due Diligence, Environmental Liability, Environmental Site Assessment

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Rebekah Ross

Navigating Provident Fund Systems

Provident funds, or government-administered retirement funds, were introduced as a form of “social protection” to alleviate poverty at the time of retirement. Most social programs at the time did not provide enough to cover…more

Employee Benefits, Employee Contributions, Employer Contributions, Pensions, Retirement

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Chris Scheffler

Five Property Insurance Warning Signs and What to Do About Them

Replacement value is the main factor to consider when purchasing property insurance. However, the Construction, Occupancy, Protection, and Exposure (COPE) features of the building also impact the cost, availability, and terms of…more

Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation, Property Damage, Property Insurance

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Jennifer Schuessler

Fiduciary Duty in the Digital Age: Cybersecurity Best Practices for ERISA Plans

Cybercriminals look for two things when seeking a victim—access and opportunity. ERISA retirement plans offer both. Cybercriminals exploit weaknesses in systems, software, or human behavior to find opportunities for easy access…more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Crimes, Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Data Protection

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Keeley Sidow

What Will 2023 Bring to the Cyber Liability Market? 5 Takeaways from Our Webinar

After two years of volatility, cyber liability prices finally appear to be normalizing due to factors that include a downturn in price increases and a lower frequency of ransomware attacks in 2022—all of which have resulted in…more

California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance, Data Privacy

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Andrew Silva

Taking Stock of SPACs: 2022 Trends in Review

Plenty has changed since January 2022, when we last examined developing trends in the SPAC market. Since then, the macroeconomic environment shifted dramatically due to rising inflation, increasing interest rates, and the war in…more

Capital Markets, D&O Insurance, Initial Public Offering (IPO), Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPEs), Publicly-Traded Companies

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Marc Strickland

Employee Benefits Trends for 2023: Finding the Right Balance

Employers are adjusting to changing workforce dynamics while benefits solutions are evolving to address different needs. COVID-19 changed what employees need and the benefits they want. In this webinar recap, you will learn…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employee Benefits, Employment Policies, Fertility Treatments, Mental Health

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Amanda Swanson

Critical Compliance Issues for Employee Benefits in 2025

With a new presidential administration in place and various reforms already underway, the landscape of employee benefits compliance is poised for significant changes. To help organizations prepare, Woodruff Sawyer hosted a…more

Affordable Care Act, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor (DOL), Employee Benefits, Executive Orders

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Sammie Thean

Workplace Stress Claims: The Intersection of Workers’ Compensation and Employment Practices

In response to the rise in mental health issues, there has been an increase in legislation to expand eligibility for workers' compensation (WC) benefits. Employees file stress-related claims for various reasons, such as…more

Employer Liability Issues, Employment Discrimination, Hostile Environment, Mental Health, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Jim Tolliver

Managing the Risk of Floods (Updated)

In a rainy season, it's important to understand your flood risk. For insurance purposes, what is a flood? What proactive steps can be taken before a flood? How can you obtain the right insurance coverage?…more

Climate Change, Flood Insurance, Flooding, Homeowners, Insurance Claims

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Lauren Trapp

Reps & Warranties Insurance: Our 2024 Guide

The use of representations and warranties insurance (RWI or R&W) has become increasingly mainstream. An estimated 75% of private equity transactions and 64% of larger strategic acquirers use it. Woodruff Sawyer’s R&W team…more

Acquisitions, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Mergers, Representations and Warranties

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Jamin Valdez

Construction Insurance Market Update | 2024 Mid-Year Update

Amidst the evolving construction insurance landscape, our mid-year update offers timely insights for industry stakeholders. This mid-year update provides highlights on: Forecasted construction spending in the US How insurance…more

Construction Industry, Construction Project, Contractors, Insurance Industry

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Linda Van Fossen

Cargo Stock Throughput Insurance for Life Science Companies

In the dynamic world of life sciences, companies face unique challenges in safeguarding their valuable assets. From pharmaceuticals to biologics, medical devices to vaccines, these products often require specialized handling and…more

Generic Drugs, Insurance Industry, International Trade, Life Sciences, Medical Devices

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Sheila Villaroman

Employer Cost Saving Strategies for Fully Insured Health Plans

When you have a fully insured health plan, you might think you don’t have a viable way to reduce benefits costs. After all, you can’t access the data analytic insights you would see if you were self-funded. But switching to…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Group Health Plans, Health Insurance, Medical Reimbursement Plans

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Heather Warner, Esq.

P&C Looking Ahead Guide for 2025: Experts Expect Stabilized Rates

After years of sustained rate increases, 2025 offers a brighter outlook for commercial insurance buyers. We expect premiums to stabilize or rise modestly, varying by line of business and industry. Increased market competition…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Life Sciences

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Walter Winter

New and Proposed Legislation Puts Spotlight on Long-Term Care Insurance in California

In 2022, the state of Washington enacted a law requiring employers to begin collecting a 0.58% payroll tax from employees unless they have private long-term care coverage. The funds are intended to provide a limited lifetime…more

Employee Benefits, Long Term Care Insurance, Long-Term Care, Payroll Taxes

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Gwendolyn Wong

Windshield Damages: Repair or Replace?

If a piece of cargo falls off a truck on the road, debris could strike your windshield. A rock or a bit of gravel that was caught under a truck’s tire treading could fly toward your windshield. Flying objects like a softball,…more

Auto Insurance, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Property Damage, Property Insurance

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Susan Young

Looking Ahead: Employee Benefits Funding Strategies for 2024 and Beyond

For many companies, healthcare costs continue to increase for many companies and this trend is expected to continue into 2025, prompting many companies to look for ways to manage expenses and measure the value of their…more

Benefit Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Retirement, Retirement Plan

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