Addressing a Growing Challenge

In response to the increasing severity and complexity of wildfire smoke damage across California, the Department of Insurance announced the creation of a new Smoke Claims & Remediation Task Force. This initiative, spearheaded by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, aims to establish clear, science-based standards for investigating, paying, and remediating smoke damage

  • The English Court of Appeal provides rare guidance on the application of key aspects of the Insurance Act 2015.
  • Differentiating between warranties and representations crucial to assessing the extent of policy cover.
  • Reminder of insurers’ ability to control risk with carefully worded Duty of Assured clauses, without contravening the provisions of the Insurance

On March 7, 2025, the California Department of Insurance issued Bulletin 2025-7, which provides crucial guidance on the handling of smoke damage claims for properties affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. This bulletin clarifies the Department’s position on insurance coverage for smoke damage and outlines the expectations for insurers in processing these claims. The bulletin

Conditions Precedent to Coverage

Insurance policies typically are subject to certain conditions precedent to coverage. As the name suggests, conditions precedent to coverage are obligations placed on the insured that, in the normal case, must be complied with in order for coverage to attach. 

Take a commercial general liability (or “CGL”) policy, for example. An

In the midst of the devastating and ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, on January 9, 2025, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued the 2025 Annual Notice on behalf of the California Department of Insurance (DOI). The 2025 Annual Notice highlights what Commissioner Lara describes as “the most significant California laws pertaining to property insurance policies, including those

The wildfires in Los Angeles, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Runyon Canyon fires, are fast-moving, destructive, and scary. As of the evening of January 8, 2025, they have caused extensive damage and led to the evacuation of more than 100,000 residents. The Palisades Fire has burned 18 square miles, the Eaton Fire 16.5 square

Today, generative AI (“Gen AI”) is one of the world’s fastest growing technologies, with businesses around the globe developing, adopting and incorporating machine-learning and AI technologies into their business models. The very nature of this fast-paced and novel technology brings unique risks that can implicate various lines of insurance coverage including, among others, Cyber, Professional