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Cyber and data
Last year's edition of the Annual Insurance Review included predictions that 2024 would see a trend towards an increased general level of cyber security given (i) the importance placed on security measures by regulatory bodies such as the ICO and (ii) the focus cyber underwriters had placed on assessing prospective insureds' security before offering cover.
Read moreEnergy
In last year's Annual Insurance Review, we anticipated that we would see further growth in hydrogen power and that the renewable energy insurance market would continue to respond to this.
Read moreFinancial institutions
As we predicted last year, ESG continues to be a source of risk for financial institutions. On 31 May 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority's anti greenwashing rule came into effect. The rule applies to all FCA-authorised firms, including UK asset managers, who make sustainability related claims about financial products and services. Under the rule, sustainability related claims must be fair, clear, and not misleading. In addition, the FCA has introduced naming and marketing requirements for asset managers, differentiating between products that have sustainability objectives and use a label, and products that have sustainability characteristics but do not use or qualify for a label. Following consultation in 2024, the rule looks set to be extended to portfolio managers in Q2 2025.
Read moreProcedure, Damages and Costs
Alternative Dispute Resolution received a boost in 2024, when the Civil Procedure Rules were amended to expressly empower the court to order ADR. These changes follow the December 2023 judgment in Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil [2023] EWCA Civ 1416, in which the Court of Appeal concluded that it was lawful for the court to order parties to engage in ADR, provided the process does not interfere with the parties' access to a judicial determination.
Read moreSurveyors
The previous UK Government set a legally binding 'net zero' target to reduce the UK's net emissions by 100% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. In the UK, an estimated 25 million homes require a form of energy improvement. In response to this target, the new residential retrofit standard was launched in March 2024 and came into full effect on 31 October 2024.
Read moreTechnology
There have been a range of court judgments in recent years concerning the interpretation and scope of contractual clauses intended to limit liability.
Read moreNetherlands
In a class action brought by ‘Stichting Fossielvrij’ against KLM concerning greenwashing, the Court of Amsterdam ruled on 24 March 2024 that several of the advertisements run by KLM were misleading and therefore unlawful. The public attention for the harmful effects of PFAS also continued. In April 2024 eleven interest groups (including firemen, military personnel and residents living near airports) commenced a lawsuit against the Dutch State, asking the State to take faster measures to curb both the emissions and spread of PFAS. The lawsuit also calls for improved monitoring and quicker enforcement. Further developments will likely take place in 2025.
Read moreToxic Torts and Legacy Exposures
As predicted in last year's review, PFAS/ forever chemicals continued to dominate the toxic tort stage during 2024, with litigation rapidly expanding outside of the USA.
Read moreLatin America
The Latin American insurance market witnessed remarkable growth in 2024, reflected in an increase in product sophistication and robust premium growth. This is due to the continued economic growth in different countries, which has led to Latin America becoming one of the fastest-growing regional insurance markets in the world.
Read moreProperty and business interruption
Technip Saudi Arabia Limited v The Mediterranean & Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance Co. (MedGulf) [2024] EWCA Civ 481 concerned a dispute over coverage for a claim by Technip under its construction all risks policy with MedGulf written on an amended WELCAR wording. The claim arose from damage to a wellhead platform offshore of Saudi Arabia caused by a tug. The tug was chartered by Technip, who had contracted with the wellhead's owner, KJO, an unincorporated joint venture.
Read moreWarranty & Indemnity
We predicted last year that 2024 would see deal volumes increase, owing to improving market conditions. Indeed, a pullback in inflation (and stabilisation of the cost of capital) has led to a rising M&A market, with notable growth among larger deals. Among European markets, the UK has been particularly active, reflecting perceived political stability following the decisive general election result (2024 was a bumper year for elections, too).
Read moreMiddle East & Africa
In our last Annual Insurance Review, we predicted strong growth in the renewable energy sector in the Middle East, with solar and wind energy expected to play a major role in increasing the region's energy capacity, alongside a rise in investment and infrastructure development throughout 2024.
Read moreRestructuring & Insolvency
2024 has seen one of the most significant insolvency cases in recent years. In June, Justice Leech handed down his judgment on the claim brought by the liquidators of BHS against certain of its former directors for wrongful trading and misfeasance. This judgment is likely to have important consequences for the D&O market.
Read moreAustralia
It was a case of 'another year; another tough economic outlook' in Australia. Wafer-thin economic growth, cost of living pressure, higher than forecasted inflation, flatlining productivity and decade-high interest rates, combined with non-economic concerns around climate change, social inflation and cyber risk, has left the insurance industry with a smorgasbord of uncertainties to balance.
Read moreUSA
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2025, we look at the main developments in 2024 and expected issues in 2025 for the USA.
Read moreAsia
As the soft market continues, insurance premiums in Asia have consistently declined across all major product lines during Q1-Q3 due to increased competition and challenging economic conditions.
Read moreCanada
Canada faced significant challenges in 2024, with slow economic growth and a strained judicial system. Looking ahead to 2025, professional liability and construction claims are likely to remain on the rise, while the upcoming Canadian election could result in significant regulatory changes.
Read moreWhat 6 key challenges will insurers face in 2024?
Climate change, Artificial Intelligence and ESG top this year's predictions in latest edition of Annual insurance review from international law firm RPC
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2024: Procedure damages & costs
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2024, we look at the main developments in 2023 and expected issues in 2024 for Procedure damages & costs.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2024: Product liability
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2024, we look at the main developments in 2023 and expected issues in 2024 for Product liability.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2024: Construction
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2024, we look at the main developments in 2023 and expected issues in 2024 for Construction.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2023
Hello and welcome to RPC's Annual Insurance Review – a look back at the events that shaped the insurance market in 2022 and a look forward towards what to expect in 2023.
Read moreWhat are the 8 key concerns insurers will face in 2023?
Annual Insurance Review from international law firm RPC identifies ESG risks, climate change and cyber-attacks as top challenges.
Read moreNo bouncing back for directors
Banned! Fraudsters! – Terms used by the Insolvency Service for directors who abused the government backed loan scheme which was put in place to help businesses struggling during the pandemic.
Read moreVariation of contract by email valid without expressly referring to exercise of contractual right
How will a court determine the formality requirements for a valid contract variation?
Read moreCourt of Appeal confirms financial claim caught by clause excluding liability for loss of anticipated profits
How did the Court of Appeal approach the construction of an exclusion clause to determine whether the Claimant’s financial claim for breach of an exclusivity provision was properly described as a claim for “anticipated profits” and as such was excluded by that clause?
Read moreContract formation: use of emoji showed objective intention to enter into contract
Is the use of a “thumbs up” emoji sufficient to convey acceptance when forming general commercial contracts?
Read moreSupreme Court determines that the parties’ common intention decides whether a contract is varied or replaced
How will a court determine whether a contract has been varied or replaced?
Read moreGreen claims update
The CMA has recently consulted on draft guidance to help businesses comply with the revamped consumer protection rules under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The guidance summarises key changes including broader definitions of “commercial practices” and “misleading actions” making it easier to enforce against misleading green claims.
Read moreASA gets tougher on brand advertising for “less healthy” food and drink products
What does CAP and BCAP’s new “identifiability test” mean for the advertising of “less healthy” food and drink (LHF) products?
Read moreUK advertising codes to be amended to reflect new DMCCA
What are the proposed key amendments to the CAP and BCAP Codes to align with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024?
Read moreSnapshots Spring 2025
A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.
Read moreHarmful Online Choice Architecture: ASA criticises Nike and Sky for “dark pattern” tactics
What must businesses do to ensure that their ads do not fall foul of the ASA and CMA’s ongoing investigations into harmful choice architecture and dark pattern tactics?
Read moreAgreements to agree: Price for goods “to be fixed” by agreement results in partially enforceable contract
Where a contract for the sale of goods did not expressly specify the price for a portion of the goods, was the contract for the sale of those goods, or an element of it, enforceable or unenforceable as a mere agreement to agree?
Read moreInfluencer posts and affiliate links: the whole marketing chain must know the rules
Why did the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rule against Sainsbury’s on the use of an affiliate link by an influencer (noting that Sainsbury’s had no involvement in the creation of the post) and what steps could Sainsbury’s take to help prevent the problem from happening again?
Read moreConstruing material adverse effect/material adverse change clauses
How did the courts go about construing a material adverse effect definition (MAE) in a share purchase agreement (SPA) to determine whether an event constituted a MAE so as to discharge the buyers from their obligation to close the transaction?
Read moreTravel agent found to have misled consumers with “from” price claims
How can advertisers avoid misleading consumers when using “from” price claims?
Read moreReasonable notice termination not construed or implied into a contract with detailed termination provisions
Where a contract contains comprehensive termination provisions, in what circumstances will the court avoid construing or implying an additional right to terminate on reasonable notice?
Read moreASA rules against telecoms companies on mid-contract price rises
What steps should be taken to ensure contractual mid-term price rises don’t fall foul of advertising regulations or Ofcom’s existing and incoming transparency rules?
Read moreEffect of a contractual liability cap on set-off and contractual interest
Under a contract’s liability cap, should the cap be applied separately to each party’s liability before any set-off or after calculating the net financial position between the parties?
Read moreRound up of recent green claims
Round up of recent green claims: Key updates and sector-specific updates
Read moreSnapshots Winter 2024
A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.
Read moreSnapshots Autumn 2024
A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.
Read moreCourt infers novation despite 'no dealings' clause
Magee and others v Crocker and others [2024] EWHC 1723 (Ch)
Read moreDetermining whether a default interest clause is an unenforceable penalty
Houssein & Others v London Credit Limited & Another [2024] EWCA Civ 721
Read moreAgent authority in contract variation
Advanced Multi-Technology for Medical Industry and others v Uniserve Ltd and others [2024] EWHC 1725 (Ch)
Read moreContract construction – adjective at the start of a list found to qualify the entire list
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co v Yes Bank Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 695
Read moreUpdated CAP guidance on when in-game purchases are considered 'advertising'
When and how does the CAP Code apply to the advertising of in-game purchases such as "loot boxes" in apps and video games?
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