2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI) Quote Report. Here is your quotation report which includes important information

Transcription

1 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI) Quote Report Here is your quotation report which includes important information

2 Contents Introduction...1 Aon...1 Professional Indemnity cover...2 Our reputation and the Insurers with whom we work...2 In your corner if you have a claim...3 Financial Security...4 Policy cover...4 Notification of claims and/or circumstances to your current insurer...5 Additional notes...6 Banking details...8 Your attachments Quotes Instructions and claims declaration form

3 Introduction We are pleased to enclose the requested quotations for your firm s Professional Indemnity arrangements for the forthcoming year. This report aims to set out the information you need to help you make your decision. Aon PI insurance for solicitors Aon is Ireland s largest professional indemnity insurance broker, and has long been committed to providing insurance solutions created specifically to meet the requirements of the legal sector. The quotations are subject to the policy wording. The policy complies with The Law Society of Ireland s Minimum Terms & Conditions for the minimum 1,500,000 any one claim of cover (the mandatory limit). A specimen wording is available on solicitors.aon.ie We only work with insurers who have strong reputations and financial credentials to match. Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 1

4 Professional Indemnity cover Limits above 1.5 million We can offer insurance for limits above 1.5m through Excess Layer policies. Limits above 1.5m are available subject to underwriters approval. There is no need to look to another broker, Aon can address all your cover needs. Excess Layers are policies that provide increased limits of indemnity and sit above your primary insurance cover. If you have an Excess Layer policy or policies it is important to note that Excess Layer policies are not required to adhere to the terms of the Minimum Terms and Conditions (as defined by the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2015 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations Our reputation and the Insurers with whom we work Aon reputation Market leader QBE are currently the largest Insurer of Irish Solicitors PII by Premium Income We are Ireland s largest insurance broker, with nearly 600 staff spread across the country. Our breadth of experience with the legal sector is exceptional, with 13% of law firms in Ireland coming to us for our Professional Indemnity products, in addition to 85% of all Barristers. QBE has underwritten solicitors professional indemnity insurance since 1974 and solicitors primary business since demutualisation in the UK since We have worked closely together with QBE since then, drawing on our mutual knowledge of the legal sector to meet the specific needs of the Irish market. Aon works with QBE due to their professional indemnity experience, financial strength and commitment to underwriting solicitors professional indemnity insurance in Ireland. For more information on QBE, visit QBEeurope.com/about Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 2

5 In your corner if you have a claim We re in your corner every day, so that if you have a potential claim then we ll be there to help. On occasion you may be faced with claims of some value. Should this happen, specialist professional indemnity practitioners are available to assist. We have significant experience in overseeing the handling of professional indemnity claims by insurers. We understand the reputational risk posed for the solicitors firms against whom cases are taken and become involved on the practice s behalf, in an advocacy role, as required, working to ensure the minimum disruption to your practice. Aon closely monitors the reserves being placed on cases by the insurer as, by their nature, professional indemnity claims are long tail and the reserve figures reflect directly on the renewal premiums sought by the insurer. We believe that professional indemnity claims are most effectively handled by encouraging a partnership approach between the Insured and the Insurer and we work tirelessly to ensure this happens. Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 3

6 Financial Security The Law Society of Ireland requires a Participating Insurer to have a recognised financial rating Professional Indemnity insurance is the one area where the client should never just be concerned with price. Strong financials, a stable regulatory environment with strong controls and a good market reputation are also important. If the price looks too good in comparison to the rest of the market, there may be a reason for that and in the event of insurer insolvency then it may be too high a price to pay. Professional Indemnity claims are, by their very nature, long tail, i.e. claims or circumstances notified under a policy this year may take many years to come to fruition. Aon s Market Security Committee Our aim is only to procure insurance for our clients with insurers possessing the financial strength to perform in today s economic environment. We have established an independent Market Security Committee to establish and implement worldwide market security policies and procedures. No broker can guarantee the security of the markets they use but we try to ensure that markets will provide a level of security for our clients. QBE s financial rating QBE s financial strength ratings S&P Fitch A.M. Best A+ (Stable) A+ (Stable) A (Stable) QBE is an A rated insurer. This is the position at 24 July 2018, the last financial review was December For current financial rating information on QBE please visit QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited s address is Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 3BD, United Kingdom Policy cover The QBE policy complies with the Law Society of Ireland s Minimum Terms & Conditions for the minimum 1,500,000 any one claim of cover (the mandatory limit). Should you decide to cancel your policy during the year a refund will not be payable. The policy is subject to Irish law. A specimen wording is available on solicitors.aon.ie Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 4

7 Notification of claims and/or circumstances to your current insurer You must notify your current insurers of all claims made and all circumstances of which you are aware which may give rise to a claim, prior to the expiry or cessation of any cover and prior to the commencement of any cover under this policy. This includes all claims information relevant to any prior practice. You should make enquiries of all persons in the practice, emphasising the importance of the process. If you are currently insured through Aon with AmTrust, their claims department details are: Head of Claims AmTrust International Underwriters DAC 40 Westland Row Dublin 2 D02 HW74 t +353 (0) e casualty.claims@amtrustgroup.com Should you elect to claim notifications, it is the sender s responsibility to ensure the message is received safely. If you have an Excess Layer policy or policies it is important to note that claims conditions applying to the Excess Layers are not the same as those applying to your Primary Layer. Any matter notified to your Primary Layer Insurer must also be notified to your Excess Layer providers. Your Primary Layer insurer will not notify your Excess Layer insurers of any matter. Please read carefully and follow the notification requirements as set out in the Excess Layer policies. Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 5

8 Additional notes 1 Notification of claims and/or circumstances (2018/2019) Prompt notification of claims or circumstances that might give rise to a claim is of the utmost importance. In order to ensure that your insurance cover is not prejudiced or undermined, it is essential that you observe all the terms and conditions set out in your policy, including those that relate to reporting. It is a condition of the policy that all notifications of claims and circumstances are made in writing. It is essential that all claims/circumstances are promptly notified to: QBE Claims Beale & Company 1st Floor 7 Grand Canal Street Lower Dublin 2 t +353 (0) e QBEclaims@beale-law.com Should you elect to the notification to the insurer, it is the sender s responsibility to ensure the message is received safely. Full details of the claims handling procedures will be sent to you with your Certificate of Qualifying Insurance. If you have an Excess Layer policy or policies it is important to note that claims conditions applying to the Excess Layers are not the same as those applying to your Primary Layer. Any matter notified to your Primary Layer Insurer must also be notified to your Excess Layer providers. Your Primary Layer insurer will not notify your Excess Layer insurers of any matter. Please read carefully and follow the notification requirements as set out in the Excess Layer policies. 2 Disclosure of material information The obligation of utmost good faith applies to all contracts of insurance. The duty of disclosure applies upon the placing of new risks as well as upon the renewal of existing policies or upon any mid-term alterations. You should disclose all information, which is: a Material to the risk to be insured; or b Which might influence the underwriter(s) when deciding: Whether or not to accept the risk What the terms should be What premium to charge Insurers cannot avoid or repudiate claims for the cover required under the Minimum Terms and Conditions, but if they later find you have not disclosed something material they may charge an additional premium or, in the event of prejudice, seek recovery of the claim payment from you. We would also take this opportunity to point out that the obligation of utmost good faith continues for the duration of the policy. All answers or statements given on a proposal form, claim form, or any other material document are your responsibility. Please contact us if you are in any doubt as to whether or not information might be material or if you have any concerns that Aon might not be aware of all material information. Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 6

9 3 The attached quotation sheet shows the cover limits and excess, with alternative options where possible. 4 The quotation has been prepared on the basis of the information provided by you, updated claims information and any additional information provided by you, and is subject to the policy wording (the mandatory cover complies with the Law Society of Ireland s Minimum Terms and Conditions). A specimen wording is available on solicitors.aon.ie 5 A premium finance option is available (subject to approval) to spread the cost of your insurance premiums over 10 months. To apply for this option, please contact us. 6 To instruct us to arrange cover, please complete the enclosed INSTRUCTION AND CLAIMS DECLARATION FORM. 7 These are quotations only and no cover is in place until Aon has accepted your instructions on behalf of the insurer. At that stage, the formal Certificate of Insurance will be issued which will allow you to apply for Practising Certificates for the coming year. 8 May we remind you that the last day before renewal is 30 November 2018 and you must have cover arranged by this date. If you do not have cover arranged and need to apply to the Special Purpose Fund ( SPF ), they may offer you restricted coverage. Therefore, it is important that you act in good time. 9 Run off rules are changing this year, please refer to The Law Society of Ireland guidelines. Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 7

10 Banking details Electronic Fund Transfers (EFTs)/telegraphic transfers in Euro should be made direct to the bank account shown on the banking instructions, quoting the quote reference number (number starting with P) or transaction number of the items being settled, and confirmation of any such remittances should also be sent to Aon. Banking details for Electronic Fund Transfers (EFTs)/telegraphic transfers in other countries will be attached to our invoices. Cheques in the currency of our debit note or appropriate settlement currency, quoting our practice or invoice number and made payable to Aon, to be sent to the following address: Aon Accounts Division Metropolitan Building James Joyce Street Dublin 1 Bank of Ireland Ballsbridge, Dublin IBAN: IE78 BOFI BIC: BOFIIE2D Account: Aon MacDonagh Boland Client Account Account number: Sort Code: Please remember to use your quote reference number. Aon offices Dublin Metropolitan Building James Joyce Street Dublin 1 Ireland t +353 (0) Shannon Aon House Block K Shannon Free Zone Shannon Co. Clare Ireland Cork Building 5200 Cork Airport Business Park Cork Ireland Mullingar Harbour Street Mullingar Co. Westmeath Ireland e solicitors.ir@aon.ie w solicitors.aon.ie Aon Risk Solutions 2018/2019 Solicitors Professional Indemnity Quotation Report 8

11

12 About Aon Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions. Our 50,000 colleagues in 120 countries empower results for clients by using proprietary data and analytics to deliver insights that reduce volatility and improve performance. For further information on our capabilities and to learn how we empower results for clients, please visit: aon.co.uk Aon Metropolitan Building James Joyce Street Dublin 1 t +353 (0) f +353 (0) aon.ie Copyright Aon All rights reserved. MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond t/a Aon is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered in Ireland No Registered Office: Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means, including photocopying or recording, without the written permission of the copyright holder, application of which should be addressed to the copyright holder. Whilst care has been taken in the production of this report and the information within it has been obtained from sources that Aon believes to be reliable, Aon does not make any representation as to the accuracy of this report and accepts no liability for any loss incurred by any person who may rely on it. In any case, any recipient shall be entirely responsible for their use of this report. TD /18