Law Firms
With the expertise that comes from many years of handling law firm risks in a broad range of practice areas, and the ability to understand an account on its own merits, Hull & Company, Inc. (RFO) stands as a stable, focused and committed insurance partner for agents and brokers who seek the support and resources to back the development of responsive coverage for both their standard risks as well as the difficult, hard-to-place or non-standard law practice risks that don't fit the box of standard market programs.
The definition of what constitutes a Standard risk or Non-standard/Hard to Place risk can change with different insurance companies, which is one big reason to justify the use of a specialist to navigate the market to identify sensible options for any one account. A basic definition of risk classification follows:
Standard Risk:
An established firm with no claim history, or limited claim experience that didn’t result in large losses. A firm that is in a practice area that historically is less susceptible to claims and shock losses.
Hard-to-place risks/distressed E&O risks:
Firms being cancelled or non-renewed or that cannot find coverage in the standard market. Common characteristics include firms with:
- Claims frequency/severity
- Difficult practice profiles
- Entertainment
- Environmental
- Mass tort law firms
- PI plaintiff (including class action)
- SEC (Public & Private)
- Intellectual Property (Patent not exceeding 25%)
- Others
- Sanctions and Penalties
- Retroactive date
- Unique, one-of-a-kind coverage requests
Eligible Accounts:
- No restrictions on area of practice
- Standard and Non-Standard risks
- Solo practitioners and start up firms
Coverage:
- Primary and excess policies
- Duty-to-defend policies on small to mid-size risks
- Indemnity (reimbursement) policies available for larger risks
- Prior acts coverage is available (some accounts may not be eligible)
- Defense Costs in addition to limits of liability for small to mid-size risks
- Personal Injury Coverage
- Bi-Lateral Extended Reporting Periods
- Extended reporting period options available, including disability, death, and cessation of practice
- Disciplinary Hearings Coverage
- Deductible reduction for mediation coverage on selective risks
- Punitive and exemplary damages where allowable by law
- Claims expense in addition to the limit on selective risks
- First-dollar defense on selective risks
- Pre-underwriting loss control audits may be conducted at the discretion of the underwriter
Applications:
New York New Business Application (1-5)
New York New Business Application (6 and over)
All State except New York New Business Application (1-5)
All State except New York New Business Application (6 and over)
Articles:
Lawyers' Toolkit 2.0: A guide to Managing the Attorney-Client Relationship
Submission Requirements:
- Application
- Practice Supplements (where applicable)
- Claim Supplements (if applicable)
- Minimum 5 years of currently valued loss runs
- Firm Letterhead
Underwriters in most cases can quote from a competitor's new business application and supplement so long as the information is current and submitted along with currently valued multi-year loss runs.
Submissions, where applicable, should include expiring policy information including limits, deductibles, premiums and retro dates.
Other Coverages:
All or most other coverages that comprise the Hull & Company, Inc. (RFO) practice are appropriate. Contact a staff broker to discuss a particular account.
All insurance product and/or coverage descriptions are informational only. It is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to purchase any particular insurance product. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.