Intelligence

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners intensified its regulatory focus on artificial intelligence governance, third-party data models, and cybersecurity oversight at its Summer 2026 meeting. Regulators are shifting from principles-based guidance to examination-ready supervisory tools, emphasizing that insurers remain accountable for the technologies and vendors they deploy. The meeting revealed how AI risk evaluation, vendor oversight frameworks, and privacy modernization efforts are convergin

A federal court in Ohio has ruled that an occupational disease exclusion in a commercial general liability policy bars coverage for PFAS-related personal injury claims brought by firefighters against a manufacturer of firefighting equipment. This landmark decision could significantly impact how insurers respond to PFAS product liability claims and may extend beyond occupational disease exclusions to other policy provisions using similarly broad language.

Peak hurricane season demands proactive preparation for flood insurance claims, particularly for businesses covered under the National Flood Insurance Program. Understanding policy requirements, documenting property conditions, and establishing claims procedures before disaster strikes can mean the difference between a successful claim and inadequate recovery.

The NAIC has spent four years overhauling capital requirements for life insurance companies' investments in collateralized loan obligations, introducing dramatic changes that will reshape how insurers allocate capital across their investment portfolios. These new rules, which account for credit spectrum positioning and tranche thickness for the first time, will force insurers to model significant impacts before year-end 2026 implementation.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals examined whether a directors' and officers' liability policy's contractual liability exclusion could bar coverage for an entire multi-count lawsuit, or whether each legally distinct cause of action—breach of contract, fraud, and quantum meruit—must be assessed separately against the exclusion's terms. The decision addresses the critical question of how insurers must apply policy exclusions when a single complaint pleads multiple claims arising from the same und

Skadden attorneys examine the unique legal considerations in insurance brokerage M&A transactions, exploring how deal structures must be carefully crafted to protect value in a people-driven business where client relationships and key personnel are paramount. The discussion covers earn-outs, reinvestment mechanics, restrictive covenants, and bespoke warranty packages tailored to the distinctive nature of brokerage deals.