The concept of vicarious liability continues to expand, with implications for corporates and risk managers. A recent UK Court of Appeal decision (Clive Bellman v Northampton Recruitment Limited) in which a company was found vicariously liable for an assault committed by its managing director on an employee at its Christmas party, provides further guidance on the application of the two-stage…
With the world’s leading climate change scientists warning that the world has only 12 years to limit a climate change “catastrophe”, in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, published on 8 October, the focus on climate change has never been higher and regulatory scrutiny of how businesses assess and disclose their climate change risk exposures is set to increase…
After a number of very high-profile data breaches, including at British Airways and Facebook, there has been a great deal of focus on potential class actions to recover damages for individuals affected. The potential number of victims in a data breach (BA estimates about 380,000 and Facebook 50 million) means that any successful class actions could result in very significant…
As technology has increased, there has been an inevitable proliferation in the number of electromagnetic and radiofrequency field sources that people are exposed to on a daily basis. These include Wi-Fi, power lines, mobile phones and masts, IT equipment and other electronic devices. There are increasing numbers of people who report experiencing unpleasant symptoms due to exposure to these electromagnetic…
The massive european and global construction market continues to grow and offer corporates and their insurers a rich vein of income. However, the risks are complex, fast evolving and demand professional and coordinated risk management. Insurance capacity remains plentiful and rates competitive, but risk and insurance managers can expect a tougher stance from carriers over time as margins narrow. Adrian…
The world’s most popular weed killer, Glyphosate, is being placed under the microscope by scientists, regulators and plaintiff lawyers. Despite four decades of widespread commercial and domestic use on the assumption it was safe, there has been recent increased worldwide concern about myriad potential health effects from exposure to the substance. A test case in California has hit the headlines…
The heatwaves, droughts and forest fires currently affecting swathes of Europe will cost the agriculture sector billions of dollars with entire harvests lost in some cases, Munich Re warns. According to the reinsurer, the grain harvest in Germany is likely to be down more than 10% on the long-term average as a result of the hot and dry weather. Total…
The fast-paced construction industry is invariably linked to demographics, housing, transportation and energy – a link even stronger in developing economies. With an expected 4.2% compound annual growth rate, the global construction industry is expected to catapult to $10.5trn by 2023. The biggest reason behind this growth is an increased demand for both housing and infrastructure to service a population…
On 15 March 2018, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a joint technical alert on Russian government cyber activity targeting organisations in the energy, marine, aviation and other manufacturing sectors. This DHS and FBI technical alert seeks to educate network defenders and enhance their ability to identify and reduce exposure to…
In its New Deal for Consumers package announced last month, the EC put forward plans to introduce pan-European Union collective redress and penalties of up to 4% of annual turnover for organisations that fall foul of consumer law, among other measures. The proposed pan-European collective redress system was criticised by various stakeholders for being tougher on business than many feared…