The agenda for the PLUS D&O Symposium is carefully planned by a D&O committee and by the submissions of PLUS members and advocates. PLUS takes great pride in the quality of speakers and topics at each of our events.
As the pandemic wanes, a risk-laden economic landscape marked by stock market volatility, runaway inflation, supply chain issues, and labor shortages is affecting not just businesses, but board members and managers, who face a surge of potential lawsuits. What are the knock-on effects for the D&O industry? With this backdrop, the panel will be asked a series of questions, offering a variety of perspectives, on rate trends, SPACs, the impact of new market entrants, ESG, cybersecurity, securities class action litigation, derivative litigation, etc.
Since 2019, nearly all significant D&O Coverage decisions have been issued from Delaware Courts. Most companies are incorporated in Delaware, and policyholder counsel have found that Delaware is a favorable forum on some issues. Despite this, carriers have had some major successes in recent years, notably in the Delaware Supreme Court. The panel will discuss the recent trend of D&O coverage litigation increasingly being filed in Delaware state court as well as major past and upcoming cases. The panel also will discuss perceptions that litigation is being filed earlier and more frequently and the attendance increased claim costs. The panel will also discuss what steps insurers are taking in response to recent Delaware judicial decisions.
Audience attendees will walk away from this panel understanding the basics of the digital asset ecosystem and its interplay with insurance. Join Insurance Executives and digital asset industry experts as they have a compelling discussion surrounding why digital assets are ever present in our society and how this dynamic asset class presents risks, challenges and future opportunities inside and outside the world of insurance.
ESG with respect to D&O, including ESG related litigation and regulatory matters. It feels like we cannot go a day without talking about ESG. Initally the focus was on a Company’s failed ESG efforts, but now companies are getting called out for doing too much with respect to ESG. The situation is even more complicated as the SEC is preparing to get involved in the space with proposed climate change disclosure requirements.
In this session, we will address economic uncertainty and its impacts on risk and underwriting associated with private company D&O insurance. The session will help underwriters evaluate the financial health of existing and potential accounts by considering the ways in which industries have shifted in order to adapt to the consequences of inflation, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, rising interest rates, etc. and which factors are most likely to result in increases in private company D&O claims.
INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP In past decades, particularly in “producer cultures” professionals were given positions of leadership and authority because they were great “producers.” The top trader, the banker that posted the most revenues or the lawyer that had the most billable hours were compensated with money, an elevated title, and positions of leadership without much thought as to whether the person was the kind of individual that could motivate and inspire others to perform beyond their own expectations. Yet, today, we find ourselves in an environment where a growing majority of the professional workforce are Millennials and Generation Zers and they demand motivation and inspiration as table stakes for their performance in any environment. So the question is, “What does it take to be an outstanding leader in today’s environment?” Carla Harris asserts that if anyone chooses to take on the leadership seat, then one must be INTENTIONAL about 8 things in order to be a powerful, impactful, influential leader in today’s environment. Hear her make the case for: Authenticity, Building Trust, Clarity, Creating other Leaders, Diversity, Innovation, Inclusivity, and Voice as essential components of being a Powerful Leader today.
Quick Hits about D&O Liability and Claims issues explored by qualified speakers from around the world: London, Europe, Australia, Singapore, Bermuda and Canada.
Securities class action litigation represents the most significant severity risk for Directors and Officers Liability Insurers. D&O insurance professionals follow securities litigation developments very closely. This panel is composed of top-securities class action professionals. The purpose of the panel is to review and discuss key developments in securities class action litigation and how the developments might affect the liability environment for publicly traded companies and their D&O insurers, so that insurers, brokers, and attorneys can understand the changing risk environment and take those changes into account where appropriate.