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In this comprehensive report and outlook, expert and actionable insights are gathered to show 2024’s most impactful trends and challenges across insurance lines and major industries. A brief retrospective is also provided for each insurance line, including property, general/products liability, auto, umbrella/excess, workers’ compensation, cyber, directors and officers (D&O). As you navigate the multifaceted insurance landscape, each segment will bring its own set of challenges and opportunities, shaping the strategies and decisions of both insurers and insureds.

By definition, captive insurance is a risk-financing mechanism in which an organization insures itself against future losses. In a tough insurance market where premiums are high and presents other challenges, captives offer an opportunity to manage risk more efficiently. However, trying to grasp the ins and outs of captives can quickly become overwhelming.

Cybersecurity is a known and growing risk that all family offices need to address. The potential of a cybersecurity attack is no longer a matter of whether it will happen, it’s now a matter of when it will happen.

Because of losses in catastrophe-prone areas and other hard market factors, insurance carriers have pulled back the amount of insurance they’ll offer. Despite the hard market, real estate owners and operators that have well-maintained properties and who are prepared for catastrophes will have an advantage. Overall, the formula for a better insurance rate and coverage is straightforward—owners and operators should undertake preventative maintenance, consider alternative insurance options, and partner with the right insurance broker who will help reduce premiums over the long term.

The growing use of video and automated technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), in employment practices—and the concern that the technology may foster discrimination and bias—has triggered a wide array of regulatory efforts. At least 11 statutes have been introduced targeting the use of AI-related technology to assist with employment decisions. Employers should take note of enacted and proposed legislation and consult with legal counsel before implementing automated employment technologies.

Wealthy families have always faced complex risk management issues, but it is particularly challenging when facing soaring inflation, regulatory uncertainty, rising cybercrime rates, and increasingly severe natural disasters. These market stressors impact all sectors of the insurance market, making it more expensive and challenging for affluent families to secure property, cyber, auto, and specialty coverages.

Many families are not aware of important legal issues that affect their 18 – 21-year-old children. Parents are often so focused on the fact that the drinking age is 21 that they do not realize that their 18-year-olds are, for most other purposes, adults in the eyes of the law. Parents no longer have the same access to information or control over their children after age 18. Proper planning for the legal issues that arise with an 18 – 21-year-old child can help avoid problems later.

In this interview, attorney John Litchfield of Foley & Lardner’s Labor & Employment group discusses the key considerations family offices should keep in mind when it comes to domestic workers in the family office environment. Along with insights on household staff salary and wage treatments in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), John defines who qualifies as a domestic worker and the legal implications of hiring one.

Many employers have begun using artificial intelligence (AI) tools supplied by third-party vendors. On May 18, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provided guidance indicating that, in its view, employers are generally liable for the outcomes of using selection tools to make employment decisions. Learn more about what tools are covered in the EEOC guidance that clarifies an employer’s responsibility for discrimination in AI employment tools.