Biba's head of technical services books insurance for the association's upcoming conference

I was placed in the shoes of a broker’s customer this week while finalising the indemnity insurance for the Biba conference. The experience really highlighted to me how there is an ever-expanding gulf between what professional indemnity insurers feel is a notifiable event and what we would constitute as a notifiable event.

As a customer, it’s been a good year for us, as the price is relatively static compared to 2010, which I’m pleased with, but it does highlight the question as to whether the market is ever going to turn?

I’m certainly pleased that the insurance is now in place for the conference, but can’t believe that we are only three weeks away, where has the time gone?

Frightening topic

I’ve looked to see how popular the Law of Agency and Non Disclosure session that I’m chairing is, and was pleased to see that we have more than 200 brokers already booked in. This is a frightening topic and I know that the Law Commissioner, who will be present, is also keen on this matter as we have been working with him during the past 12 months. At least we have two of the insurance industry’s giants on the panel. These are expert witnesses, who unfortunately all too often see the wrong side of a judgment, and will be sharing their wisdom on where it can go wrong in relation to law of agency and non-disclosure.

We also have a lawyer to talk about the Environcom and the Camden Markets cases. I expect this will be a rowdy debate which will get the mind focused on issues that affect brokers.

If you have any questions for the session please email me, otherwise I look forward to seeing you all in Manchester.

Peter Staddon is head of technical services at Biba.