Topic: The fate of insurers’ in-house law firms

Writer: David Worsfold (david@worsfoldmedia.com)

Deadline: Friday 20 February

Over the last two decades, several insurers and claims handlers launched their own in-house law firms, aiming to reduce legal costs and improve control over litigation.

High-profile examples include Tesco, Ageas, Davies, QuestGates and Crawford, all of which established or acquired legal practices at different points.

Yet the in-house law firm model has delivered mixed results. Some operations were scaled back, restructured, sold, or closed entirely, while others evolved into broader claims or professional services businesses.

Insurance Post will examine why insurers originally embraced the in-house legal model, what commercial and regulatory challenges emerged, and why many have since retreated from it.

• Did the model genuinely deliver cost savings, better outcomes for claimants, and stronger risk control or did it create conflicts, complexity, and operational risk?
• What are the pros of insurer-owned law firms in areas such as fraud, complex litigation, or specialist claims?
• Do partnerships with external firms now offer better value and flexibility? Did regulation and fixed costs reshape the business case?

Topic: How 3D inspection tech is transforming insurance

Writer: Rachel Gordon (rachelcgordon@hotmail.com)

Deadline: Friday 20 February

Advances in inspection technology, including the integration of drone imagery with ground-based Lidar scanning, are giving insurers unprecedented visibility of assets and buildings.

These tools can create highly detailed 3D models that reveal structural weaknesses, flood exposure, roof conditions, and maintenance needs with far greater accuracy than traditional surveys.

Insurance Post will explore how insurers and loss adjusters are using these technologies to improve underwriting decisions, accelerate claims handling, and enhance risk management for customers.

• How accurate are 3D models compared to traditional surveys
• Where are insurers seeing the biggest ROI?
• How is this technology improving claims speed and outcomes?
• What are the risks around data use and privacy?

Topic: ABI’s Fire Safety Facility: lessons, limits and long road ahead

Writer: Scott McGee (scott.mcgee@infopro-digital.com)

Deadline: Thursday 26 February

The Association of British Insurer’s Fire Safety Facility was created as a temporary solution to help assess and manage fire safety risks in buildings affected by unsafe cladding and wider remediation challenges.

However, the scale of remediation required across the UK remains vast, with thousands of buildings still affected by fire safety defects.

As timelines stretch and the cost of remediations increases, questions are emerging about how long a “temporary” facility can realistically remain in place, and what a sustainable long-term solution should look like.

• How has the Fire Safety Facility operated so far?
• What impact has the Facility had on insurance capacity and pricing? Has it delivered meaningful progress for building owners, residents, and insurers?
• What does the future hold for the facility when it comes to funding and need as remediation efforts continue?
• What should the next phase of fire safety risk support look like?