Policy Wordings Without Tears: Avoiding Drafting Pitfalls, Coverage Uncertainty and Claims Disputes

Policy Wordings Without Tears: Avoiding Drafting Pitfalls, Coverage Uncertainty and Claims Disputes

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Policy wordings are the foundation of insurance coverage, yet unclear, incomplete or poorly adapted clauses can create uncertainty, disputes and unintended outcomes for insurers, brokers and policyholders.

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This one-hour webinar explores common policy wording pitfalls that frequently arise in the drafting, placement and interpretation of insurance and reinsurance contracts. Drawing on direct experience in placing and advising on global and multinational insurance and reinsurance programmes across Asia, the session will examine how seemingly minor drafting decisions can have significant consequences at both the placement and claims stages.

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The webinar will provide practical insights into how better policy drafting can improve clarity, reduce ambiguity and help prevent avoidable coverage disputes.

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Webinar Topics

1. Common Drafting Pitfalls
A practical review of recurring wording issues encountered in emerging markets across Asia, including:

• “Basis of the contract” clauses
• “Sweep-up” clauses
• Notification of claims and circumstances
• Governing law provisions
• Jurisdiction and dispute resolution clauses

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2. Case Study 1: The Global Master Policy That Wasn’t There
This case study examines a multinational insurance programme where oversights in policy terms and programme structure resulted in unexpected coverage outcomes and uninsured exposures. Participants will consider the lessons that can be drawn when arranging cross-border insurance programmes and ensuring that master policies, local policies and programme documentation work as intended.

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3. Case Study 2: “When You Say Nothing At All...” – Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This case study highlights why the absence of clear governing law, jurisdiction or dispute resolution provisions can become a major problem when claims arise. It will explore how silence or ambiguity in these areas can lead to uncertainty, delay and disputes over which legal framework applies.

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Who Should Attend?

• Underwriters
• Brokers and intermediaries
• Claims managers and claims handlers
• Reinsurance practitioners
• Risk managers
• Legal, compliance and contract review professionals
• Other insurance professionals involved in drafting, placing, reviewing or interpreting policy wordings

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Speaker

‍Grant Pilkington
Head of Transactional Insurance & Reinsurance Practice
Sharpe & Jagger LLC

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Grant is an English-qualified solicitor with over 18 years’ experience advising on contentious and non-contentious re/insurance matters across Asia and the Middle East. He specialises in supporting brokers, insurers and MGAs with the development of re/insurance products, policy wordings and coverage solutions across all commercial business lines.

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Grant routinely advises on large and complex placements and renewals, including multi-billion-dollar exposures, and works across the full spectrum of commercial insurance business, from multinational programmes to mid-market, SME portfolios and facilities. He advises on claims involving coverage, liability and subrogated recoveries, with a particular focus on early effective dispute resolution.

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Professional learning and development is a core part of Grant’s practice, and he has delivered over 2,000 training hours across Asia. Grant is a regular industry speaker and a member of the Insurance Law Association of Singapore, where he sits on the general committee.

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if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at tt@scidomain.org.sg