Events

IRMI Bootcamp: Contractual Risk Transfer and Insurance Coverage Class

Nov. 17 – 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM EST

Tracy Alan Saxe, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Theresa A. Guertin, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.

FOR THOSE NEW TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR INSURANCE INDUSTRIES (LESS THAN 3 YEARS EXPERIENCE).Designed for those with 3 years or less of construction risk management experience, this program offers a unique opportunity to learn from experienced construction risk professionals and develop relationships with leaders in the industry, as well as your peers. You will spend 3 days immersed in learning fundamental concepts in construction operations, risk assessment, contractual risk transfer, safety, construction insurance, and claims. In this interactive curriculum, a team of experienced construction risk management professionals will share their knowledge and provide guidance as you apply what you are learning to real-world exercises and case studies

Shared Risk, Shared Reward: Successful Risk Management for Construction Joint Ventures

Nov. 17, 2025 – 1:00 PM – 2:00, session repeat 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

Will Bennett, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Emily Glanz, Cottingham & Butler
Kevin McKeon, Wagman

Joint Ventures are mysterious for contractors and designers who haven’t undertaken them. We will de-mystify Joint Ventures and the insurance risks associated with them, by orienting the audience to common JV jargon, structures, and key issues. We will then review unique considerations that go into managing risk for JVs, focusing on insurance and contract elements that are unique to JV pursuits. Finally, we will work through one or more interactive claim examples that illustrate the importance of addressing the issues discussed during the first two sections of the session.

Fires, Storms and Coverage Forms

Nov. 18 – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EST

Cheryl L. Kozdrey, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Matthew Tahbaz, Marsh McLennan
Rhonda Mosley, Lennar

This session will focus on construction risk management in light of trending property claims and natural disaster risks. It will include discussion surrounding the types of damages, coverage disputes, valuation issues, and claims management strategies general contractors and owners can employ to protect their bottom line and financial stability.

SNAP TALK: Quick Tips for Maximizing Additional Insured Coverage

Nov. 18 – 1:50 PM – 2:05 PM EST

Jeffrey J. Vita, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.

Often, opportunities to transfer risk via additional insured coverage are lost due to lack of pursuit or lack of understanding the law. For those entities entering contracts requiring the other party to provide additional insured(AI) coverage, that is the first place to look when a claim comes in. Otherwise, upstream parties are forced to utilize their corporate liability program to defend the claim. This unnecessarily results in additional loss history on the corporate program which will cause premiums to increase at renewal. Taking a few moments to understand certain basic tips will prevent parties from leaving money on the table.

Mastering Wrap-Up Placements for Large Projects

Nov. 19 – 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM EST

Theresa A. Guertin, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Soledad Torres, MWH Constructors

Large-scale construction projects present significant challenges with regards to ensuring proper insurance coverages. For example, aligning the start and end dates of completed operations coverage through multiple excess layers and ensuring policies align with intent for reinstatement of limits are two issues that require attention from the project sponsor and their advisors.  This session will address strategies for structuring, negotiating, and managing insurance for large construction projects to mitigate risk and drive successful outcomes.  We will examine the benefits and potential risks of wrap-ups on projects of this scope and provide clarity on the best use cases for both owner and contractor controlled wrap-ups. Common pitfalls, legal and regulatory requirements, and partner selection will also be addressed.

Property Loss and Business Interruption Claims Arising out of Catastrophes

Nov. 7, 2025 – 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM (EST)

Theresa A. Guertin, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Stephen E. Goldman, Robinson & Cole LLP
Stephen Pate, Cozen O’Connor (Moderator)

This panel will review the basic property loss and business interruption coverages, review how they have been applied in past catastrophes, and discuss how these coverages and the legal precedent they have spawned could become the subject of coverage disputes in the event of a cyber catastrophe.

What a Disaster!: Ethical Obligations of Attorneys in the Wake of Natural Disasters, Cyber Threats, and Other Perils

Nov. 7, 2025 – 2:25 PM – 3:35 PM (EST)

Tracy Alan Saxe, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. (Moderator)
John Bonnie, Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial
Sherilyn Pastor, McCarter & English

Lawyers are important providers of legal services when natural disasters and other perils wreak havoc on the lives of individuals and their communities.  But lawyers can just as easily be harmed by the same unfortunate events. This panel will examine the lawyer as victim of a disaster event, facing not just the expected personal challenges and consequences, but also having to meet ongoing ethical obligations to clients, the courts and the profession. We will discuss the Model Rules of Professional Conduct applicable even in the worst of times, and survey the case law involving lawyer conduct in the wake of disaster-level events that resulted in disciplinary actions by ethics regulators.

US Liability Update – Is PFAS the Next Asbestos?

November 6, 2025 – 4:00 PM (GMT – London)
Jeremiah M. Welch and Will S. Bennett, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.

Jeremiah Welch and Will Bennett will review the state of US legislation and litigation around “forever chemicals”.  They will discuss similarities and differences between PFAS liability and earlier “toxic tort” crazes in the US and offer their predictions on how the PFAS trend evolves. They will also seek to forecast the impact PFAS claims in the US will have in the UK and Europe.

Special Insights on the US LEG3: Archer Western Case

November, 5, 2025 – 1:00 PM (GMT – London)

Jeremiah M. Welch and Will S. Bennett, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.

Jeremiah and Will will explore the recent Archer Western v. ACE American Insurance Co. decision and its implications for LEG3 coverage interpretation under U.S. law. They will analyse how the court’s reasoning, influenced by SCB, redefines “physical damage,” clarifies ambiguity surrounding “improvement” in LEG3 provisions, and contrasts U.S. and U.K. treatment of manufacturing and contamination claims. The session will offer essential takeaways for insurers, brokers, and construction professionals engaging with cross-jurisdictional coverage disputes.

Special insights on the US LEG3: Archer Western case

November 3, 2025 – 2:00 PM (CET – Copenhagen)
Jeremiah M. Welch and Will S. Bennett, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.

This session explores the recent Archer Western v. ACE American Insurance Co. decision and its implications for LEG3 coverage interpretation under U.S. law. Jeremiah Welch and Will Bennett will examine how the court’s reasoning, influenced by SCB, redefines “physical damage,” clarifies the ambiguity surrounding “improvement” in LEG3 provisions, and contrasts U.S. and U.K. treatment of manufacturing and contamination claims. The discussion will highlight key takeaways for insurers, brokers, and construction professionals navigating cross jurisdictional coverage disputes.

Risk Transfer Strategies in Contract Drafting and Negotiation

Oct. 28 – 1:50 PM – 2:40 PM (EST)

Bethany L. Barrese, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Derrick G. Mullen, Seneca Insurance Company
Michelle K. Krone, Kubicki Draper

This presentation provides a comprehensive guide to risk transfer strategies in contract drafting and negotiation, with a focus on construction and commercial agreements. It is designed to help legal professionals, contract managers, and business leaders understand how to allocate and manage risk through effective contract provisions.

Contractual Risk Transfer: Risks and Rewards

October 14 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (PST)

Bethany L. Barrese, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Benjamin Evans, University of Pennsylvania
David Parker, Pina Community College

Understanding the scope and limitations of contractual indemnity and additional insured coverage is critical to effective risk management for higher education institutions, but the legal landscape surrounding these risk transfer mechanisms has become increasingly complex. The latest developments in anti-indemnity statutes and the interpretation of additional insured endorsements will be discussed with the ultimate goal of providing risk managers with a toolkit on how to address and overcome common risk transfer challenges. Real-world claim examples will be provided to illustrate the importance of getting contractual language correct and the proper insurance coverage placed to avoid complicated multi-party claims (and headaches!).

Fires, Storms, & Property Coverage Forms: Trending Claim & Coverage Issues

October 15 – 9:15AM – 9:45 AM (PST)

Cheryl L. Kozdrey, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Frank Russo, Imperium Consulting Group
Casey Grover, The Hartford (Moderator)

This presentation will explore emerging trends and coverage disputes in property and natural disaster claims, highlighting critical issues for university risk management. Key topics include the distinction between physical and non-physical damage, valuation disputes (replacement cost vs. actual cash value), and coverage for concurrent causation. The session will address challenges such as the impact of catastrophic events, mold and water intrusion claims, and subrogation hurdles. Attendees will gain insights into policy complexities, real-world examples, and strategies for navigating risk management, ensuring effective coverage for university properties in the face of evolving legal and environmental challenges.

Joint Ventures

Sept. 19, 2025 – 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM (EST)

Anna M. Perry, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.

Anna will discuss the pros and cons for each option for insuring JVs and techniques for determining risk transfer between the partners and the JV.

Maximizing Insurance Recovery When You Have to Go Back to the Drawing Board

Thursday, Sept. 11 – 2:00 PM – 2:50 PM EST

Anna M. Perry, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Tyler Oakes, The Baldwin Group
Daniel Averna, Callahan Construction Manager

Navigating Flood & Catastrophe Claims: Risk Management Strategies for Continuity & Recovery

August 6, 2025 – 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM (CDT)

Richard W. Brown, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Leldon Bulkley, Wilks Brothers
Jason Cables, Ankura Consulting Group
Louis Martines, Cotton Global Disaster Solutions

Floods and catastrophes pose significant challenges for business owners, impacting operations, finances, and workforce stability. This session explores key risk management strategies to address these challenges effectively. Understanding policy language is critical to avoid coverage disputes and ensure adequate protection. Discover how to overcome valuation challenges by maintaining accurate records and engaging forensic accountants early. Build robust partnerships with restoration vendors and develop a catastrophe response plan, tested through annual mock scenarios. Recognize the human element—supporting local employees facing personal losses during crises. Finally, establish an emergency response team from unaffected regions to lead recovery efforts. This session equips risk professionals with practical tools to mitigate risks, manage claims, and ensure business continuity in the wake of disaster.

Fires, Storms, and Property Coverage Forms: Trending Claims and Coverage Issues

Thursday, July 31 – 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM EST

Cheryl L. Kozdrey, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Carrie Porter, Quarterra
Frank Russo, Imperium
Matthew Tahbaz, Marsh

This session will focus on construction risk management in light of trending property claims and natural disaster risks. It will include discussion surrounding the types of damages,
coverage disputes, valuation issues, and claims management strategies general contractors and owners can employ to protect their bottom line and financial stability.

Cyber-Risk Resilience in the Energy Industry

Wednesday, June 18 – 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM CST

Richard W. Brown, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Joseph Critelli, Imperium Consulting Group, LLC

Cyber risk arises from the growing interconnectivity between people, systems, and places, along with a global reliance on digital infrastructure. In the energy industry, this digital transformation—driven by the integration of advanced technologies and computer systems—has introduced new vulnerabilities that many risk managers are not fully prepared to handle. These risks extend beyond data breaches to include physical damage, reputational harm, business interruptions, and third-party liabilities. This panel will explore the main sources of cyber-related loss, the specific challenges facing the energy sector, and the strategies and insurance solutions available to address these evolving risks.