Advise & Consult One of the most entertaining—and frustrating—aspects of property insurance litigation is trying to predict what a judge will do, there is often far less predictability than lawyers would like. When it comes to umpire selection, judges frequently rely on instinct rather than any clear formula. Sometimes they appoint someone they know and… Continue reading Court Appointment of an Umpire – Your Guess is as Good as Mine
Who Picks the Arbitrator — You or the Algorithm?
Giuseppe De Palo and Annie Lespérance | JAMS When artificial intelligence enters the process of arbitrator selection, the question it raises is often framed as technical. In reality, it is structural. At stake is not simply how arbitrators are identified or ranked, but how arbitral authority itself is constituted — and whether the mechanisms that… Continue reading Who Picks the Arbitrator — You or the Algorithm?
‘Nation’s First’ Smoke Damage Standards Bill Wending Through California Legislature
Insurance Journal A bill to create a statewide framework for handling wildfire smoke damage insurance claims is now making its way through California Legislature. The Smoke Damage Recovery Act, which primary backer Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said stems from the recovery process after the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and smoke damage claims, is authored… Continue reading ‘Nation’s First’ Smoke Damage Standards Bill Wending Through California Legislature
Nine Claims Trends to Watch Through The Rest of 2026
Don Jergler | Claims Journal Catastrophe, resilience, automation, digital transformation, personalization of the claims experience, talent strategies, operational flexibility—there are a mouthful of trends to talk about in the still-young year. A new report from Crawford & Company forecasts trends that will be reshaping the insurance claims industry the rest of 2026. The Crawford report… Continue reading Nine Claims Trends to Watch Through The Rest of 2026
AI in Arbitration, Part I: Principles Guiding the Use of AI in Arbitral Proceedings
Natalia Zibibbo, Olivier André, and Boyan Arshinkov | Freshfields The year 2025 marked a watershed moment for artificial intelligence (AI), with the release of more powerful generative models and a rapid expansion of proprietary and specialised AI systems. This technological leap was mirrored by a dynamic shift in the legal and regulatory landscape, as both… Continue reading AI in Arbitration, Part I: Principles Guiding the Use of AI in Arbitral Proceedings