Excess and Surplus Lines

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In the fourth episode of our Surplus Lines 360 series, John Emmanuel and Zachary Lerner discuss why using surplus lines insurance to satisfy state financial responsibility requirements can be problematic and varies by state, and why newer rideshare laws provide clarity that traditional commercial auto insurance lacks.Read More Financial Responsibilities in the Surplus Lines Market

This article was originally published on Insurance Business UK and is republished here with permission as it originally appeared on December 23, 2025.

It’s a tale as old as time: A U.S. insurance broker wants to place bespoke coverage for its U.S. client. Sometimes, it’s a layer within a commercial tower. Perhaps there are some participating admitted (licensed) U.S. carriers, mixed in with an array of eligible surplus lines insurers. But alas, satisfying all layers through the admitted and surplus lines markets proves allusive, so the broker approaches an unauthorized carrier in Bermuda, a European country, or another non-U.S. jurisdiction. It makes sense, right? The broker tried its best to find coverage another way, and it wants to do right by its client.Read More UK, Bermuda and EU Markets: For US Business, Ditch Direct Procurement, Go Surplus Lines

In this episode, John Emmanuel and Zachary Lerner unpack one of the hottest regulatory topics in surplus lines: group insurance. Learn how affiliated and unaffiliated groups are treated under the NRRA, why “home state” determination drives compliance and tax obligations, and the state-by-state rules that can make or break a group structure.Read More Demystifying Surplus Lines Group Insurance

Join Troutman Pepper Locke Partners John Emmanuel and Zachary Lerner as they break down the critical role of surplus lines brokers in insurance transactions. Learn the distinctions between admitted and surplus lines markets, the unique responsibilities brokers shoulder, and the regulatory requirements that shape their relationships with agents. Gain practical insights into enforcement actions and the importance of careful delegation in surplus lines placements.Read More Understanding the Surplus Lines Broker’s Role: Key Responsibilities and Regulatory Insights

Join Troutman Pepper Locke Partners John Emmanuel and Zachary Lerner as they kick off Surplus Lines 360, a series that demystifies the evolving landscape of surplus lines insurance. In this video, discover what surplus lines are (and are not), how eligibility works for both domestic and alien insurers, the regulatory dynamics between state and federal oversight, and the expanding reach of surplus lines into other coverage areas.Read More Introducing Surplus Lines 360

This article was originally published on Insurance Journal and is republished here with permission as it originally appeared on November 3, 2025.

Anyone in the insurance brokerage world generally knows the three magic words that require an insurance producer license: the “sale,” “solicitation,” or “negotiation” of insurance. For too many, this is the end of the equation. Most state insurance codes do not expand on what these words truly mean beyond providing general definitions derived in whole or in part from the Producer Licensing Model Act (PLMA) promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). As a result, the market is saturated with inconsistent treatment of licensing practices, both at the individual and entity levels.Read More Practical Licensing Challenges & Solutions for Producers, Brokers, Adjusters & Other Intermediaries

On October 10, 2025, the Connecticut Department of Insurance (the Department) issued Bulletin SL-6 (the Bulletin) to restate the requirements generally applicable to surplus lines placements, and to advise that the diligent effort exception established by Public Act 25-87, effective October 1, 2025, only applies to surplus lines brokers when they procure insurance coverage through an unaffiliated wholesale broker. The Bulletin additionally supersedes and rescinds Connecticut Bulletins SL-3 and SL-5.Read More When Surplus Lines Brokers Are Off the Hook: Connecticut Department Issues Bulletin on New Diligent Effort Exception

On June 13, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1549 into law. Among other things, the bill has removed the “diligent effort” requirement applicable to surplus lines agents.Read More Florida Bill Eliminating the Surplus Lines Diligent Effort Requirement and a Discussion on Surplus Lines Regulation Trends

Join Locke Lord, InsurTechNY and InsurTech Hartford for their next InsurTech Legal Academy webinar series on common licensing issues that InsurTechs face when starting up or expanding their insurance-related activities. Expectations differ between the various states, as well as the NAIC, regarding what activities do and do not require insurance producer and surplus lines broker licensure (both on an individual and entity level). Moreover, even if an InsurTech is not making a final decision on whether to accept or deny a claim, it may “cross the line” into licensable activity as well. Zach and Moya will also touch on nuances in the reinsurance intermediary space as well, which differ substantially from insurance producer licensing standards in a number of states.
Read More Join Us for Our Next InsurTech Legal Academy Webinar: A Deep Dive Into Producer, Adjuster and Reinsurance Intermediary Licensing Regimes