‘Challenges in Today’s Reinsurance Marketplace’ to be Focus of Chicago Reinsurance Symposium

MALVERN, Pa., April 15 -- The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society issued the following news release:

Reinsurance professionals will soon gather in Chicago to gain a better understanding of how current events such as the economic downturn have affected reinsurance claims and to identify emerging issues that could present new opportunities or potential dangers. Almost every insurance company buys reinsurance from other insurers for the same reasons that individuals and businesses buy insurance -- to reduce uncertainty about the possibility of financial losses by transferring risks and sharing losses.

On Thursday, May 5, the CPCU Society and five other groups -- the CPCU Society Reinsurance Interest Group; the CPCU Society Chicago, Chicago-Northwest Suburban and Chicago-West Suburban Chapters; and the Association of Lloyd's Brokers -- will present a symposium on "Reinsurance Today -- Challenges in Today's Reinsurance Marketplace!" The symposium will take place at DLA Piper US LLP, 203 N. LaSalle St., 15th floor, Chicago, Ill.

The workshop will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., with registration from 8:15-8:45 a.m. Following the workshop, a REACH Reception/Luncheon will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for an additional fee.

The annual workshop provides reinsurance professionals - and other professionals who work with or are impacted by reinsurance - an opportunity to gain a better understanding of where the reinsurance industry is, where it's heading and how it impacts the entire insurance industry

The workshop will feature two panel discussions. During the first session, reinsurance claims professionals will discuss "Reinsurance and Claims -- Current and Upcoming Issues." Mike Lamplot of Chiltington International will serve as moderator. Panelists will include Leonardo Casanas of Swiss Re Claims; Kevin Doerschuk of CNA Ceded Claims; and Randy Leffelman of Munich Re America Claims.

The second panel, comprised of reinsurance executives, will provide a "view from the top" discussion of the hottest issues facing the industry today. Eric Hubicki of BMS Intermediaries Inc. will serve as moderator for the program, "Interpreting the State of the Market." Panelists will include Frank Coglianese of SCOR Re; Jim Hawksworth of Willis Re; Brian Kernkamp of Zurich NA; and Himanshu Shah of Munich Re America Treaty.

The cost is $75 for CPCU Society members and $95 for nonmembers. Workshop materials and refreshments are included.

The workshop has been filed by the Association of Lloyd's Brokers for continuing education (CE) credits in Illinois. CPCUs will be awarded two continuing professional development (CPD) points for the workshop.

Registration and detailed content description are available on the CPCU Society's website, www.cpcusociety.org, under "Professional Development."

The REACH Reception/Luncheon will feature a presentation by Holly M. Spurlock, of counsel, and Carl H. Poedtke III, of counsel, DLA Piper. They will discuss "Earthquakes, Oil Spills and Floods, Oh My! The Impact of and Strategies for Managing and Litigating CAT Claims." Separate registration and charge is required. For more information and to register for the luncheon, contact Albert K. Moy, REACH president, at (708) 917-2454.

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