W. R. Berkley Corporation Combines Professional Liability Units

Business Wire

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE:WRB) today announced the combination of two of its Chicago-based professional liability underwriting units, Berkley Select and Monitor Liability Managers (Monitor), into a single operating unit that will trade under the Berkley Select name.

Berkley Select has operated as an underwriting manager specializing in professional liability products, including lawyers, accountants, and miscellaneous E&O exclusively on a surplus lines basis. Its products are offered nationwide through a very narrow group of distribution partners who are preeminent experts in their individual niches. Monitor has delivered professional liability insurance solutions, including accountants professional liability, private directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, lawyers professional liability and fiduciary liability to individuals, businesses, professional services firms and organizations nationwide on an admitted and surplus lines basis. The newly constituted Berkley Select will provide a single market for agents and brokers to address the diverse professional liability needs of their clients with unparalleled expertise.

Joseph G. Shores, who joined Berkley Select as president upon its launch in 2007 and has served as president of Monitor since 2013, will continue as president of the newly consolidated unit. Mr. Shores has more than 30 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry with significant specialty, professional liability and excess lines experience.

W. Robert Berkley, Jr., president and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, said: “We are pleased to announce the combination of these two leading businesses in the professional liability space, which will enable our distribution system and ultimately our customers to benefit from the best that both teams have to offer. Under Joe’s skillful leadership, agents, brokers and clients can expect an unmatched combination of service, dedication, speed and technology.”

For further information about Berkley Select and the products and services it offers, please contact David Aller at [email protected].

Celebrating 50 years, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty insurance business: Insurance and Reinsurance. For further information about W. R. Berkley Corporation, please visit www.wrberkley.com.

Products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction, and the precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. Certain coverages may be provided through surplus lines insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation through licensed surplus lines brokers. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.