AmTrust International has set up a locally licensed insurance operation in Australia, establishing AmTrust Specialty Limited as an Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)-authorised insurer to write legal expenses business in the market. The new entity gives the global specialty insurer, a subsidiary of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., a regulated platform in Australia for legal expenses insurance and forms part of its broader international expansion.
AmTrust Specialty Limited will underwrite legal expenses insurance, initially concentrating on After the Event (ATE) and Before the Event (BTE) products. The covers are intended for individuals and organisations that may be reluctant to start or defend legal proceedings because of the potential cost. “Our entry into the Australian market for Legal Expenses Insurance represents an important milestone for AmTrust. With a highly skilled underwriting team, and a clear demand from intermediaries, funders, and legal professionals, we are exceptionally well-positioned to grow. This expansion reflects our long‑term commitment to Australia and our ambition to build a sustainable presence that brings AmTrust’s global strength and expertise closer to our customers,” Bruce Whitmee, chief executive officer, AmTrust Specialty Limited, said. The legal expenses suite will be distributed through insurance intermediaries, litigation funders, and solicitors, mirroring the channels used by AmTrust International in other jurisdictions.
AmTrust International has offered legal expenses solutions for a number of years in markets such as the UK and is now extending that activity to additional territories, including Australia. ATE policies are generally used once a dispute has arisen, while BTE cover is arranged in advance to respond to defined legal risks. “We are excited to continue building our legal expenses product offering. Australia’s mature legal landscape makes it a strong market for ATE, and we see significant opportunity to further grow our presence in this line. The BTE market, while less developed and recently underserved, presents clear potential for partnership based schemes,” Simon Warr, lead underwriter, legal expenses at AmTrust International, said.
Underwriter Chiara Stoehrmann said the new insurer has been capitalised to meet local regulatory expectations and support future business volumes. “This underscores our commitment to the legal expenses market in Australia and to expanding access to justice. With significant capital now established in country, in line with APRA requirements, we are well-positioned to support long term, sustainable growth in this line,” Stoehrmann said.
The Australian launch sits within AmTrust International’s wider portfolio, which includes warranty, legal expenses, medical malpractice, professional lines, property, and mortgage and credit. The division operates through offices in 13 countries and works with managing general agencies and brokers across the UK, Europe, and other regions. “The AmTrust International team works collaboratively to deliver leading risk solutions to our customers and broker partners across a diverse set of product areas, geographies, and distribution channels. Our concentration on our core product focus areas allows us to continue to innovate and expand the markets and industries we serve,” Peter Dewey, executive vice president and head of international, said. The group has flagged Canada and Australia as additional markets for its legal expenses offering, alongside growth plans in other specialty lines and territories.
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The formation of AmTrust Specialty Limited follows a year of increased premium volume for the wider AmTrust group. In 2024, the company reported gross written premium of $8.8 billion, up from $8.2 billion in 2023, and a combined ratio of 96.7%. Total assets were reported at $27.1 billion, with net earned premiums of $5.8 billion and more than 500,000 small businesses insured globally. AmTrust has indicated that it is investing in technology, data, and operational capabilities to support underwriting decisions and service to partners and policyholders. For Australian insurance brokers, MGAs, and litigation funders, the new entity introduces an additional source of capacity in legal expenses insurance, particularly for ATE covers, with an explicit intention to develop BTE arrangements in a relatively under-served segment of the local market.
