Ling Ong (pictured), a partner at Weightmans, has been appointed president of the London Market Forum of Insurance Lawyers (London Market FOIL), a division of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers focused on the legal and regulatory needs of the London insurance and reinsurance market.
She succeeds Fleur Rochester, a partner at Kennedys, following London Market FOIL’s 2025 rebrand, which was designed to reflect the specific characteristics of the London Market and its role as a global hub for specialty insurance and reinsurance.
Supporting insurers and reinsurers amid market pressures
Ong’s appointment comes as insurers and reinsurers in the London Market continue to navigate a range of structural and cyclical pressures, including geopolitical and economic uncertainty, regulatory change and increasingly complex global risks. These factors are influencing underwriting appetite, claims strategies and capital deployment across multiple lines of business.
With more than 30 years’ experience advising insurers and reinsurers operating in the London Market, Ong is expected to lead London Market FOIL in supporting members on issues such as cyber risk, claims inflation, evolving international trade patterns, digitisation of insurance processes, ESG-related exposures and the need to attract and retain specialist underwriting and claims talent.
International insurance focus
A central focus under Ong’s presidency will be the international dimension of London Market insurance practice. London Market policies frequently involve insureds, risks and claims spanning multiple jurisdictions, requiring close coordination between insurers, reinsurers and legal advisers worldwide.
Ong has extensive experience handling complex, multi-jurisdictional insurance claims, including matters involving Ecuador, Turkey, Malaysia and Germany, and regularly works alongside overseas counsel across Europe and North America. London Market FOIL said it will continue to track regulatory and legal developments across key insurance jurisdictions to help members and their insurer clients manage cross-border risk and compliance issues.
Role of London Market FOIL in the insurance ecosystem
London Market FOIL provides a platform for education, policy engagement and networking, aimed at supporting the effective operation of the London insurance and reinsurance market. By working with insurers, reinsurers and market bodies, while maintaining an independent stance, the organisation seeks to give insurance-focused law firms a coordinated voice on issues affecting underwriting, claims handling and dispute resolution.
Ong said the London Market is now more international than ever, with insurers and reinsurers increasingly judged on their global reach, trusted networks and long-term relationships. She said her focus would be on helping members support insurer clients as they respond to emerging risks and market pressures, while strengthening the international connections that underpin London Market insurance business.
FOIL chief executive Laurence Besemer said Ong’s experience reflected the reality that most London Market insurance matters now have an international element. He added that London Market FOIL reflects the distinctive nature of the market, operating across multiple legal systems and cultures, and will continue to support insurers and reinsurers navigating complex global insurance risks under Ong’s leadership.
