The Lloyd's Market Association (LMA) has launched the Emerging Litigation Forum (ELF), replacing the former Environment and Climate Change Litigation Committee (ECLIC) and broadening its remit to cover a wider range of litigation trends relevant to insurers.
While climate and environmental cases will remain a core focus, the new forum reflects growing concern over other emerging liability exposures that could shape underwriting decisions across specialty lines.
The move acknowledges that climate litigation, though significant, is progressing slowly, while new sources of claims risk are accelerating. By monitoring these developments, the forum aims to help insurers anticipate legal trends that could impact claims severity, policy wording, reserving strategies, and long-tail liability accumulations. Specific working groups may be formed where member interest is high, creating a channel for deeper market collaboration on fast-moving topics.
The ELF held its first meeting on Oct. 28, featuring sessions on the rise of PFAS litigation in the US and a review of PFAS cases outside the US. The agenda also covered UK water pollution disputes, including the recent River Wye case, illustrating the potential for more environmental claims in domestic courts.
For the market, the forum's output could influence how insurers price and structure cover in lines such as casualty, environmental liability, product liability and specialty risks. Early identification of litigation trends may help carriers limit exposure to systemic losses, adjust coverage triggers or refine exclusions before risks escalate. It also supports more informed reserving and capital planning, particularly for long-tail classes where legal outcomes take years to emerge.
John Levett, head of regulatory affairs at the LMA, said the forum will support insight-sharing to help the market remain prepared as litigation pressure grows. "The establishment of the Emerging Litigation Forum reflects the growing need for the market to engage with a wider set of litigation risks," Levett said. "This group will enable LMA members to share insight and expertise, helping the market remain informed and prepared for developments in an increasingly complex litigation landscape."
