The facility is intended for large national and multinational companies and will be available in the United States. Underwriting begins immediately, with coverage effective July 1, 2025.
The program provides excess umbrella liability insurance underwritten by Chubb and Zurich. It is supported by National Indemnity Company, an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway. The initiative enters the market at a time when companies continue to face challenges related to rising litigation costs, capacity constraints, and changing underwriting conditions in the casualty sector.
“The litigation environment for large companies in the US is increasingly hostile, and business as usual is not the answer,” said John Keogh, president and chief operating officer of Chubb Group. “This initiative, between three of the largest, most experienced insurers in the large account market, is our effort to bring a new approach in terms of insurance protection and claims capability, that best serves those clients who are more and more often the target of legal abuse.”
Zurich North America CEO Kristof Terryn said businesses had been facing reduced capacity and increasing coverage costs.
“This facility creates a sustainable answer to the litigation environment, whose volatility has continued to frustrate our customers, while helping to stabilize capacity in the excess casualty market,” Terryn said. “We are pleased to be working with Chubb and Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity to make the most of our combined knowledge, financial strength and staying power to provide such a needed solution for our customers.”
The US casualty insurance market continues to reflect upward pressure on rates, especially in excess and umbrella liability lines. Insurers are adjusting pricing and reducing per-risk capacity in response to legal trends, large jury verdicts, and other loss developments.
Industry data show that casualty rates have increased across multiple segments, and insurers are adopting more selective underwriting practices. The use of technology and alternative risk models is also expanding as carriers look to manage volatility and improve efficiency.
According to the companies, the new facility is positioned as a streamlined option for brokers, agents, and policyholders. Features include a single access point through either Chubb or Zurich, aligned coverage terms, administrative efficiencies, and coordinated claims handling.
Meanwhile, market outlooks suggest that while premium growth and underwriting results have improved across the broader property and casualty sector, the casualty market is expected to remain under pressure due to continued legal and economic uncertainty. Rate increases and capacity discipline are likely to continue through the near term, as carriers focus on maintaining underwriting performance and responding to long-term risk exposures.
