Amwins has announced the integration of the Risksmith Lawyers Professional Liability (LPL) program into Amwins Program Underwriters (APU), effective Jan. 1.
The move is expected to strengthen APU's LPL portfolio by expanding its ability to support excess and quota share placements and enhancing its non-admitted capabilities.
Launched in 2023 and led by John Muller, the Risksmith LPL program provides tailored coverage solutions for law firms ranging from small practices to large, complex organizations. Built on flexible underwriting structures and surplus lines capacity, the program enables both lead and excess placements across a broad spectrum of legal risks nationwide.
Strategic benefits of integration
Jon Beckham, president of Amwins Program Underwriters, said the integration is a meaningful addition to the firm's lawyers professional liability portfolio. Bringing Risksmith into APU allows for greater structuring flexibility and more scalable capacity as client needs evolve. The move also enhances both admitted and non-admitted offerings, giving retailers more options when placing complex legal professional risks.
The integration positions Amwins to capture a broader share of the US LPL market by offering adaptable excess and quota share capacity that addresses evolving law firm exposures. As legal malpractice claims become more complex and frequent, insurers and program underwriters alike are focused on developing solutions and risk mitigation tools.
The consolidation also signals increasing competition among specialty underwriters to provide scalable and customizable LPL products, potentially driving innovation and enhanced offerings across the sector.
Current status of the US LPL market
The lawyers professional liability insurance market in the US remains competitive and generally stable, with healthy capacity available and steady demand among law firms of varying sizes.
Approximately 68% of US law firms carry primary LPL coverage and nearly three-quarters of larger firms maintain excess layers, reflecting widespread adoption of layered protection as a risk management strategy. The market has seen moderate single-digit rate increases rather than dramatic hardening, though insurers continue to closely evaluate claims experience and firm risk profiles.
Brokers play a significant role in navigating capacity and pricing dynamics, with roughly 40% of placements managed through broker channels. Claims frequency and severity trends are prompting carriers to refine underwriting criteria and expand risk management services as part of policy offerings.
