A good reputation is valuable but also fragile. As Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Chairman Warren Buffett said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation, and five minutes to ruin it.” In the headlines every day are incidents that damage the public’s perception of an organization, from social media controversies, to executive misconduct to regulatory violations. Fortunately, a new generation of insurance products is emerging to provide protection for reputational risks.

The value of insurance and risk management often comes into sharp focus when a loss occurs. This is especially true of cyber risks such as data breaches.

The scope of a common exclusion in Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) policies relating to “wage-and- hour and overtime law(s)” is narrower than a trial court found and therefore EPLI coverage can apply to a wider set of employment claims, according to the California Court of Appeal in the 4th Appellate District.

The marketplace for directors' and officers’ liability insurance is changing, but what those changes ultimately will mean is not yet clear. In a classic case of cause and effect, litigation and losses that have been pressuring D&O insurers for some time are prompting underwriters to raise rates, tighten terms and conditions, and cut capacity. D&O for public companies has changed dramatically, and financial pressures are now forcing changes to coverage for private and nonprofit organizations as well.

The sharing economy reaches far beyond rides and vacation rentals. Entrepreneurs are creating on-demand solutions wherever the sharing approach shows promise, targeting everything from services such as deliveries, home repairs and gardening to sharing personal property including baby strollers, tools and formal wear.