Advertise on podcast: Alliant Specialty Podcasts

How should an organization respond to a cyber incident?  Brendan Hall speaks with Jennifer Coughlin, Founding Partner, Mullen Coughlin, about how cyber threats and incident response have changed over the past decade. They discuss today’s organized threat actors, ransomware and repeat extortion, and why incident response plans and tabletop exercises help leaders work through difficult decisions before a breach. Coughlin also outlines key first steps, including notifying the cyber insurer, engaging experienced breach counsel, coordinating forensic support and preparing communications. The conversation closes with AI-related cyber risks, from employee use of public AI tools to protecting sensitive data.

How should a delayed stock-price decline affect a securities class action, and how can broad cyber exclusions create gaps in D&O coverage for investor-loss claims? Peter Kelly and David Finz, Alliant Specialty Claims & Legal, break down key legal developments shaping executive liability and cyber risk. Peter examines a securities class action in which the court found loss causation was not plausibly pled after an alleged corrective disclosure was followed by an initial stock increase and a later decline. The complaint did not explain the delayed market reaction or distinguish the decline from broader market forces. He also discusses a related claims dispute in which an unreported, pre-policy administrative complaint barred coverage for a later EPL lawsuit under a D&O policy endorsement. David analyzes Boston Scientific’s cyberattack-related guidance miss and explains how broad cyber exclusions can create D&O coverage gaps for investor-loss claims.

Can movement help sales professionals build stronger business relationships? In this episode of Women in Sales, Jenni Lee Crocker talks with Kelly Crossman, The Hartford, and Julie Rison, Alliant Private Client, about using walks, yoga, Pilates, tennis and golf to connect with prospects and centers of influence (COIs). They share how shared activities can make conversations feel less formal, create space for personal connection and offer practical ways to invite clients and referral partners to meet in motion, even when the idea feels intimidating.

Extreme heat can create costly public response expenses, including worker overtime and cooling centers, that may fall outside traditional property coverage. In this episode of In the Public Eye, Taylor Forst, joins Carleen Patterson to explain how parametric insurance can help public entities address these costs.   Taylor discusses how the policy’s daily payouts and annual aggregate work and why the coverage has already triggered a payout for the insured. The conversation explores how parametric insurance may help public entities transfer specific risks that traditional property insurance is not designed to cover.

From complex coverage disputes to the emerging threat of quantum computing, today’s risks demand careful policy analysis and forward-looking preparation. In this episode, Peter Kelly and David Finz, Alliant Specialty Claims & Legal, examine two court decisions involving the definition of a claim and retroactive date exclusions under E&O and D&O policies. They also explore how quantum computing could transform cyber risk, influence future underwriting criteria and expose sensitive data that organizations believe is protected today. Tune in for insights on policy wording, claims strategy and the steps organizations can take now to prepare for evolving cyber threats.

AI is creating unprecedented challenges for organizations and their insurance programs. In this episode, Brendan Hall and Jennifer Page, Alliant Cyber, welcome Brad LaPorte, CMO, Morphisec, to discuss emerging AI exclusions, shadow AI, AI agents and the evolving cyber insurance landscape. They also share practical considerations for strengthening AI governance, cyber resilience and operational readiness.

In this episode of the Alliant Specialty Podcast, Mike Radak examines a D&O runoff coverage dispute involving subsequent acts exclusions and the timing of alleged wrongful acts. David Finz also discusses the Canvas cyber event, the risks created when organizations rely on shared SaaS platforms and practical steps businesses can take to strengthen contractual and technical protections.

Empathy and active listening are powerful sales skills that can strengthen client trust, uncover unspoken needs and create more meaningful business relationships. In this episode of Women in Sales, host Jenni Lee Crocker welcomes Kristin Searcy, Alliant Employee Benefits, to explore how empathy, intuition and curiosity can improve the sales process. Kristin shares practical ways to read the room, ask better questions and stay present—from creating white space before meetings to pausing during presentations and listening beyond a client’s words. Together, they discuss how sales professionals can move beyond the presentation deck, understand what truly matters to decision-makers and become trusted advisors. Listen for actionable insights on consultative selling, relationship building, client communication and developing empathy as a competitive advantage.

Law firm risk management and client intake strategies are essential to identifying unworthy clients before they create costly legal malpractice exposure. In this episode, Craig Howser and Eric Hubbard, Alliant Law Firm Practice, examine the DC Solar fraud case and discuss how firms can strengthen due diligence, engagement practices and ongoing client monitoring. They share actionable insights on legal malpractice prevention, law firm compliance, ABA Model Rule 1.16(a), client vetting procedures and proactive risk management strategies to help firms better identify and manage high-risk client relationships.

Cybersecurity risk management is shifting from reactive threat detection to proactive, AI-driven predictive security strategies that help organizations identify and mitigate threats before incidents occur. Brendan Hall, Alliant Cyber, welcomes Paul Jespersen, founder and CEO of PRE Security, to discuss how predictive cybersecurity and AI-powered SecOps are giving organizations greater visibility into risk while reshaping cyber underwriting and incident prevention. They share practical insights on reducing false positives, strengthening cyber resilience and using real-time security intelligence to support smarter risk management decisions.

Preparation and confidence are essential skills for success in sales, helping professionals navigate negotiations, client relationships and high-stakes conversations with clarity and intention. In this episode, Jenni Lee Crocker welcomes Kristen Handel, Alliant Americas, and Marya Propis, RT Specialty, to discuss how strategic planning, thoughtful questioning and resilience can strengthen confidence and drive long-term success. Kristen and Marya share practical insights on sales strategy, professional development, relationship building and overcoming setbacks to drive career growth and sales performance.

A recent court ruling could reshape how insurers apply public offering exclusions in D&O claims while new AI laws are creating fresh cyber liability risks for businesses nationwide. In this episode, Mike Radak and David Finz, Alliant Specialty Claims & Legal, discuss the EB Holdings D&O coverage decision and why the court rejected a carrier’s broad interpretation of the public offering exclusion. They also explore emerging AI liability laws, chatbot-related risks, deepfake regulation and what businesses should be doing now to reduce cyber and regulatory exposure.

Financial lines insurance trends are evolving with new legal rulings, DOJ antitrust activity and emerging AI-related risks impacting coverage and compliance. In this episode, Mike Radak and David Finz, Alliant Specialty Claims & Legal, discuss a recent Ninth Circuit decision impacting D&O insurance coverage, recent Department of Justice enforcement signals and a case exploring AI and legal privilege. Together, they break down what these developments mean for policyholders and organizations, including how to challenge coverage denials, prepare for regulatory scrutiny and manage confidentiality risks associated with AI tools.

D&O and E&O insurance coverage, professional services exclusions and cyber liability trends are reshaping how organizations manage claims and risk in today’s financial lines landscape. In this episode, Mike Radak and David Finz, Alliant Specialty Claims and Legal, analyze a Delaware court decision on D&O vs. E&O coordination and safeguarding your company against cyber litigation tied to data breaches and geopolitical threats. They share key insights on policy wording, coverage gaps and data breach liability, while highlighting strategies for insurance coverage alignment and cyber preparedness.

Strong professional networks are built through trust, consistency and meaningful relationships, not transactional interactions. In this episode, Jenni Lee Crocker, Alliant, welcomes Stephanie Ford, Warren Whitney, to discuss how centers of influence (COIs) and authentic networking drive long-term success in sales. Together, they share practical insights on building referral networks, strengthening professional connections and cultivating relationships that support sustained business development and career growth.