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Financial Institutions and Employment Practices Liability Insurance Protection #metoo

Feb 19, 2018 8:54:20 PM ,

Lou D'Agostino, Principal

Bonner v. Point72 Asset Management, 18-cv-01233, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. The lawsuit filed earlier this month alleges that Steven Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management firm discriminates against women. For its part, the firm denied the allegations and filed papers to seal the complaint, alleging that the claimant is trying “to harm Point72’s repetitional interests, cause upset among its employees by disclosing their confidential personal information, and perhaps, generate publicity."
 
This shouldn’t be a shocking claim. In a tumultuous world, hedge funds are among the most vulnerable institutions for claims of wrongful employment violations. The deeper the pockets, the larger the target. A legal suit, whether for sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or discrimination, can bring long-term damage to a fund or financial institution.
 
With the emerging #MeToo movement, it is important to understand the complex landscape surrounding sexual misconduct and gender discrimination. Some firms believe mandatory arbitration requirements will protect them from significant financial loss. It is important to note that lawmakers, both in Congress and in statehouses across the land, are considering the invalidation of such mandatory employment arbitration clauses. Consider the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act, a bipartisan bill making its way through Congress. Legislatures in California, New York, and New Jersey have similar bills pending action.
 
Portfolio managers, as well as high-level C-suite executives, are highly compensated individuals who have amassed considerable wealth. As such, they remain targets of frivolous lawsuits. Many have opted to specifically insure their organizations to cover the defense costs associated with employment practices claims and the resulting monetary damages stemming from such lawsuits. For funds and financial institutions which are not currently insured, it is wise to investigate Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) coverage which is readily available in the market. For those currently utilizing a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), chances are, you are sharing in a global co-employers EPLI policy. Given that, it is strongly recommended to review the policy terms and conditions of your PEO. Additionally, it is important to consider the potential erosion issues which may arise when sharing in a global joint insured policy.
 
In either case, whether covered by your existing PEO or separately, one question must be raised: Is your organization’s coverage adequate for your needs? If there are gaps, consider adding an additional policy which can respond “excess of” PEO coverage or, better yet, respond first.
 
If you have questions, call the specialists at Iron Cove today. They’ll inspect your policies to ensure they carry the essential endorsements necessary to guard against 21st century malfeasance.
 

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Tags: Hedge Funds, employment practices, Employment Practices Liability, financial institutions, Insurance Protection, Investment Adviser, Iron Cove, Legal liability, Private Equity, registered investment adviser

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Lou D'Agostino, Principal

Written by Lou D'Agostino, Principal

Lou D’Agostino is a dynamic senior insurance professional with nearly 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is presently serving as Principle of Iron Cove, a division of EPIC Brokers. In his current role, Mr. D’Agostino oversees a group of talented insurance professionals that offer a full suite of insurance products and consulting services to some of the nation’s wealthiest families/high net-worth clients and largest organizations. He is dedicated to business/new product development and large account placement, resulting in a proven track record of successful negotiation of even the most challenging of claims such as Madoff, investor litigation, and SEC/DOJ enforcement. As part of his work at Iron Cove, Mr. D’Agostino’s expertise has been called upon by a variety of industry trade groups. He has presented to the Financial Executives Alliance (FEA), the NYSSCPA, and other peer groups on a wide array of insurance related topics. He also presented at GAIMops, a leading financial services conference focusing on non-investment operations, on the topic of AIFMD and the associated insurance implications.

Iron Cove is a Division of EPIC Brokers and represents over 400+ Financial Institutions. With over 1500 Employees, 50 Offices in the US and over $500mm in annualized revenues, we currently rank as one the largest privately held insurance brokerages in the US. Iron Cove has been named Best US and Global Insurance Provider by Hedgeweek Two (2) years running.

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