Resources

Synapse supports our retail partners with extensive resources, including:

  • Claims Advocacy and Legal Support
  • Compliance and Surplus Lines Support
  • Risk Management Strategies

Claims Advocacy and Legal Support

Claims management begins with an accurate assessment of risk -- and ends with unfailing support and advocacy in the event of a claim. Synapse's professional team includes in-house legal counsel, engineers, and insurance producers well-versed in environmental insurance claims and coverage issues. Our professionals provide value by:

  • Advising on product positions and supporting claims negotiations.
  • Researching and following caselaw precedent and emerging coverage interpretations relating to our insurance products and sharing this information with you.
  • Legal research capabilities through Westlaw and insights on new policy language being developed by insurers that may impact future claims.
  • Maintaining strong relationships with outside coverage counsel should you and your insured request such assistance.
  • More in-depth analysis of the risks involved in your insured's business, resulting in a more suitable coverage.
  • Evaluation and perspective of legal actions associated with a specific industry risk.
  • An invaluable legal ally in carrier communications and negotiations.
  • Interpretations of documentation pertinent or important to coverage.
  • Expert and well-representation in claims, policy, or coverage disputes.
 

Underwriting Support

Underwriting complex environmental and business risks requires input from specialists who can provide analysis and supporting information. On the broker's behalf, Synapse provides the underwriter tools to evaluate coverage and suitably price a solution, with particular expertise in:

  • Telephone Surveys and Property Reconnaissance

  • Transportation and Contractor Exposures

  • Brownfield Development and Capital Improvements

  • Environmental Due Diligence Assessments (Phase I and Phase II ESA)

  • Historic Property Use, Ownership and Prior Conditions

  • Loss Control Programs and Safety Culture

  • Operations Flow, Chemical Usage, and Product End Use

  • Emerging Risks and Regulatory Triggers

  • Environmental Data Base Review and Summary

  • Evaluation and perspective of legal actions associated with a specific industry risk

 

Risk Management

Risk management principles are integrated into everything we do at Synapse. When you, as a retail insurance broker, or your counselor integrates Synapse coverage into a deal, your are accessing a team of highly experienced risk management professionals who provide thoughtful and innovative strategies to addressing an insured's specific business risks.  We are guided by four basic risk management principles:

  • Avoid risk -- avoid identified loss by not owning a particular liability or choosing not to engage in a certain activity or walk away from a transaction or business opportunity if the risk level does not match your tolerance level.
  • Retain risk -- pay for anticipated and unanticipated losses as they arise. The risk of a loss remains within the business, technology or real property.
  • Manage risk -- apply techniques to measure and eliminate the severity of a loss. Techniques for real estate often include direct remediation, deed restrictions, and engineering controls. Techniques for operating businesses can include loss control and training programs.
  • Transfer risk -- applied to transfer the uncertainty of a loss away from an operating business, new technology or real property. Risk Transfer removes a level of potential risk from the business to a third party, such as an insurance company or a prior responsible party.
 

Legal Support

Synapse has made signifcant strategic investments in developing robust in-house legal expertise. Benefits of this approach include:

  • more in-depth analysis of the risks involved in your insured's business, resulting in a more suitable coverages;
  • an invaluable legal ally in carrier communications and negotiations;
  • interpretations of documentation pertinant or important to coveragel;
  • expert and well-representation in claims, policy, or coverage disputes;
  • among other unanticipated, but potentially important, matters that may arise
 

Risk Management

Risk management principles are integrated into everything we do at Synapse. When you, as a retail insurance broker, or your counselor integrates Synapse coverage into a deal, you are accessing a team of highly experienced risk management professionals. They provide thoughtful and innovative strategies to address an insured's specific business risks. We are guided by four basic risk management principles:

Avoid risk - avoid identified loss by not owning a particular liability or choosing not to engage in a certain activity or walk away from a transaction or business opportunity if the risk level does not match your tolerance level.

Manage risk - apply techniques to measure and eliminate the severity of a loss Techniques for real estate often include direct remediation, deed restrictions, and engineering controls. Techniques for operating businesses can include loss control and training programs.

Retain risk - pay for anticipated and unanticipated losses as they arise. The risk of a loss remains within the business, technology, or real property.

Transfer risk - applied to transfer the uncertainty of a loss away from an operating business, modern technology, or real property. Risk Transfer removed a level of potential risk from the business to a third party, such as an insurance company or a prior responsible party.