"A renowned insurance group experienced in a full range of regulatory issues, including privacy and data security, reinsurance program planning, and providing support in transactions." — Chambers 2017

The very first written insurance policy was carved into a Babylonian obelisk. The legal code of Hammurabi (c. 1754 BC) insured a debtor against having to pay back his loans if some personal catastrophe made it impossible. The transfer and distribution of risk dates back even further, to about 3000 BC, when Chinese shipping merchants would divide their goods among ships so that if one ship went down, the resulting loss of cargo would not devastate any one individual merchant.

Fast forward to the 21st century. Insurance is ubiquitous, the variety of products and programs is virtually unlimited and technology is revolutionizing all aspects of the business: underwriting, investment, claims and marketing.

• Advances in data science are allowing insurers to feed broader historical, continuous and real-time data through complex algorithms to construct a much more accurate picture of risk. By harnessing the power of data collected via the Internet of things, social media and wearable/connected devices insurers can provide more customized programs along with dynamic pricing. Auto insurers, for example, are charging premiums based on data collected through the use of telematics or black boxes fitted in policyholders' vehicles.
• Claims processing has become more innovative, customer-centric and efficient, transformed by changing technology capabilities in predictive fraud scoring and loss mitigation; data capture via mobile, video and GPS to improve the FNOL process; apps and portals and other real-time communication tools to keep customers abreast of claim status; and straight-through automation.
• Large online platforms like Google and Amazon have forced traditional insurance companies to optimize their communication strategies and build products applicable on a digital format.

Meanwhile, questions abound. How will we insure autonomous vehicles? Underwrite cyber and other emerging technology-related risks? Apply software robotics solutions and artificial intelligence to improve productivity and accuracy? Lay the foundation for at-scale blockchain use?

Dentons is challenging the status quo—delivering quality and value to our clients in new and innovative ways, including partnering with leading technology companies to develop tools to improve client service and enhance client solutions. We even have our own innovation incubator, Nextlaw Labs. But we also have a legacy of service to the insurance sector that goes back more than 80 years. That's why we're the go-to firm for some of the hottest companies operating in the insurtech space, from Bunker, CoverHound,  HealthSherpa, Metromile and Oscar Health Insurance to leading rideshare companies and the venture and innovation arms of insurance companies.

Just as the UK insurance market, including the unique ecosystem that is the London and Lloyd's Market, is a global center of expertise, its insurtech sector has attracted significant investment of late. Dentons advises a number of established players and startups and is actively involved with market groups looking to establish the UK as a leading global center for insurtech. We are already seeing a number of the initiatives and products on which we advised banks and other financial institutions being adopted by the insurtech market, and have observed increasing collaboration and dialogue between UK regulators and other jurisdictions on market trends and best practices.

Startup program

Like any tech startup, launching an insurtech business requires dexterity. From accessing capital to protecting intellectual property, recruiting talent to complying with a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, not only must you overcome a dizzying array of challenges, you must do so with dispatch…or be left in the digital dust.

In collaboration with our Venture Technology group we provide insurtech founders and early-stage companies via our Startup Program with a broad array of catalytic services including strategic business, financial and legal counsel that is uniquely orchestrated to help emerging businesses scale rapidly.

Regulatory compliance

The US, UK and global insurance markets are highly regulated and intensely scrutinized—which is why, year after year, general counsel say that keeping up with regulatory demands is among their top challenges. Dentons' global Insurance Regulatory team can help you navigate this constantly changing landscape so that you can focus on your business. The team includes former regulators eager to leverage their relationships on your behalf, and former in-house counsel for insurance companies who understand your business intimately. The group has decades of experience helping clients obtain licenses; develop and document internal procedures to ensure that claims, rating, and underwriting functions and complex new products are compliant; guiding clients through market conduct examinations and other regulatory inquiries; complying with any notice requirements; and obtaining approvals of mergers, acquisitions and reinsurance arrangements.

Product

In addition to providing ongoing compliance support, we regularly advise insurance companies on the introduction of new products and programs—from  troubleshooting initial concepts to drafting ironclad policy language to securing form and rate approvals. A team of seasoned litigators provides coverage advice and trial and appellate representation on the full range of coverage issues and policy and claim types, including defense of class actions relating to products and industry practices.

Insights

Our recent Thought Leadership

March 27, 2019

The following represents a carefully curated selection of our recent Thought Leadership contributions.

South Africa Newsletter - February 2019

February 28, 2019

South Africa’s diverse economy, strategic role in Africa and political history create a unique business and regulatory environment. The Dentons South Africa Newsletter will help you keep abreast of issues that affect doing business in, from and with South Africa. Every month this newsletter will provide you with a collection of articles, alerts and guidelines from our offices around the world.

TMT Bites - 4th issue

February 27, 2019

Welcome to the fourth issue of Dentons TMT Bites, the newsletter of Dentons’ Italian Intellectual Property & Technology group. This month we will focus on FinTech and InsurTech and how technology is shaping the future of the finance and insurance industries. 

View all insights for Insurtech

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons advises FinanzRitter on Series A financing round

June 10, 2025

Global law firm Dentons has advised FinanzRitter GmbH on a Series A financing round led by Family Office Skybrain GmbH, along with Axel Springer Plug and Play Accelerator as well as other new and existing investors.

Dentons strengthens German insurance team with new counsel

September 18, 2018

Global law firm Dentons has strengthened its insurance team in Germany with the hire of Dr. Kai Goretzky, who will join the Frankfurt office as counsel.