Phil Fraim, Author at OAMIC: Legal Malpractice Insurance

PHIL’S CORNER: Managing Your Clients’ Expectations

A couple of things make it increasingly difficult to achieve client satisfaction in the provision of legal services. Starting out with a disgruntled client who is never happy and has already been to four other lawyers creates a mountain that is very difficult to climb. But, the other very tough situation is a client who begins with expected results that are probably impossible to ever obtain. What Do You Want? Several years ago, a very experienced lawyer told me they were...

How the Number of Attorneys Affects Premiums

I get questions from time to time along the lines of “Why is my insurance twice as much just because I now have two lawyers at the firm instead of one?” I promise this won’t be a primer on insurance, but to really answer that question, we have to back up and look at the basis to which rates are applied in order to determine your premium. This is formally referred to as the “exposure basis.” Different exposure basis that...

Considerations for Attorneys With Clients in Cannabis-Related Businesses

We were probably the first lawyers professional liability insurer to openly declare the willingness to write coverage for law firms providing legal services to cannabis business clients. Many insurers declined to underwrite firms with these types of clients, while others crafted specific exclusions for claims arising from clients in a cannabis business. On the other hand, we felt this niche area of practice was largely business transactional, along with corporate and business organizational, and that there was not too...

PHIL’S CORNER: Prior Acts – the 2nd Trigger of Coverage

We have made an effort to make sure policyholders have an understanding of a claims-made policy, on which professional liability is written. The easiest means to do so is to focus on the major differentiations from an occurrence-based policy. What is known as the “first trigger” of coverage in a claims-made form is that a policy must be in effect when the claim is first reported. This makes continuity of coverage critical. If coverage lapses, is discontinued at renewal or...

PHIL’S CORNER: Dividends – Sharing Our Efforts

Phil’s Corner is a special column from OAMIC’s President & CEO Phil Fraim. I am sure the favorite envelope you receive from us has to be the one containing the policy dividend check. In all honesty, it is our favorite one to send because it means we had something left in which to share with you, recognizing your efforts that made it possible. What a crazy year 2020 turned out to be. Yet, with all the uncertainty that seemed to grow...

PHIL’S CORNER: Unexpected Reasons I’m Thankful for 2020

PHIL’S CORNER: Unexpected Reasons I'm Thankful for 2020 Phil’s Corner is a special column from OAMIC’s President & CEO Phil Fraim. You know, I started to say, “Thank you for 2020,” but man did I have to quickly rephrase that one! No doubt we are strengthened by adversity, but I have serious doubts anyone was sad to see 2020 sail on by. The most difficult part was not being able to predict when it might all get back to normal –...

PHIL’S CORNER: Thank You

PHIL’S CORNER: Thank You Phil’s Corner is a special monthly column from OAMIC’s President & CEO Phil Fraim. I started to write something regarding a different subject matter, but during this year when it seems like COVID-19 and many things have made it a difficult and trying time, it hit me how grateful I am for many things. With all the adversity and uncertainty, that may seem like an unusual attitude, even bordering on Pollyanna-ish. Yet, if we can step back...

PHIL’S CORNER: Moving Past Diversity to Inclusion

PHIL'S CORNER: Moving Past Diversity to Inclusion Co-written by Phil Fraim and Zindaba Tembo From Diversity to a Diverse Team Phil Fraim, President and CEO The topic of diversity and inclusion is an important one. However, it is also one that people have heard so many presentations about and been involved in so many educational or training sessions on that they have become weary or desensitized. That is not to infer this is a reasonable reaction, or even understandable. Rather, merely an observation...

PHIL’S CORNER: Completing the Firm’s Insurance Needs

PHIL’S CORNER: Completing the Firm’s Insurance Needs Phil’s Corner is a special column from OAMIC’s President & CEO Phil Fraim that is sent in our e-newsletter each month. No big surprise that professional liability insurance is the biggest need for law firms, since it represents the largest exposure for lawyers, as well as other professions like doctors, accountants and architects. For that reason, we will never take our eye off the goal of being the very best professional liability insurer for...

PHIL’S CORNER: Impact of COVID-19 on LPL Claims – If Any

PHIL’S CORNER: Impact of COVID-19 on LPL Claims – If Any Phil's Corner is a special column from OAMIC's President & CEO Phil Fraim that is sent in our e-newsletter each month. So far in 2020, claims in our office have been improved both in the number of new matters and the average size of those matters. Is this a false sense of security, the calm before the storm? It is way too early in the game to make predictions on...