Arch Insurance International has bolstered its casualty division with three promotions, including that of Robin Hamilton as head of energy and marine liability.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has appointed Bertrand Le Gall as head of casualty in France.

Axa XL has appointed Richard Burggraf as head of excess casualty for the US east region.

The wholesale and E&S casualty sector is experiencing heightened demand for capacity across both primary and excess lines, according to Axis Capital’s Anna Tan, who credits this trend for creating significant opportunities for specialty carriers like the firm she joined in early 2024.

MGA Ledgebrook has transitioned its general casualty and supported excess products from the AM Best A- rated paper of Everspan to the A rated paper of MS Transverse, E&S Insurer can reveal.

Amid peak activity for firm order terms and signings of 1.1 reinsurance renewals, strong reinsurer demand for property cat appears to be driving softening at the upper end of expectations, while recent tough talk on US casualty is not translating to meaningful reductions in ceding commissions.

Upward pressure on primary pricing in US casualty lines is expected to accelerate at the upcoming 1 January renewals, with a general consensus that the industry is not yet in the "later innings" of prior-year development, according to JMP Securities.

KBW’s Meyer Shields has provided a “largely positive” outlook for specialty and standard commercial insurers, reflecting the historical pattern of peak commercial underwriting margins coming several years after peak pricing increases.

New US casualty market entrants are leading to rate stabilisation in excess of $10mn, while the London market is “becoming a bit more aggressive” than domestic carriers, according to Risk Placement Services.

Arch Insurance has hired CNA Hardy’s Rachida Laazaouzi as a senior casualty underwriter.