The Policyholder Podcast: Presented by SDV Fenchurch

Meet Simran Matharu, who joins us to share her journey as Fenchurch Law’s first-ever Solicitor Apprentice.

Simran walks us through the structure of her six-year apprenticeship, a comprehensive programme that blends academic study with hands-on experience. By qualification, Simran will have spent six years immersed in the inner workings of a law firm, making her "worth her weight in gold" compared to traditional trainees just starting their professional journey.

Simran represents a new generation of legal professionals entering the field, whether you're considering alternative pathways to qualification or simply curious about evolving approaches to legal training, Simran's insights offer a compelling glimpse into the future of legal education.

Meet Abi Smith, the newest member of our London team. Having joined Fenchurch Law in January 2025, Abi reflects on what inspired her move and shares her first impressions after six months at the firm.

She shares insights into our unique culture, where top-tier legal work meets a refreshingly flat hierarchy. It’s a balance that enables us to tackle complex, high-stakes matters while preserving the friendly, collaborative spirit of a boutique practice.

We also get to know Abi beyond the legal world. She reveals her strong opinions on brewing the perfect cup of Yorkshire Tea, her deep pride in her Bolton roots, and the invaluable lessons she’s learned from colleagues — particularly the art of turning technical detail into clear, commercially focused client advice.

Listen now to get to know Abi.

In this episode, our host Dru Corfield is joined by special guest Ed Pocock, Head of Cyber Security at Gallagher Re, to discuss perspectives on AI from the cyber security point of view.

Topics discussed include:

• What are the challenges with insuring against cyber security risks? 
• What does AI coverage within insurance policies entail?
• How can companies protect themselves against the growing threat of AI-generated deepfake fraud?
• Do policyholders see AI as posing a greater risk or a greater benefit?

In this episode, our host Dru Corfield has a conversation with Alexandra Matthews, Underwriter for AI Performance Risks at Munich Re, about its Insure AI product.
 
 Topics discussed include:

• Insure AI, Munich Re’s AI Insurance offering
• How companies can effectively safeguard against recurring issues, such as algorithmic bias, when using Generative AI
• The biggest challenges companies face when implementing AI solutions
• A look towards the future of AI, and the opportunities for growth and innovation

Our host Dru Corfield is joined by special guest Dr Joanne Cracknell, Director of Risk at WTW, to discuss perspectives on AI from a risk and compliance point of view.

This episode covers:

• Recent Advances in AI Regulation
• How can international companies cope with the evolving regulations around AI in different jurisdictions?
• Advice for law firms on safeguarding against privacy violations of their client’s data when deploying generative AI.
• Addressing Algorithmic Bias: Practical suggestions to reduce bias and avoid unintentional breaches of the Equality Act 2010.
• Unpacking the AI “Black Box”
• Examining whether overreliance on generative AI could undermine trust in the legal profession or the broking community
• The Government’s Stance on AI

In this episode, Associate Dru Corfield is joined by special guest Shannan Fort, International Cyber Product Leader at Marsh to discuss perspectives on AI from the cyber insurance market point of view.

Topics discussed include:

• What are policyholders asking about in terms of AI coverage in their cyber policies?  
• What are policyholders main concerns?  
• Thoughts on AI losses being covered by cyber policies
• What might an ‘AI loss’ look like?  
• How is the insurance market defining AI in policies?  

Our host Dru Corfield talks to special guest George Hilton, a Barrister at Monckton Chambers about perspectives on AI from the legal and professional negligence point of view. 

This episode covers:

• The intersection of AI, law and professional indemnity insurance.
• How and why might a professional be held responsible for acting upon erroneous advice given by GenAI? 
• The Bolam Test and how it might apply to a professional using AI
• Would the test for standard of care change if AI was being used by an insurance broker?
• In the future would it be negligent for lawyers and brokers to not use AI in the course of their work?
• AI Judges

Our host Alex Rosenfield talks to Paul Mills, Product Development Manager of WTW Networks, about how to get property claims paid.

Our host Jonathan Corman talks to guests HH Judge Davis-White QC and Hugh Evans, Barrister at 4 New Square, about why litigants lose cases they expect to win.

In this episode we cover the following: 

• Whether litigants ever fight cases to trial for reasons other than that seeming the least bad option.  
• To what extent cases get to trial because solicitors/counsel want that, rather than the client.
• To what extent can you tell in advance that the outcome of a particular trial would depend on the identity of the trial judge (e.g. “pro-claimant” or “pro-defendant” judges; or judges who are more deferential to precedent than others).
• What recent insurance developments have been Good, Bad or Ugly for policyholders 

Our host Daniel Robin talks to special guest Will Healy, Senior Associate at Kennedys about perspectives from the policyholder and insurer sides of the market.

In this episode we cover the following:

• Does the Insurance market operate effectively and fairly for policyholders?
• How the Insurance market can be improved for the benefit of both Insurers and policyholders?
• BI claims
• What Will thinks is Good, Bad or Ugly for policyholders in relation to Covid BI litigation