Lloyd’s remains the world leader in the insurance of the world’s cultural heritage and luxury assets, an area where the exposures can be enormous and the risk highly specialist. In this session, one of the market’s leading brokers will chat to three fine art specialist underwriters about how art is insured, what the pitfalls are, and how the world’s most prized assets are protected.

This experienced panel will cover how high-value cultural objects and luxury assets are insured, shedding light on how fragile items are threatened and how insurers seek to protect them. Interestingly, not all artwork will go by the same principles, and you’ll learn how some pieces are ‘good to insure’, and some are not so straightforward. One of the most fascinating aspects of this discussion will certainly be seeking an answer to the age-old question, how do you put a price on something priceless?

Alexandra O’Hare has over 16 years’ experience in Fine Art and Specie insurance and has worked as a broker for some of the most prestigious galleries, auction houses and private collections over her career. As part of this career Alexandra has also spoken at many conferences on Risk Management and the role insurance has to play in the transfer of risk. In recent years, her specialism has broadened to include General Specie and she now looks after those in the precious metal industry as well as the fine art world.

Chris Bentley, while studying for his BA in History of Art at University College London (in which he specialised in 20th century modernist painting in Europe and the US), worked at Bonhams Auctioneers and AXA ART Insurance until September 2006, when he joined Aon Artscope as a fine art insurance broker specialising in art and antique dealers. Having worked for both AXA ART and Hiscox, both leading global fine art insurers, Chris has underwritten the policies of many of the world’s major museums, art institutions, galleries and collectors. He is also an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, an elected member of the LMA/IUA Joint Specie Committee and a member of PAIAM (Professional Advisors to the International Art Market).

Richard Northcott joined Ironshore in September 2011, as Director of the High Value Cargo Division. He has substantially changed the profile and business mix of the division, concentrating on core specialities of Fine Art, Mining, Specie, Classic Car, High Net Worth and Motorsport business. Richard previously served as Executive Director of the Art, Jewellery, Specie and Private Client Division of Heath Lambert, overseeing a wide range of niche accounts and managing a significant portion of the Lloyd’s binding authorities for the company. His industry tenure spans more than 20 years with Heath Lambert, throughout its history of mergers and acquisitions, where he specialised in creating innovative solutions for its executive fine art, jewellery, cash in transit and high-net-worth customer base.

Robert Korzinek is Head of Asset Protection at W/R/B Underwriting, part of the W. R. Berkley group of companies, specialising solely in specialist insurance of the Fine Art and Collectibles, Jewellery and Specie markets. Robert joined W/R/B Underwriting in 2014 to expand their international Asset Protection business, building upon the firm foundations of Berkley Asset Protection’s strong presence in the USA where it is a leading fine art and jewellery insurer by market share and reputation. Robert has underwritten the insurance for many of the world’s most notable museums, auctioneers, galleries and private collections.