News headlines have been dominated for months by the self-proclaimed “Cost of Living Crisis” following the sustained rise in inflation in the UK to over 10%, which is the highest level for over 40 years. The reasons for this are varied and include the release of pent-up demand following the Covid-19 Pandemic with associated supply chain difficulties, labour shortages and steeply rising energy prices triggered by the War in Ukraine.

We’re delighted to report that teams from Griffiths & Armour took part in two challenges over the summer, raising donations of nearly £7,000. The firm are incredibly proud of their efforts and in support of these the firm’s Partners agreed to match the funds raised, culminating in a sum of £14,000 for our chosen charity, the NSPCC.

The Building Safety Act received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 and is intended to implement the recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt’s report into building regulation and fire safety. Griffiths & Armour Associate Director, Simon Stafford discusses the impact of the BSA and responsibilities of the newly
instated roles.

Cyber risk is now commonly in the top three risks for all organisations. As such, it is essential to have a formal risk management approach to ensure that these risks are adequately assessed, reduced, controlled and monitored. Usually this takes the form of an IT Security Policy that is endorsed at the highest level.

With June’s rate of inflation at a 40 year high of over 10%, the construction industry is increasingly feeling the effects of the current economic climate. Challenges triggered by Covid-19 and Brexit, in particular supply chain issues, has resulted in a ‘domino effect’ of issues to be tackled by contractors and developers.

To provide clarity on considerations for high net worth individuals before acquiring artwork, Griffiths & Armour Head of Private Clients, Edward Dunphy recently caught up with the team at Arcarta to discuss topics such as provenance, protecting personal information and Anti Money Laundering (AML) responsibilities.

Organisations are increasingly dependent on information and communication technology (ICT) for their day-to-day activities. Whilst this delivers significant benefits, it may also introduce new risks, which if not managed correctly can severely damage your company. To provide clarity on how to mitigate these risks, Risk Management Managing Director, Greg Street, provides essential Cyber Risk Management guidance for 2022 and beyond.

The Cyber Risk landscape is constantly evolving and cyber attacks have become more sophisticated and socially engineered, making them harder to detect. As a result of this, there has been an increase in cyber claims from businesses spanning various sectors. Mark Hawksworth, Global Technology Specialist Leader from Sedgwick Loss Adjustors, gives his expert advice on what a business can do to mitigate incidents that are currently causing claims.

As we move through 2022 and into 2023, we expect to see the insurance landscape shift. Several insurers have reviewed the breadth of coverage afforded for losses – with a specific caution towards limiting their financial exposure towards systematic cyber events. Our Cyber Specialist, George Gardner, details the current cyber insurance market and predictions on the future of insurer’s underwriting strategy.

We have a strong commitment to the security, confidentiality, and continued availability of our client services. To provide insight into our approach in managing and protecting both company and client data, Griffiths & Armour Head of Group Technology, Dave Atkinson, details the IT framework and infrastructure we have implemented in accordance with the evolving cyber risk landscape.