Insurance broker Willis, a WTW business, has launched the Willis Excess Liability Lineslip (WELL) facility, an umbrella insurance solution designed to address limited capacity for large and complex casualty risks in the United States.
Providing up to $50 million of combined lead umbrella and first excess, the WELL facility offers organisations an additional option for securing higher liability limits, particularly as insurers continue to restrict umbrella capacity due to increased claim frequency and severity, explains the firm.
WELL has been specifically designed for organisations seeking larger lead umbrella limits than are typically available in the traditional retail market, including those with complex or challenging risk profiles that may face limited appetite from domestic insurers.
The facility was developed by Willis’ North America Casualty team in London, part of the Direct & Facultative global specialty.
By leveraging the London market’s ability to syndicate capacity through a consortium of Lloyd’s syndicates, it enables clients to access broader limits through a single policy with one lead insurer establishing terms and conditions on behalf of participating markets.
WELL offers up to $25 million in lead umbrella coverage, with the option to provide an additional $25 million in first excess capacity, helping businesses secure protection against catastrophic liability claims that exceed primary casualty limits.
“Our clients are navigating a U.S. casualty market where securing meaningful umbrella coverage has become increasingly difficult,” said James Sallada, Head of Casualty, North America, Willis. “With the WELL facility, we’re bringing together global capacity to provide organizations with access to higher limits, streamlined placement, and tailored solutions—helping them protect against catastrophic exposures and confidently manage complex risks.”
The WELL facility offers comprehensive coverage with several standout features, including the use of a single policy form that covers the full limit, it also designates one lead underwriter to coordinate claims across all participating markets.
Furthermore, the facility includes built-in enhancements such as broadened protection for joint ventures, coverage for evacuation expenses, and a disaster response provision.
Clients have the flexibility to tailor the coverage to their specific requirements, with options for claims-made, occurrence, or occurrence-reported bases.
The facility is open to a broad range of industries and is available to Willis clients placing complex casualty risks requiring additional umbrella capacity. If interested in learning more, please get in touch with your Willis excess casualty representative.
