Observations from Our Journey So Far

Just a few months into starting up, we're grateful for the support, encouragement, introductions and opportunities that Clarion Specialty has received.

A few observations from our journey so far:

Boutique Specialism:

Launching a specialist broker in an era dominated by "one-stop-shop" mega brokers inevitably prompts a question: will boutique specialism still resonate?
What we've learned so far is that boutique specialism remains as important as ever. It hadn't disappeared, it had simply become less common.

The London Market remains an extraordinary place to trade specialty insurance.

Perhaps most strikingly, it's a great leveller.
At Lloyd’s, the most junior broker can queue for the most senior underwriter at the Box.
Effort, expertise and relationships matter most in this market.
We've found that our market access is every bit as broad as we'd hoped, not least because we trade face-to-face, every day.

Small teams learn fast.

The information osmosis of a small office is remarkable. Ideas, market intelligence and experience are shared constantly.
We're already thinking about how we preserve this as we grow.
We want Clarion to be more than the sum of its parts.

Integrity matters most when conditions change.

We once heard a client comment in a London underwriter meeting:
"Without integrity, you don't have a sustainable business."
As the insurance market moves through a critical stage of the cycle, and as we make important decisions in the early stages of building out Clarion, these words ring in our ears.

And finally...

Start-ups consume far more coffee than anyone tells you. Buy in bulk.

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