Cyber Liability Insurance: An Essential and Urgently Needed Business Investment

Tom Finan is a Senior Cybersecurity Strategist and Counsel with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Protection and Programs Directorate, NPPD, where he leads work on cybersecurity insurance and cyber risk management in support of implementation of Executive Order 13636, “Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.”  Tom established DHS’ Cybersecurity Insurance webpage, accessible through the search engine of your choice, which includes a series of readout reports that describe DHS’ efforts in these areas.  Previously, Tom led the effort to develop a resiliency-focused risk analysis and modeling office for NPPD that examines both cyber and physical threats to critical infrastructures, systems, and the public.  Prior to his arrival at DHS, he served as the Staff Director and Counsel for the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment with the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security where he advised the Subcommittee Chair, Congresswoman Jane Harman.  Tom previously worked as an attorney for the FBI and in private litigation practice.

Helen is an experienced business lawyer who represents clients in commercial transactions involving cutting edge intellectual property (IP) and technology issues. She brings a practical, business-oriented approach to advising companies ranging from global public companies to emerging start-up ventures in developing, licensing, selling, acquiring, protecting and commercially exploiting intellectual property and technology assets.

She also devotes a significant portion of her practice to advising clients in a wide variety of industries on privacy, data security and ecommerce matters. Helen works with companies to assess their legal obligations and risks and helps design and implement practical, cost-effective plans for mitigating such risks. Helen conducts numerous CLE presentations to update in-house counsel on changes in privacy and data security law.

In addition to her law practice, Helen is an Adjunct Professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, where she teaches J.D. and LL.M. level classes in Technology and Intellectual Property Licensing.

Celeste’s experience is with privacy risks and insurance.  She advises insurers and reinsurers on coverage for privacy risks and breaches involving first and third party CGL policies, drafts policies and underwriting guidelines and prepares breach response strategies.  Celeste counsels clients on state and federal regulations involving privacy laws, developments in case law and emerging issues such as standing to sue and recovery of reputational damages.  She regularly deals with privacy risks to industries such as health care, legal and other professions, financial institutions, retail, insurance agents, public entities, education and energy. 

Celeste is also an experienced reinsurance lawyer, counseling clients on treaty and facultative risks and representing clients in reinsurance litigation and arbitration.

Celeste is licensed in Illinois and District of Columbia and is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. 

Brook Dutcher is Specialty Underwriting Manager-Technology E & O/Cyber Insurance product manager with HCC Specialty in New York. Brook focuses on new product development, product growth and strategy for the company. Previously he was the Technology E & O/Cyber Insurance product manager for NAS Insurance in California. He underwrote various lines and programs with Axis Insurance and with ACE Westchester in Atlanta. Prior to his career in insurance, Brook worked extensively in banking.

Mr. Segrest is a wholesale broker for CRC Insurance Services, Inc. specializing in Professional Liability, Executive Risk/Management Liability, and Network Security & Privacy Liability.  He has played an instrumental role in his company’s efforts to expand its presence and influence in the Cyber Security & Privacy Liability marketplace.  He has lectured the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents Association on this topic and he has helped lead CRC’s commitment to the growth and development of Cyber Liability products for producers and their clientele.  As demand for Cyber coverage increases, CRC continues to provide complex risk solutions for insured’s realizing the magnitude of the exposure.  Mr. Segrest received his Masters of Business Administration Degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his undergraduate degree from Birmingham-Southern College.