USI in the News
Expanding a successful 16-year partnership, USI Affinity has been named CNA’s exclusive provider of Lawyers’ Professional Liability insurance for attorneys and law firms in Georgia and North Carolina. Together, the legal insurance leaders will deliver enhanced malpractice coverage and risk management solutions that help large, small, and solo law firms stay ahead of new and evolving exposures.
“CNA is proud to expand and strengthen its collaboration with USI Affinity by extending our exclusive partnership into Georgia and North Carolina,” stated Scott Kossove, CNA’s Vice President of Law Firm Underwriting. “USI Affinity and CNA have built a trusted, long-term relationship, and this expansion reflects a shared focus on delivering tailored solutions, responsive service, and strong risk management support for the legal community. It also underscores our commitment to providing differentiated value in the marketplace.”
This strategic move enhances the comprehensive Lawyers’ Professional Liability coverages and discounts available to insureds, such as policy credits, expense reimbursement, and deductible waivers.
Since 2009, USI Affinity and CNA have worked together to protect legal professionals with specialized insurance and risk control services. Today, the partnership spans several of the country’s most prominent legal markets, including New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and now Georgia and North Carolina.
“The legal liability landscape is more intense than ever,” added Mike Mooney, USI Affinity’s Senior Vice President and Professional Liability Practice Leader. “Rising malpractice claims, mounting cyber threats, and new risks related to the complexities of AI are just a few of the forces putting legal professionals under added pressure to protect their careers, their firms, and their clients. Our extended partnership with CNA will help ensure more lawyers have access to the practical and forward-thinking protection they deserve.”
About USI Affinity
For over 75 years, USI Affinity has developed, marketed, and administered programs to deliver unique advantages in insurance coverage, price, and service. USI Affinity markets and administers insurance programs for over 440 organizations nationwide, representing more than 20 million association and alumni members. USI Affinity is a division of USI Insurance Services. For more information about USI Affinity, please visit www.usiaffinity.com.
About CNA
CNA is one of the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. Backed by more than 125 years of experience, CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialized insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe. For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com.
Tom Hurley, USI Compensation Practice Leader, and Doug LaMendola, USI Retirement Practice Leader, recently co‑authored an article for the Journal of Compensation and Benefits titled “Pay Transparency and Benchmarking: The New Compulsory Pillars of Total Rewards Strategy.”
The article examines why pay transparency and market benchmarking have become essential components of an effective Total Rewards strategy. Drawing on regulatory, market and workforce trends, the authors explore how heightened compliance requirements, intensifying competition for talent and growing equity demands are reshaping compensation conversations. The piece also highlights the critical role benchmarking plays in supporting defensible pay decisions, mitigating risk and strengthening employee trust — offering practical guidance for employers navigating a rapidly evolving rewards landscape. Read the full article.
USI is proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness for the fourth year in a row. This annual program identifies and honors organizations with the most innovative wellness, wellbeing, and human resource practices. Companies are assessed based on outcomes, analysis, tracking, participation, incentives, benefit programs, leadership, employee input, culture, and environment. Read more.
USI’s National Executive and Professional Risk Solutions Claims Practice Leader, Joni Mason, will be speaking at the upcoming ninth annual Women in Insurance Leadership ExecuSummit on March 26-27 in Naples, FL. Joni will be taking part in a panel discussing the psychology of success for women. Learn more.
USI’s National Cyber Practice Leader, Nadia Hoyte, recently took part in the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) podcast “Icons & Innovators” series to share about her work at USI, her outlook on trends and emerging issues, and more. Watch the interview.
USI Insurance Services (“USI”) has been named for the third time to the prestigious Forbes America’s Best Large Employers list. Honorees were chosen based on an independent survey of more than 217,000 Americans who work for businesses with at least 1,000 employees.
Commenting on the recognition, Mike Sicard, chairman and chief executive officer for USI, shared: “Our nearly 11,000 teammates bring extraordinary passion and expertise to solving complex challenges for our clients. What makes USI unique is our culture – one that puts clients first through innovative thinking, teamwork, and a deep commitment to giving back. We’re proud to see that culture recognized by Forbes.”
Kim Van Orman, senior vice president and chief people officer for USI, added: “We are honored to be recognized once more by Forbes as one of the nation’s best large employers. At USI, our people are the heart of our success. It is their unwavering commitment to innovation, delivering exceptional solutions, and dedication to supporting our clients and communities that truly make our organization exceptional.”
The Forbes 2026 America’s Best Large Employers list is developed in partnership with market research firm Statista. Survey participants were asked to anonymously rate their employers on work-related topics such as culture, working conditions, salary, potential for development, company image and willingness to recommend their employers to friends and family. View the 2026 America's Best Large Employers list to learn more.
About USI
USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, N.Y., USI connects nearly 11,000 industry-leading professionals in approximately 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom-line impact. USI’s award-winning culture attracts best-in-class industry talent with a focus on innovation, technology, and industry expertise, along with a history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
In a recent interview with Business Insurance, USI's National Property Practice Leader, Jeff Buyze, discusses commercial property insurance rate decreases as fewer catastrophe losses fueled competitive market conditions. During the interview, Buyze commented, “Ample capacity is driving down rates and significantly improving terms and conditions.” Read the full article.
Risk & Insurance recently reported on the key insights from USI’s 2026 Commercial P&C Market Outlook Report. This year’s report once again provided timely updates on the latest market trends impacting P&C insurance buyers, along with the emerging challenges and opportunities for buyers in the new year. Read the full article.
USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefits and retirement plan consulting, has been recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community for 2026.
“We are honored to be recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s leading employers for culture, belonging and community,” shared Kim Van Orman, senior vice president and chief people officer for USI. “At USI, fostering an inclusive culture where every one of our team members feels valued and supported is essential to driving innovation and delivering exceptional solutions for our clients and communities.”
Mike Sicard, chairman and chief executive officer for USI, added: “USI exists to solve complex challenges for our clients, and that requires diversity of thought. When people with different perspectives come together, we create the most innovative and impactful solutions. Advancing a culture of inclusion and belonging is mission-critical to how we serve, and we’re proud to be recognized by Newsweek for that commitment.”
Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group recognized companies that are committed to creating environments where employees feel valued, heard and connected, fostering genuine belonging across teams and building inclusive workplace cultures where all employees can thrive. Learn more.
About USI
USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, N.Y., USI connects nearly 11,000 industry-leading professionals in approximately 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom-line impact. USI’s award-winning culture attracts best-in-class industry talent with a focus on innovation, technology, and industry expertise, along with a history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn.