You protect your clients. We protect you.
It’s not one of our company’s focus areas, it’s our sole focus. This is what we know, what we do best and how we’ve built loyal relationships with some of Ohio’s best lawyers and law firms since 1979.
There’s no shortcut or trick. We simply provide the right coverage with the right service. And we do that by working as a cohesive team who is supportive of each other in an effort to listen to the engagement preferences of each individual policyholder. We work continuously to preserve and strengthen each of our existing relationships while introducing new policyholders and market segments to a level of products and services that simply cannot be found elsewhere. All of this is to say, we’re accessible people, giving expert advice so lawyers can eliminate the fear of having a mistake bring an end to their practice.
Our partnership with the Ohio State Bar Association, has allowed us to not only fully support their initiatives, but also enhance the professional life of the legal community. Our steady performance and financial strength has consistently earned us an A (Excellent) rating by the A.M. Best Company. It has also propelled us beyond industry standards and helped us achieve an incomparable capital adequacy ratio.
We are OBLIC
We are the only professional liability insurance provider exclusively devoted to leading the effort of protecting Ohio’s lawyers and law firms.
A Brief History of OBLIC.
OBLIC was incorporated on December 5, 1978 and commenced operations on September 1, 1979. The company was formed in response to an ongoing insurance crisis among Ohio attorneys. Commercial carriers had been withdrawing from the lawyer’s professional liability (LPL) insurance market at the time and prices for coverage were increasing rapidly.
Initially, OBLIC’s stock was sold to Ohio attorneys and law firms, although specific shares were issued only to the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA). In 1998, the shares were redeemed at a price much greater than the original purchase price, leaving the OSBA as the sole shareholder.
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Ownership Transfer FAQs for OBLIC Partners and Policyholders. There has been an important and positive new development regarding the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company (OBLIC).
OBLIC’s parent organization and sole shareholder, the Ohio State Bar Association (Ohio Bar), has entered into an agreement to transfer ownership of OBLIC to ALPS Insurance, a national leader in legal malpractice insurance. ALPS was started by several state bars in 1988 and has grown into one of the largest legal malpractice insurers serving individual lawyers and small firms. ALPS is also the endorsed carrier of more state bars than any other insurer in the country, and the Ohio Bar looks forward to a continued partnership endorsing OBLIC.
We know you may have questions. Please see the following FAQs for more information.
What prompted the Ohio Bar to sell OBLIC to ALPS?
The current fundamentals at OBLIC are strong, and by joining the ALPS family with their considerable resources focused on small law firms, OBLIC will be positioned to compete successfully over the long-term. The Ohio Bar is committed to supporting OBLIC and its long-term ability to serve Ohio’s lawyers and provide exceptional policyholder service in an increasingly complex legal insurance environment.
Why ALPS?
ALPS is one of the nation’s largest writers of legal insurance and is endorsed by more state bars than any other carrier. It was formed much like OBLIC and has focused on protecting attorneys and serving the legal profession since 1988.
Will OBLIC stay in Ohio?
Yes. OBLIC is committed to Ohio lawyers and will remain in Columbus serving Ohio lawyers from the same business office.
Will OBLIC continue to be endorsed by the Ohio Bar?
Yes, the Ohio Bar endorsement of OBLIC continues and we expect even greater collaborative opportunities between ALPS/OBLIC and the Ohio Bar going forward.
Will ALPS compete with OBLIC in Ohio?
No. In the months following the transaction, new and existing ALPS policies in Ohio will begin an orderly transition to OBLIC. LawyerCare, the ALPS company focused exclusively on broker distribution, will continue to operate in Ohio but will not compete with OBLIC.
Will my policy change?
No. There will be no changes to insurance coverage as a result of the transaction. In fact, OBLIC expects to be able to offer more choices.
Do I still report claims the same way?
Yes.
Will my renewal process stay the same?
Yes.
Will the transaction affect my premium?
No. There will be no immediate changes to premiums, coverage or terms as a result of the transaction.
What about other coverages I have through the Ohio Bar Insurance Agency (OBIA), like Cyber Breach Insurance?
There will be no immediate changes to coverages secured through OBIA.
Will I experience a gap in coverage?
No. There will be no gaps in coverage resulting from this transaction.
Will I still have access to OBLIC’s policyholder perks like Ohio Bar College and Claims-free discounts?
Yes. OBLIC anticipates no immediate changes to your Ohio Bar perks and benefits in general and the Ohio Bar College discount will continue as part of the Ohio Bar endorsement partnership program.
Will this transaction affect OBLIC’s A.M. Best Rating?
No. OBLIC is expected to maintain its strong A.M. Best A (Excellent) rating, following a customary “under review” period that is standard in these types of transactions.
What is ALPS’ A.M. Best rating?
ALPS is also rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best.
I plan to retire this year. Will this affect my tail options?
Your coverage, including tail coverage options available under your policy, will not change because of the transaction.
Who will I contact if I have questions?
Your communication process with OBLIC will remain unchanged, and your point of contact information will remain the same.
Any questions or comments can be directed to ContactUs@oblic.com or to 614-488-7924.
