in the Lloyd’s market, one of the experts in a particular type of business; a broker seeing cover presents the slip in the first place to a leading underwriter who sets the premium and signifies the extent of participation in the risk by syndicates on whose behalf he/she is authorised to accept risks; other underwriters are obliged to follow the lead as regards the rate of premium.
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The underwriter of a syndicate or insurance company who is responsible for setting the terms of an insurance or reinsurance contract that is subscribed by more than one syndicate or insurance company and who generally has primary responsibility for handling any claims arising under such a contract. Where an insurance or reinsurance contract that is underwritten by more than one syndicate Xchanging Claims Services normally acts as the representative of the following underwriters as regards the agreement of claims under the contract. In certain situations a managing agent of a following syndicate will be appointed together with Xchanging Claims Services to represent the following underwriters. However some matters require to be referred to all the following underwriters on risk and an insured may always insist that its claim is shown to each following underwriter.

An agreement that allows for certain changes in conditions to be agreed by the leading Underwriter without the agreement of all subscribing Underwriters. The LUA is being superseded by the General Underwriters Agreement although it remains possible to incorporate the LUA into the new LMP slip. See GENERAL UNDERWRITERS AGREEMENT.

1. Lloyd’s underwriter or company recognised as a specialist or as having the greatest capacity in a particular class of business. They are first to take a portion of the risk and quote a rate of premium. Other underwriters follow by accepting portions of the risk. On large risks it may be necessary to select two/three specialist leaders. 2. The insurance company on a coinsurance policy who has accepted the largest share of the risk and accepts responsibility for the survey and administration of the insurance.

1. Marine policies cover leakage caused by maritime perils. Leakage may also be an insured peril but this will not include loss from ordinary leakage occurring in liquids by evaporation, soaking into the container or other natural causes except to the extent that the loss of liquids (e.g. palm olives or molasses shipped in bulk) exceeds a certain amount or percentage. This is known as ullage. 2. Household. Leakage of oil from any fixed heating installation under both buildings and contents insurances is covered.