When you trade or invest across borders, your balance sheet is at risk. In commodities, where pre-payment is common as a means of financing production and guaranteeing long-term supply, non-payment or non-delivery can have a devastating commercial effect. We help you protect yourself against these sorts of risks with our political and credit risk insurance team.

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Political and Credit Risks

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We focus on the risks associated with cross-border trades and investments

When you trade or invest across borders, your balance sheet is at risk. In commodities, where pre-payment is common as a means of financing production and guaranteeing long-term supply, non-payment or non-delivery can have a devastating commercial effect. We help you protect yourself against these sorts of risks.

We also help you manage political risk. Foreign government actions like war, trade embargoes and expropriation can affect your bottom line, costing you tens or hundreds of millions. They can even cause you to write off your investment completely. The longer your trade or investment agreement, the greater the uncertainty – and the more you need cover.

We arrange insurance coverage that protects you against political and counterparty risks in trade transactions. We work with commodity traders and the banks that finance them, as well as with equity investors who have subsidiaries or physical assets abroad. Clients include the leading banks, construction companies, international commodities traders,  industrial companies, miners, oil producers and exporters.

What we cover

We’re more than an insurance broker – we’re a partner helping you protect your balance sheet.   We investigate the insurance market to find counterparties who’ll take on your political and trade credit risks at a premium you’re comfortable with.

We’ll advocate for you and negotiate hard on your behalf. As well as this, we’ll:

  • Analyse your risk and identify areas where a government action may threaten your investment

  • Study your contracts and recommend changes if needed to make them insurable

  • Suggest ways to structure your risk to reassure underwriters, such as obtaining collateral or guaranties

  • Get underwriters more closely involved with you and your risk to develop a true partnership

  • Advise you on the best way to manage your risk, not just the best insurance to buy

Our Political & Credit Risk Insurance Team

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David Coupland

Senior Vice President
david.coupland@lockton.com
+44 207 933 2445

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Chris Wetherell

Head of FPR Europe Specialty
chris.wetherell@lockton.com
+44 207 933 2658

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James Gearing

Producer Europe Specialty
james.gearing@lockton.com
+44 207 933 1479

News and Insights

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly known as Martyn’s Law, is now in effect. Following a long period of campaigning and advocacy, it achieved Royal Assent in April 2025, and it is now in its 24-month implementation phase. Businesses must be compliant by May 2027, or will likely face severe penalties for non-compliance.

The upcoming insurance renewal season between March and July represents a natural inflection point. It is when many businesses assess security measures, update their risk documentation, and evidence controls – all of which will be central to demonstrating compliance under Martyn’s Law. Therefore, addressing any gaps now is essential to ensure that businesses have enough time to strengthen preparedness before the law becomes enforceable.Martyn’s Law: the time to prepare is now

Accountants: Key considerations for implementing AI

The adoption of digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) in the accountancy sector has experienced exponential growth in recent years. According to the Thomson Reuters Generative AI in Professional Services Report 2025, 21 percent of accountancy firms were using AI in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 13 percent, the highest increase of any professional services sector surveyed. Firms of all sizes are now embracing third-party AI tools or expending significant resource to develop their own. 

This wave of innovation, however, has not been without incident. Firms have been censured in court judgments and by governments alike for apparent irresponsible use of AI tools. Accountancy regulators are likewise increasingly alert regarding the need to implement such tools ethically. 

For that reason, we have set out below some key areas of risk that accounting firms might wish to keep in mind when grappling with the development and implementation of AI tools across their firm, ensuring that any roll-out is conducted in a manner that is both responsible and compliant with professional and regulatory expectations. The adoption of digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) in the accountancy sector has experienced exponential growth in recent years. According to the Thomson Reuters Generative AI in Professional Services Report 2025, 21 percent of accountancy firms were using AI in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 13 percent, the highest increase of any professional services sector surveyed. Firms of all sizes are now embracing third-party AI tools or expending significant resource to develop their own. 

This wave of innovation, however, has not been without incident. Firms have been censured in court judgments and by governments alike for apparent irresponsible use of AI tools. Accountancy regulators are likewise increasingly alert regarding the need to implement such tools ethically. 

For that reason, we have set out below some key areas of risk that accounting firms might wish to keep in mind when grappling with the development and implementation of AI tools across their firm, ensuring that any roll-out is conducted in a manner that is both responsible and compliant with professional and regulatory expectations.

Scaling up? Why product recall insurance should be your first operational investment

Businesses with ambitious growth aspirations will typically need to ‘scale up’ to meet lofty targets. However, while it can be exciting as your business looks to scale operations and enter a period of growth, this phase isn’t without risk.Businesses with ambitious growth aspirations will typically need to ‘scale up’ to meet lofty targets. However, while it can be exciting as your business looks to scale operations and enter a period of growth, this phase isn’t without risk.

Top 5 risks facing food and beverage manufacturers in 2026

Food and beverage producers face various risks – such as equipment failure and cyber disruption. However, it is becoming increasingly important business leaders build in mitigation against the specific threats that could result in a product recall or withdrawal event.  Food and beverage producers face various risks – such as equipment failure and cyber disruption. However, it is becoming increasingly important business leaders build in mitigation against the specific threats that could result in a product recall or withdrawal event.
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