Insuring the Boardroom

This book offers a groundbreaking comparative study of Directors' and Officers' (D&O) liability insurance regulation across representative common law jurisdictions (mainly the UK and US), and the Chinese legal system, examining its legal character, regulatory frameworks, and corporate governance implications.

In an era where companies are expanding across borders and operating in increasingly complex financial markets, D&O liability insurance has become an integral part of modern corporate governance. It provides financial protection for directors and executives against claims of misconduct, negligence or breach of duty. It supports corporate resilience and leadership continuity during crises, while also shaping managerial incentives by balancing risk-taking, accountability and corporate responsibility. High-profile corporate governance failures demonstrate the need for effective accountability mechanisms, yet D&O insurance regulation remains fragmented. Common law jurisdictions have developed mature regulatory frameworks, whereas emerging markets such as China are still evolving theirs. Through doctrinal and comparative analysis, this book examines policy structures, regulatory oversight, corporate governance implications, and the tension between risk transfer and deterrence.

Grounded in rigorous legal analysis and real-world cases, this book is an essential reference work for scholars and students of company and insurance law, comparative law, and legal practitioners, policymakers, and business professionals involved in corporate accountability and risk management.