Ling Ong, a partner at Weightmans, has been appointed president of the London Market Forum of Insurance Lawyers (London Market FOIL), the division of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers dedicated to the legal and regulatory needs of the London insurance and reinsurance market.
She succeeds Fleur Rochester, a partner at Kennedys, following London Market FOIL’s 2025 rebrand, which was introduced to better reflect the distinct characteristics of the London Market and its position as a global centre for specialty insurance and reinsurance.
Supporting insurers and reinsurers amid market pressures
Ong’s appointment comes at a time when insurers and reinsurers operating in the London Market are facing a combination of structural and cyclical challenges. These include geopolitical and economic uncertainty, ongoing regulatory change and the growing complexity of global risks, all of which are shaping underwriting appetite, claims strategies and capital deployment across multiple lines of business.
With more than 30 years’ experience advising insurers and reinsurers active in the London Market, Ong is expected to play a key role in guiding London Market FOIL’s support for its members. Priority areas are expected to include cyber risk, claims inflation, shifting international trade patterns, the digitisation of insurance processes, ESG-related exposures, and the attraction and retention of specialist underwriting and claims talent.
International insurance focus
A central theme of Ong’s presidency will be the international nature of London Market insurance practice. Policies written in the market frequently involve insureds, risks and claims across multiple jurisdictions, requiring close collaboration between insurers, reinsurers and legal advisers worldwide.
Role of London Market FOIL in the insurance ecosystem
London Market FOIL provides a forum for education, policy engagement and networking to support the effective functioning of the London insurance and reinsurance market. Through collaboration with insurers, reinsurers and market bodies—while maintaining an independent perspective—the organisation aims to give insurance-focused law firms a collective voice on issues affecting underwriting, claims handling and dispute resolution.
