The rapid advancement of technology over the past decade has transformed nearly every aspect of modern life – including how claims are investigated, evaluated, and resolved. Utilities are increasingly adopting these innovations to enhance operations across customer service, field response, and, critically, claims handling and litigation support.

This roundtable will examine how utilities are leveraging emerging technologies in their daily operations, with particular focus on their role in claims management. Emphasizing public safety, we will explore tools and techniques that improve incident response, enhance root cause analysis, and strengthen the investigation of service-related events.

From ground-level field data collection to aerial surveillance and remote monitoring, these technologies are reshaping how claims professionals gather evidence, assess exposure, and defend or resolve claims. As these capabilities continue to evolve, they will play an increasingly central role in effective risk management and claims outcomes.

This roundtable will explore practical strategies for defending utilities against catastrophic injury and property damage claims arising from events such as electrical contacts, gas explosions, wildfires, and natural disasters.

These incidents often involve severe injuries – such as burns, paraplegia and amputations – as well as extensive property damage. Such high-profile events often result in public scrutiny and heightened regulatory oversight, creating a highly challenging environment that can significantly increase exposure.

Panelists will discuss effective approaches to early incident investigation, evidence preservation, liability  and causation development, damages mitigation, expert coordination, and resolution strategy. Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of how to better control exposure, minimize negative outcomes, and ultimately defend against catastrophic claims more effectively.

Recent statistics indicate that the number of charges filed on an annual basis with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is immense, as over 80,000 such charges were brought each year from 2023 to 2025. Coupled with state, local, and private-party claims and litigation, employers face potentially enormous exposure from these matters.

This roundtable will discuss some of the newer types of employment practices liability (EPL) claims, including the intersection of employment law and artificial intelligence (AI), the impact of evolving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, and retaliation claims. Our panelists will discuss strategies to help defend such claims, as well as give an overview of recent EPL case law.