The Fidelity Law Association was founded in 1994 by Bob Donovan, a claims professional with Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company, with other fidelity claims professionals from other insurers. At that time, there were no organizations dedicated specifically and solely to fidelity claims. At the time of its founding, membership in the FLA was limited to insurance company employees who handled only fidelity claims.
The first FLA conference was held on November 1, 1995, at the Continental Insurance Company auditorium in New York City, and was attended by over 100 people. In association with its inaugural conference, the FLA published its first edition of the Fidelity Law Association Journal. The first editor-in-chief of the Fidelity Law Association Journal was Bob Briganti. Bob was succeeded by Michael Keeley, who continues as editor-in-chief. In 1999, the name of the journal was changed to the Fidelity Law Journal to emphasize its importance to the fidelity insurance industry.
Nearly 30 years later, the FLA is the leading industry association dedicated exclusively to claims against financial institution bonds, commercial crime insurance, and related new and developing coverages. While membership remains limited to insurance company employees, it has been expanded to include underwriters as well as claims personnel.
Every year, the FLA’s annual conference features presentations that address topics on the cutting edge of fidelity claims handling, as the industry provides coverage for new risks arising from new exposures and evolving technologies. The FLA continues to publish the Fidelity Law Journal in association with its annual conference. The Journal features scholarly, law review-quality articles that are often cited as authority by courts, and is available on Westlaw and other electronic sources. A printed copy of the Journal is provided to all who attend the annual Conference and copies are available for purchase.