US and UK clients: questions about cross-border insurance

Map the facts before interpreting the policy

Make a short record for each material contract: your business entity, the client entity, where the work will be performed and any governing-law or court clauses. Include relevant subcontractor locations. Mark unknown details for clarification rather than filling them in from the client’s public brand.

This exercise is useful for both a UK freelancer working with a US client and a US consultant working with a UK client. It does not say the same policy terms or legal requirements apply in both directions.

Distinguish work location from legal jurisdiction

Ask the adviser to explain the policy’s own geographical and jurisdictional provisions. The ABI flags jurisdiction and territorial limitations as matters to examine in cyber cover, including potential North American exclusions. That is a reason to check the actual wording, not to assume that all UK policies have the same exclusion.

“Worldwide” in a summary should trigger a follow-up question: “Which section and amendments explain what that means for this contract?” Ask separately about a claim brought in a particular court and work performed in a particular place.

An original cross-border example

A UK analyst performs all work from home but signs a contract with a US client entity. A US-based subcontractor supports one part of the project. The analyst’s briefing should show all three facts, together with the relevant contract clauses, rather than describe the arrangement simply as remote consulting.

The example is a document-preparation scenario. It does not establish which cover is required, whether it is available or what an insurer would pay.

Questions to take to the discussion

1. Which named insured and service description match the contracting arrangement?
2. How do the territorial and jurisdictional provisions apply to these facts?
3. Does a relevant exclusion or endorsement alter the answer?
4. What additional facts do you need about subcontractors or client systems?
5. Which contractual requirements need separate legal advice?
6. What changes to this arrangement should be reported later?

Keep the provider’s answers tied to a dated document version. If they request an amended application or contract clarification, complete that step rather than treating an informal conversation as final confirmation.

Retain the map with the project file

Save the map, proposal and relevant correspondence alongside the contract. Revisit them when the contracting entity, service or delivery location changes. Avoid assuming that approval for one client automatically describes another project with a different legal structure.

Use the agency insurance brief to put these details into the wider picture of services, permissions and people. Cross-border questions are one part of that discussion, not a substitute for it.