With the official opening of the Olympics next week, its insurer PICC Property Company (PICC) and its broker Marsh, still have many obstacles to negotiate if they are to avoid some potentially damaging claims, writes Katherine Brandon, reporter at Professional Broking.

On Monday, Willis' chief executive and chairman Joe Plumeri was accompanied by a high powered ensemble to open the Willis Building (again), writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor, Professional Broking.

The silly season is officially here and there is one story dominating the news: the credit crunch, the impending recession, rising unemployment, little room to manoeuvre for the Bank of England on interest rates, falling house prices etc, writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor of Professional Broking. We have already heard every angle, and yet the real pain hasn't even started yet, or at least that is what we are told.

It was another late night on Wednesday at the British Insurance Awards writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor of Professional Broking magazine. Entertainment at the Royal Albert Hall came from Rob Brydon, Britain's Got Talent opera singer Paul Potts and Escala, some sassy, sexy ladies playing on violins and yes they do play.

Last week ended on a high with a trip to France for the Allianz south east region Golf Classic, writes Paul Samways. Whilst the golf course was superb, for me it was all about seeing old friends and meeting new ones and it served as a stark reminder of the change in landscape with Dave Hare (Venture Preference), Kevin Young (Jelf) and Jeff Laidler (Giles).