
EMERGING ISSUES TRACK: Climate, Coverage, and Collateral – The New Risk Landscape
This panel examines the growing legal and regulatory implications of climate-related risk and insurance availability for mortgage lenders and servicers. Panelists discuss how climate impacts influence property insurance markets, borrower affordability, and collateral risk. The session explores emerging regulatory expectations, litigation trends, and compliance considerations related to insurance coverage, disclosures, and risk management, and highlights practical approaches for navigating these evolving challenges.
Speakers
Moderator
Kathleen Dufraine is the Managing Director of the Insurance Center of Excellence and Head of the Corporate Flood Program at JPMorgan Chase. With over 35 years of experience as a credentialed and licensed insurance professional, Kathleen leverages her extensive expertise to build high-performing teams, ensure compliance, transform business processes, and provide consultative insurance support to lending and servicing leaders. A recognized industry leader, Kathleen is a passionate advocate for reforming the Flood Disaster Protection Act and frequently speaks on this critical topic. Her past achievements include collaborating with the Mortgage Bankers Association to lobby Congress for the creation of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), developing the ACORD 28 Property Certificate, and co-authoring influential whitepapers such as “Blanket Insurance” and “Due Diligence for Force Placed Insurance.” More recently, she contributed to the first edition of the ABA’s Reference Guide to Flood Compliance. Outside of her professional endeavors, Kathleen enjoys spending quality time with her family, attending concerts, and traveling.
Speakers
Linda Case joined Servbank in 2018 and is currently the EVP of Loan Administration. With over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, she has been instrumental in driving innovative solutions and enhancing operational efficiencies within the Loan Servicing Division. Her leadership and strategic vision have significantly contributed to Servbank's growth and success. Her broad expertise includes lean process management, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and an ability to navigate complex financial landscapes. Case has a proven track record of implementing best practices and fostering a culture of excellence among her teams. She is committed to delivering top-level customer service while providing a transparent, collaborative experience for Servbank’s esteemed clientele.
Scott Giberson serves as Principal of Flood Compliance and Director of Product Strategy, managing the Flood Disaster Protection Act program for Cotality. He currently serves on the Board of the National Flood Association, leads the Association’s legislative committee, and previously served as its Vice President. Giberson recently served as a Council Member on the Technical Mapping Advisory Council, which reports to FEMA and was established by Congress with Biggert-Waters legislation that passed in 2012. With over 25 years of experience, Giberson specializes in regulatory issues surrounding flood determinations, the mandatory purchase of flood insurance requirement, as well as policy related to the National Flood Insurance Program and developing climate risk requirements. He consults with industry members and those from related industries on legislative and regulatory developments at the federal and state levels, specifically those related to flood insurance and climate risk.
Dave Snyder is Vice President, International Policy for APCIA. In this capacity, he helps develop and then advocate policy on domestic and international regulatory issues. He is a lawyer and CPCU. After working for the U.S. Fire Administration, he served with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department as the legislative liaison and hearing officer, as a Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General in torts litigation, and as General Counsel of the Pennsylvania Commerce Department, after which he joined Nationwide Insurance in government relations. These positions included litigation, administrative law, and advocacy. Dave then worked for the two predecessor organizations of APCIA. Dave has presented before State, federal, and international regulatory and legislative bodies, including in many States, NAIC, NCOIL, Congress, IAIS, OECD, and FSB, and has been quoted frequently in the news media. He currently chairs the Global Federation of Insurance Associations’ Market Conduct and Corporate Governance Working Groups.
Heather Wright helps a broad variety of clients identify operational risks and determine business solutions to mitigate those risks, with a particular focus on advising clients about risk management through insurance. She provides regulatory and compliance advice to lenders regarding property insurance and flood insurance. In addition, she represents commercial property owners and managers, as well as real estate developers and general contractors, in the negotiation of insurance provisions in sales contracts, debt service agreements, leases, management agreements and construction contracts.