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Sedgwick Announces Leadership Changes in the Middle East
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Oct. 3 -- Sedgwick, a provider of technology-enabled risk and benefit solutions, issued the following news release:
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Sedgwick Announces Leadership Changes in the Middle East
October 2, 2026
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Sedgwick, the world's leading risk and claims administration partner, has announced that Mike Brogden will retire as Chief Executive Officer, Middle East, at the end of the year. Effective immediately, Chris Gibson has been appointed Managing Director, Middle East, leading the region.
Mike Brogden joined Sedgwick in 2013 as Country Manager for Qatar
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MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Oct. 3 -- Sedgwick, a provider of technology-enabled risk and benefit solutions, issued the following news release:
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Sedgwick Announces Leadership Changes in the Middle East
October 2, 2026
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Sedgwick, the world's leading risk and claims administration partner, has announced that Mike Brogden will retire as Chief Executive Officer, Middle East, at the end of the year. Effective immediately, Chris Gibson has been appointed Managing Director, Middle East, leading the region.
Mike Brogden joined Sedgwick in 2013 as Country Manager for Qatarand was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Middle East, in 2019. A chartered surveyor and chartered loss adjuster with more than 30 years of international experience, he has built a distinguished career handling major and complex losses across the UK, Europe, North America, Australasia and the Middle East. During his time with Sedgwick, he played a pivotal role in expanding the company's presence across the region, strengthening its market position and leading some of the Middle East's most significant construction, infrastructure and property loss assignments. Under his leadership, the business has grown its capabilities, geographic reach, and reputation as a trusted partner for clients throughout the region.
"Mike has made an exceptional contribution to Sedgwick's growth in the Middle East, and I thank him for his leadership and dedication over many years," said Neil Gibson, Regional CEO, UK, Ireland, Middle East and Africa. "As demand for specialty claims, loss adjustment and risk solutions continues to grow, the Middle East remains a key market for our business. Chris is ideally positioned to lead our next phase of growth, and I look forward to partnering with him as we continue to enhance our service offering and deliver even greater value to clients across the region."
Brogden said, "It has been a privilege to lead our Middle East business and work alongside such talented colleagues across the region. I am proud of what we have built together over the past eight years and confident the business is well positioned for continued success."
Chris Gibson has spent the past nine years in the Middle East, working in Dubai and Qatar, and brings extensive expertise in major and complex loss and construction claims to the role. As Managing Director, he will have overall responsibility for Sedgwick's operations across the region and will work closely with the Global Specialty team headquartered in London, with a particular focus on aviation, energy and marine services in the Middle East.
"The Middle East is a strategically important region for Sedgwick, with significant opportunities for continued growth," said Chris Gibson. "As we broaden the range of services we offer, we will continue to combine our local expertise with Sedgwick's global capabilities to deliver exceptional outcomes and innovative solutions for clients and partners across the region."
Sedgwick's Middle East operations provide expert support across seven markets: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. With experienced local teams and deep technical expertise, Sedgwick delivers a broad range of services, including loss adjusting, major and complex loss, property, casualty, marine, forensic accounting, third-party administration (TPA), cyber and technology claims.
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About Sedgwick
Sedgwick is the world's leading risk and claims administration partner, helping clients thrive by navigating the unexpected. The company's expertise, combined with the most advanced AI-enabled technology available, sets the standard for solutions in claims administration, loss adjusting, benefits administration and product recall. With over 33,000 colleagues and 10,000 clients across 80 countries, Sedgwick provides unmatched perspective, caring that counts and solutions for the rapidly changing and complex risk landscape. Sedgwick's majority shareholder is The Carlyle Group; Stone Point Capital LLC, Altas Partners, CDPQ, Onex and other management investors are minority shareholders. For more, see Sedgwick.
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Original text here: https://www.sedgwick.com/press-release/sedgwick-announces-leadership-changes-in-the-middle-east/
[Category: BizInsurance]
Redemption of UBS Group AG Senior Unsecured Notes
NEW YORK, Oct. 3 -- UBS, a financial services provider, issued the following news release:
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Redemption of UBS Group AG senior unsecured notes
UBS announces its intention to redeem the total outstanding JPY 8,300,000,000 0.904 per cent Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Callable Notes due 2027 with ISIN CH0385997058 ("Senior Notes") on the optional redemption date, 27 October 2026.
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Zurich, 2 October 2026 - UBS announces its intention to redeem the total outstanding JPY 8,300,000,000 0.904 per cent Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Callable Notes due 2027 with ISIN CH0385997058 ("Senior Notes")
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 3 -- UBS, a financial services provider, issued the following news release:
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Redemption of UBS Group AG senior unsecured notes
UBS announces its intention to redeem the total outstanding JPY 8,300,000,000 0.904 per cent Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Callable Notes due 2027 with ISIN CH0385997058 ("Senior Notes") on the optional redemption date, 27 October 2026.
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Zurich, 2 October 2026 - UBS announces its intention to redeem the total outstanding JPY 8,300,000,000 0.904 per cent Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Callable Notes due 2027 with ISIN CH0385997058 ("Senior Notes")on the optional redemption date, 27 October 2026. The Senior Notes were originally issued by Credit Suisse Group AG on 27 October 2017 and are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the Tokyo Pro-Bond Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The last trading day of the Senior Notes on the SIX Swiss Exchange will be 23 October 2026. The last trading of the Senior Notes on the Tokyo Pro-Bond Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange will be 21 October 2026.
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Original text here: https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20261002-redemption.html?caasID=CAAS-ActivityStream
[Category: BizFinancial Services]
Marsh Completes Acquisition of Accel Holdings
NEW YORK, Oct. 3 -- Marsh, a subsidiary of Marsh and McLennan Companies, issued the following news release:
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Marsh completes acquisition of Accel Holdings
NEW YORK, October 2, 2026 - Marsh (NYSE:MRSH), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the completion of its previously announced agreement to acquire Accel Holdings, Inc, a leading diversified independent insurance and advisory firm headquartered in Waverly, Iowa. Accel will operate within Marsh Agency. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
With the acquisition now closed, Marsh Agency's Upper Midwest team
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NEW YORK, Oct. 3 -- Marsh, a subsidiary of Marsh and McLennan Companies, issued the following news release:
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Marsh completes acquisition of Accel Holdings
NEW YORK, October 2, 2026 - Marsh (NYSE:MRSH), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the completion of its previously announced agreement to acquire Accel Holdings, Inc, a leading diversified independent insurance and advisory firm headquartered in Waverly, Iowa. Accel will operate within Marsh Agency. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
With the acquisition now closed, Marsh Agency's Upper Midwest teamhas strengthened its presence in Iowa and gained retirement and wealth capabilities, as well as extensive agribusiness knowledge, which will enhance Marsh Agency's current offerings.
All Accel Group colleagues have joined Marsh Agency and will continue to operate from their current locations.
"By bringing together high-quality firms with strong leadership, deep client relationships, and specialized capabilities, we continue to expand a platform designed to serve the middle market at the highest level," said Matt Stadler, President of Marsh Agency.
The Accel Group was founded in 1936 and further established its legacy through a strategic merger with Millhiser Smith Agency in 2018, which was founded in 1928. Today, the firm provides commercial and personal insurance, employee benefits, and agribusiness solutions, as well as wealth management and retirement advisory services.
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About Marsh
Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.
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Original text here: https://www.marsh.com/en/about/media/marsh-completes-acquisition-of-acel-holdings.html
[Category: BizInsurance]
Littler: California Amends Its WARN Act
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 3 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following news:
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California Amends its WARN Act (Again)
By Shawn Matthew Clark, Robert Wilger, and Kerry Notestine
October 2, 2026
At a Glance
* California Senate Bill 951, signed on September 30, 2026, adds disclosure requirements to the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act for certain reductions caused by artificial intelligence or other automated technology.
* The changes take effect on January 1, 2027, while the law's existing coverage thresholds, 60-day notice period, and penalties remain
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 3 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following news:
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California Amends its WARN Act (Again)
By Shawn Matthew Clark, Robert Wilger, and Kerry Notestine
October 2, 2026
At a Glance
* California Senate Bill 951, signed on September 30, 2026, adds disclosure requirements to the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act for certain reductions caused by artificial intelligence or other automated technology.
* The changes take effect on January 1, 2027, while the law's existing coverage thresholds, 60-day notice period, and penalties remainunchanged.
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On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 951, which amends the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (Cal-WARN) to require additional disclosures when a mass layoff, relocation, or termination is caused by artificial intelligence (AI) or other automated technology. The law does not change Cal-WARN's coverage thresholds, 60-day notice period, or penalty provisions. Instead, it adds new notice content requirements, directs the Employment Development Department (EDD) to publish summaries of these "technology displacement" notices, and requires the EDD to report to the state legislature on AI's effects on hiring. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2027.
SB 951 was signed almost one year to the day Governor Newsom signed SB 617, which expanded the required contents of Cal-WARN notices effective January 1, 2026. Employers planning reductions in California in 2027 now need to account for both sets of requirements.
What SB 951 Requires
Definition of Artificial Intelligence
SB 951 amends Labor Code section 1400.5 to define "artificial intelligence" or "AI" as "an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments." The bill does not separately define "other automated technology," "technological displacement," or "in substantial part."
Additional Notice Content for AI-Related Reductions
New Labor Code section 1401(d)(1) provides that when a covered mass layoff, relocation, or termination is "caused in whole or in substantial part by an AI system or other automated technology replacing or automating employment positions" the employer's notices must include all of the following in its Cal-WARN notices, in addition to the content already required:
1. The number of layoffs substantially attributable to replacement or automation by AI or other automated technology, including the classifications or occupations and work locations involved.
2. The job functions performed by affected workers that will be automated by AI or other automated technology.
3. The specific category or type of AI system or other automating technology that substantially resulted in the technological displacement.
4. The statement "This notice is for a technology displacement" at the top of the notice.
Public Reporting by the EDD
Under new section 1401(d)(2), the EDD must publish summaries of notices involving technological displacement and a quarterly statewide summary of reported technological displacements.
Report on AI and Hiring
New Labor Code section 1402.7 requires the EDD to submit a report to the state legislature on or before January 1, 2028, on AI's effects on business hiring practices, including its impact on industries and occupations at the state and regional level. The report must include one or more of several enumerated items, one of which is recommendations regarding a public notice requirement for employers or businesses engaged in "technological cessation in hiring," defined as "the permanent ending of hiring or contracting for a particular occupation or position caused in whole or in part by the employer's use of artificial intelligence or other automated technology," regardless of whether any workers in that occupation or position remain employed or under contract and regardless of whether the cessation results in an overall reduction in occupations or positions. Section 1402.7 imposes no obligation on employers, and it is repealed by its own terms on January 1, 2029. It does, however, signal that the state may consider a separate notice obligation for employers that permanently stop hiring for particular positions because of AI.
What Remain Unchanged and Open Questions
SB 951 leaves Cal-WARN's core framework intact. The statute continues to apply to a "covered establishment" that employs, or has employed in the preceding 12 months, 75 or more persons, and the 60-day notice requirement to affected employees, the EDD, and specified local officials is unchanged. Remedies under Labor Code section 1402 (back pay and benefits) and the civil penalty of up to $500 per day under section 1403 are also unchanged. The SB 617 content requirements that took effect on January 1, 2026, also remain in place.
The new law leaves several questions unanswered. For example, the statute does not define when a reduction is caused "in substantial part" by AI or automated technology or suggest how to handle layoffs where only part of the workforce is affected by AI or automated technology. In fact, the statute uses seemingly different causation phrasing in different places: The trigger in section 1401(d)(1) is "in whole or in substantial part," the required disclosures refer to layoffs "substantially due to" technology that "substantially resulted in" the displacement, while section 1402.7 uses "in whole or in part."
Workforce reductions frequently have multiple causes, and the reasons for eliminating particular positions may not be uniform. The statute does not explain how employers should evaluate a broader reduction in which AI or automated technology affects only certain positions or functions. In those circumstances, employers may need to identify and disclose the portion of the reduction substantially attributable to the technology while distinguishing positions eliminated for other reasons.
Also, only "artificial intelligence" is defined. The scope of "other automated technology" is not. Whether and under what circumstances conventional automation, robotics, or software outside the AI definition triggers the new disclosure requirements remain unclear.
As Cal-WARN is a statute focused on layoffs of employees at covered establishments only, it might seem unusual for the legislature to require the EDD to issue a report by January 1, 2028, about the broad effects of AI on business hiring practices or the level of exposure certain industries or occupations have to technological cessations in hiring. It remains to be seen how the EDD will gather the information necessary for this report and what the legislature might do with that information.
Recommendations for Employers
Employers with California operations should consider the following steps before January 1, 2027:
1. Update Cal-WARN notice templates to include a technology displacement section, for use when applicable, containing the three new data points and the required statement at the top of the notice.
2. Clearly and contemporaneously document the business reasons for the reduction, including the extent to which AI or automated technology contributed to the elimination or automation of particular positions or functions, so the company can evaluate, with counsel, whether a reduction is caused "in whole or in substantial part" by AI or other automated technology.
3. Confirm consistency between Cal-WARN notices, OWBPA disclosures, separation agreements, and internal and external communications, so that the stated reasons for the reduction (which may be summarized publicly by the EDD) do not conflict.
Employers with questions about SB 951 or Cal-WARN compliance should contact counsel with experience in complying with WARN notice obligations and the use of AI in the workplace.
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Authors
Shawn Matthew Clark
Shareholder
New York
smclark@littler.com
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Robert J. Wilger
Shareholder
San Jose
rwilger@littler.com
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Kerry E. Notestine
Shareholder
Houston
knotestine@littler.com
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/california-amends-its-warn-act-again
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Law360 Names McGuireWoods a North Carolina Powerhouse for Third Year in a Row
RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- McGuireWoods, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Law360 Names McGuireWoods a North Carolina Powerhouse for Third Year in a Row
October 2, 2026
McGuireWoods again has been named a North Carolina Powerhouse by Law360, which recognized significant litigation victories and corporate transactions as examples of the firm's leadership in the Tar Heel State. Law360 highlighted the firm's accomplishments in a Sept. 28, 2026, story, marking the third consecutive year McGuireWoods was honored as a North Carolina Powerhouse.
"With lawyers having a wide range
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- McGuireWoods, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Law360 Names McGuireWoods a North Carolina Powerhouse for Third Year in a Row
October 2, 2026
McGuireWoods again has been named a North Carolina Powerhouse by Law360, which recognized significant litigation victories and corporate transactions as examples of the firm's leadership in the Tar Heel State. Law360 highlighted the firm's accomplishments in a Sept. 28, 2026, story, marking the third consecutive year McGuireWoods was honored as a North Carolina Powerhouse.
"With lawyers having a wide rangeof skill sets, the firm is well positioned to take advantage of North Carolina's evolving legal landscape," noted Law360.
The article covered litigation and transactional successes stemming from McGuireWoods' long relationship with client Falfurrias Capital Partners, a private equity firm founded by Hugh McColl. These included representing Global Plasma Solutions, a Falfurrias portfolio company, through a False Claims Act investigation by the Department of Justice. The probe ended in October 2025 with the DOJ concluding Global Plasma Solutions did nothing wrong, a result Charlotte partner Robert Muckenfuss called "a significant vindication." The firm is also pursuing a $1 billion defamation claim against the world's largest scientific publisher for Falfurrias.
Law360 also recognized the firm's work enabling Falfurrias to merge John H. Northrop & Associates, Coherent Technical Services and Expansia Group into a single defense technology platform that helps provide services including digital engineering and advanced fabrication support for a range of defense players. That deal was led by Charlotte partner Chris Nesbit.
The publication also cited McGuireWoods' advocacy for 21 autistic children and their families against the state of North Carolina after policymakers slashed Medicaid reimbursement for a widely used autism treatment. After the firm, led by Raleigh partner Michael Easley Jr., secured a preliminary injunction to halt the cuts, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein restored the funding.
In interviews with Law360, partners Elizabeth Zwickert Timmermans and Brian Kahn said McGuireWoods is uniquely positioned to meet the evolving needs of clients in the region's most dynamic economic sectors.
Timmermans, managing partner of McGuireWoods' Raleigh office, noted how corporate deals, private equity and technological developments were driving the firm's legal work in the state capital. The tech sector, she added, fuels AI-related transactional work and privacy-related litigation. "I think data breach and [personally identifiable information] issues are very hot," Timmermans said.
Kahn, managing partner of the Charlotte office, added, "One of the things that I think makes McGuireWoods stand out from a lot of other firms is how strong and deep our healthcare practice is." From helping with legal advice on a startup idea, to corporate structure, all the way through to selling a company or litigation post-sale, he said, "[W]e've done it before, and we're really good at it."
Kahn added McGuireWoods is lucky to have found so many "amazing, dedicated professionals that love what they do" -- helping clients, building relationships and innovating every day.
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Original text here: https://www.mcguirewoods.com/news/press-releases/2026/10/law360-names-mcguirewoods-a-north-carolina-powerhouse-for-third-year-in-a-row/
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Citi Q3 2026 Earnings Call
NEW YORK, Oct. 3 -- Citi, a banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs and wealth management and a personal bank, issued the following news release:
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Citi Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Call
October 02, 2026
NEW YORK -- Citigroup will issue its third quarter 2026 results via press release at approximately 8 a.m. (ET) on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. At 11 a.m. (ET), results will be reviewed via live webcast and teleconference.
The press release, webcast and presentation materials will be available at https://www.citigroup.com/global/investors/events-and-presentations. A replay
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 3 -- Citi, a banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs and wealth management and a personal bank, issued the following news release:
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Citi Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Call
October 02, 2026
NEW YORK -- Citigroup will issue its third quarter 2026 results via press release at approximately 8 a.m. (ET) on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. At 11 a.m. (ET), results will be reviewed via live webcast and teleconference.
The press release, webcast and presentation materials will be available at https://www.citigroup.com/global/investors/events-and-presentations. A replayand transcript of the webcast will be available shortly after the event.
To attend the live webcast and access the replay, please visit:
https://citi-third-quarter-2026-earnings-results.open-exchange.net/registration
If you'd like to dial into the live earnings call, please call (646) 876-9923 (for U.S. and Canada callers). For international callers, please dial the Global Access numbers, linked here: Zoom International Dial-in Numbers - Zoom.
The meeting ID is 926 6741 5717#. The participant passcode is 482158.
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About Citi
Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
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Original text here: https://www.citigroup.com/global/news/press-release/2026/citi-third-quarter-2026-earnings-call
[Category: BizFinancial Services]
Alston & Bird Advises Ready Capital on $225 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 3 -- Alston and Bird, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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October 1, 2026
Alston & Bird Advises Ready Capital on $225 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
Alston & Bird represented Ready Capital Corporation and one of its subsidiaries, ReadyCap Holdings II LLC, in the private placement of $225 million in aggregate principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due 2031.
The Alston & Bird team advising Ready Capital included partners Michael Kessler, Paul Hespel, Rebecca Valentino, and David Rutherford; senior associates Boran Ding, Misbah Mohiuddin, Sarah
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 3 -- Alston and Bird, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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October 1, 2026
Alston & Bird Advises Ready Capital on $225 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
Alston & Bird represented Ready Capital Corporation and one of its subsidiaries, ReadyCap Holdings II LLC, in the private placement of $225 million in aggregate principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due 2031.
The Alston & Bird team advising Ready Capital included partners Michael Kessler, Paul Hespel, Rebecca Valentino, and David Rutherford; senior associates Boran Ding, Misbah Mohiuddin, SarahMcClellan, and Yemisi Falade; and partners Sarah Ma and Stephen Ornstein.
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URL: Ready Capital
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Original text here: https://www.alston.com/en/insights/news/2026/10/ready-capital-225m-notes-offering
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
