Shepherd extends admitted casualty products to California

By Chris Munro

July 11 - (The Insurer) - Shepherd is now offering its admitted casualty products in California with the construction and energy industry-focused MGU now approved to write the coverage in every state bar New York.

The technology-driven MGU said the entry into California’s admitted market extends its existing relationship with Core Specialty.

Since July 1, 2025, Shepherd has been able to write commercial general liability (CGL), auto liability, auto physical damage and statutory workers’ compensation in California on an admitted basis.

The MGU can offer limits of up $2 million per occurrence for GL and auto business.

These coverages are written on the paper of AM Best A rated StarStone National Insurance Company.

For those California clients that need additional protection beyond what the admitted products provide, Shepherd also offers non-admitted excess capacity.

Shepherd said it expects to launch admitted excess products in California by the end of this year.

“Since inception, Shepherd has averaged 3x annual growth in casualty lines and delivered seven consecutive quarters of premium growth,” said Shepherd co-founder and CEO Justin Levine.

“We’ve grown sustainably without modifying our baseline appetite while operating with a tight network of retail brokerage partners.

“California has always been a critical market for commercial construction, but also one of the most challenging.

“The complexity of regulatory requirements, the demand for new solutions, and the breadth of exciting projects make this the perfect next step for Shepherd,” he added.