Shepherd Launches Admitted Casualty Lines in California
Today, we’re thrilled to share that Shepherd is now writing admitted Casualty products in California, extending our tech-driven construction insurance platform into one of the nation’s largest and most complex markets.
These new offerings will expand our existing relationship with Core Specialty and be written on StarStone National Insurance Company paper (A.M. Best A (Excellent), Financial Size Category of XIII), bringing admitted solutions to risks effective July 1st, 2025, and beyond.
This marks a critical step forward for Shepherd as we continue to transform commercial construction underwriting with speed, data, and a differentiated customer experience.
Here’s what our California launch means:
- Admitted Primary Casualty Coverage
- Commercial General Liability (CGL)
- Auto Liability
- Auto Physical Damage
- Limits up to $2M per occurrence on GL & Auto
- Workers’ Compensation (statutory)
- Underwritten by Shepherd’s team, leveraging our proprietary platform
Excess Capacity Available
- For clients needing higher limits, we’re offering non-admitted excess solutions today
- Expected launch of admitted Excess products in California before year-end 2025
Shepherd Savings Stays in Play
- Our data-driven approach and technology continue to drive speed and competitive terms
- Partners can expect the same underwriting efficiency and cost benefits that have powered our growth
Retail-Only Distribution
- Staying true to our model, California admitted products will be accessible exclusively through appointed retail broker partners
Why California, Why Now?
Since inception, Shepherd has averaged 3x annual growth in casualty lines and delivered seven consecutive quarters of premium growth. 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.
With this launch, New York becomes the only remaining state where Shepherd has yet to offer admitted Primary products.
Our Mission Continues
We’re not simply launching new offerings—we’re building the future of underwriting for commercial construction. Our unified technology platform now powers both Casualty and Builder’s Risk lines, streamlining everything from submission intake to document issuance. We’re embedding AI into almost everything we do and automating processes historically reliant on manual data entry.
Our mission remains: to make construction safer and more sustainable through innovative commercial insurance solutions. California’s admitted launch is a major step toward that goal—and we’re just getting started.
Ready Immediately for Appointed Brokers
Today marks another important milestone for Shepherd, and we’re grateful for the support of our partners at Core Specialty.
Our underwriting team is ready to support California admitted Casualty submissions effective July 1 and beyond.
We’re accepting submissions from appointed brokers at submissions@withshepherd.com.
To learn more about our California admitted Casualty offering—or how Builder’s Risk integrates into a comprehensive risk management strategy—visit our website or reach out to our team today.
