Castle Harbour hotel last week.

The three-day seminar, held by the tort and insurance practice section of the American Bar Association, was designed to help legal experts advise their clients on the "opportunities and dangers related to tort and insurance issues arising from globalisation'', said an ABA spokesperson.

The conference followed on the heels of another Marriott meeting on the hot topic of globalisation - a mutual funds seminar held by the International Bar Association and the Investment Company Institute.

The ABA event, "Tort and Insurance Practice Issues in an Increasingly Interdependent World'' was opened by Bermuda Chief Justice Sir James Astwood on Thursday and addressed by Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan on Saturday.

On Friday it heard from Mr. Geoffrey Bell, head of litigation at Appleby, Spurling and Kempe, who spoke on the enforcement and collection of judgments against alien insurers.

He explained alternatives open to a US insured seeking recovery from a Bermudian insurer.

These broke down into court proceedings in the States, court proceedings in Bermuda or arbitration, he told the conference.

Mr. John Cooper, president of the Bermuda Bar Association, gave a welcoming address to participants, who included experts from Belgium, Austria, England and Germany, as well as America.

Mr. Cooper told Business: "The major benefit from a group like this coming to Bermuda is first of all to the Island and the hotel, but their sessions are also very informative.'' Speakers included: Florida state insurance commissioner Mr. Tom Gallagher, co-director of the Miami Hurricane Insurance Information Center Mr. William Bailey, New York state insurance superintendent Mr. Salvatore Curiale and International Insurance Council president Mr. Gordon Cloney.

The spokesperson said the conference provided guidance on "the most pressing legal issues of the day'', and dealt with topics of interest to all in tort and insurance practice, including plaintiff's lawyers, defence lawyers and company lawyers, as well as all concerned about the future of the insurance industry and the civil justice system.

The ABA praised Bermuda as a venue. The conference schedule told participants: "The Island takes great pride in the financial infrastructure which it has created and maintained and which provides it with the necessary sophistication to conduct an extraordinary amount of business -- rivalling and in some ways surpassing such traditional insurance centres as London and New York.

"Blessed with political stability, economic prosperity, charming people and great physical beauty, Bermuda will continue to surprise those who are not familiar with it and satisfy those who are.'' MR. GEOFFREY BELL -- The head of litigation at Appleby, Spurling and Kempe spoke on the enforcement and collection of judgments against alien insurers.