Brilliance in Focus: 2026 Environmental Power Broker Corinne Dougherty

As part of covering the best brokers in the commercial insurance space, Risk & Insurance®, with the sponsorship of Philadelphia Insurance Companies, is expanding its coverage of Power Broker® winners and finalists with its Brilliance in Focus series.

Look for these expanded profiles on the Risk & Insurance website and in your social media feeds throughout the year. Here we speak to Corinne Dougherty, a vice president with Marsh Risk and a 2026 Power Broker winner in the environmental category.

Risk & Insurance: Congratulations on your Power Broker win, Corinne. What drew you to working in this particular niche of the insurance industry?

Corinne Dougherty: I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of science and real-world impact. I studied Environmental Science in college and spent 4 years working as an environmental consultant, which gave me firsthand exposure to how environmental issues surface in commercial transactions. Through colleagues who moved into underwriting, I discovered environmental insurance. This niche in the industry requires both technical understanding and commercial problem-solving.

Environmental liabilities can be overlooked until later in a deal but can become major obstacles, especially with evolving risks like PFAS and other emerging contaminants. I enjoy being part of the solution and finding creative insurance solutions that help transactions move forward, while protecting our clients and the environment.

R&I: How has the risk profile evolved for your clients in the time you’ve been working as a broker?

CD: The risk profile has shifted from mostly site‑specific contamination issues to a far more complex mix driven by emerging contaminants (most notably PFAS). What may have looked like a limited legacy issue can quickly become a widespread, high‑cost problem, since toxicity thresholds, remediation standards, and cleanup methods for PFAS are still evolving. Regulatory and litigation risk has risen, which in turn affects valuations, financing, and deal viability. That said, the environmental insurance market has adapted. Underwriters are more sophisticated in how they evaluate PFAS exposures. Where the risk is supported by good data or mitigation plans, insurers can provide meaningful coverage instead of blanket exclusions. As a result, insurance is increasingly being used strategically to provide certainty where a lot of uncertainty exists.

R&I: What do you wish more clients knew when coming to the table for environmental insurance?

CD: The single biggest mistake clients make is assuming something is uninsurable. More often than not, there’s a structure that can transfer or mitigate material risk. While standard policy forms provide a starting point, the market today is very creative and flexible. We use a variety of tools, including tailored endorsements and carve‑ins, discovery limitations in lieu of broad exclusions, etc., to craft coverage for the specific deal. We design solutions to fit the problem, not force the problem into a standard form. If you’re facing an unusual exposure or sticking point in a transaction, start the conversation early. Bringing insurers into the process sooner increases options and improves deal certainty moving forward.

R&I: How do you unwind after a long day of imagining legacy liabilities and systemic climate events, and how do you leave these worries at the office?

CD: I recharge outside of work with long walks, reading a good book, and spending time at home with my fiancé and our two cats. I also teach yoga sculpt twice a week, which has become an important creative outlet. I enjoy planning the classes, playlists, and connecting with students. Teaching yoga sculpt lets me switch away from policy forms and endorsement language. It’s very energizing and a fun hobby outside of work.