Amelia Risk vs Cowbell: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

For startups, Amelia Risk arranges EPL and offers guidance on when to buy; Cowbell makes EPL available to private companies only through Zurich-appointed wholesalers.

You can hire Amelia Risk directly to place EPL, and it advises startups to buy around five to ten employees; you can't buy Cowbell's Zurich-backed EPL module yourself, because only appointed wholesalers can reach it. ^1,^6,⁷

What Are the Key Differences Between Amelia Risk and Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Broker You Hire vs Module Your Broker Must Reach

Amelia Risk works with employers directly as a retail broker placing EPL. Cowbell runs the platform for Zurich Select Plus, and its EPL module isn't sold to businesses; only appointed Zurich wholesalers can access it through Cowbell's API. If your broker isn't one of them, you can't get this module. Choose Amelia Risk if you're a startup that wants one broker to handle EPL; ask your broker about Cowbell only if you're a private company under 250 employees and $50 million in assets. ¹ ⁶ ⁷

Startups at Five to Ten Employees vs Established Firms Under 250

Amelia Risk focuses on startups, technology, CPG and consumer-products companies and suggests buying EPL around five to ten employees. Cowbell targets private companies under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets in industries such as retail, hospitality and manufacturing. A venture-backed tech startup fits Amelia Risk's stated focus; a restaurant group or manufacturer fits Cowbell's. ² ¹ ⁶

Third-Party Discrimination Named vs Not Described

Zurich names the module Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability, so a customer's discrimination claim may be included. Amelia Risk's reviewed sources don't describe that coverage or name an insurer, and neither Cowbell nor Zurich publishes EPL limits. If customers or vendors could accuse your staff of discrimination, ask both for that grant in writing. ⁶ ⁷ ¹

What Should You Confirm in Amelia Risk and Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes?

If your broker isn't an appointed Zurich wholesaler, you can't buy the Cowbell module; ask Amelia Risk which markets it would use instead. ⁶ ¹
Ask whether third-party discrimination is actually granted, as Zurich's module name suggests. ⁷ ¹
Check whether you exceed 250 employees or $50 million in assets before pursuing Cowbell. ⁶
Ask which Zurich company issues any Select Plus quote. Zurich says Select Plus is written on its admitted paper, meaning a licensed, state-regulated insurer. ⁷

Amelia Risk vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Compared

Amelia Risk vs Cowbell: Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Amelia Risk Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage	Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability
Who It’s For	Amelia Risk lists EPL among the policies it places for startups, technology companies, CPG brands, and consumer-product companies. ^2,^3,^4,⁵Company-reported. Specialty pages' "policies to consider" lists, marketed segments rather than an underwriting appetite statement. Amelia Risk recommends buying EPL once a company reaches roughly five to ten employees and is hiring more, and advises employers in California and New York to buy earlier in that range because those states are more litigious for employment claims. ¹Company-reported. EPL product page timing guidance as of 23 September 2026; a general recommendation, not a stated coverage requirement.	Cowbell targets this EPL module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across industries such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. ⁶Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.
Coverage Features	Amelia describes the EPL policy as protecting the employer against common claims including sexual harassment, wrongful termination, failure to promote or hire, discrimination, and hostile-work-environment claims. ¹Company-reported. EPL product page description; the actual policy wording, defenses, and exclusions depend on the issuing insurer and the client's declarations.	Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. ⁶Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'. Cowbell says EPL claims are the most common type of management liability claim overall, most frequently alleging discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, or retaliation for a legally protected activity such as filing a complaint or whistleblowing. ⁶Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'.
Role in This Line	Amelia Risk arranges EPL coverage for clients, describing and structuring the policy to protect the employer entity against employment-related claims, rather than underwriting it directly. ¹Company-reported. EPL product page as of 23 September 2026. Does not establish who issues a particular client's policy.	Employment practices liability (EPL) is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites. Zurich's own page names this module 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability,' broader than the plain 'EPL' shorthand Cowbell's FAQ uses. ^6,⁷Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.

Criteria

Amelia Risk Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage

Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability

Who It’s For

Amelia Risk lists EPL among the policies it places for startups, technology companies, CPG brands, and consumer-product companies. ^2,^3,^4,⁵Company-reported. Specialty pages' "policies to consider" lists, marketed segments rather than an underwriting appetite statement.

Amelia Risk recommends buying EPL once a company reaches roughly five to ten employees and is hiring more, and advises employers in California and New York to buy earlier in that range because those states are more litigious for employment claims. ¹Company-reported. EPL product page timing guidance as of 23 September 2026; a general recommendation, not a stated coverage requirement.

Cowbell targets this EPL module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across industries such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. ⁶Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.

Coverage Features

Amelia describes the EPL policy as protecting the employer against common claims including sexual harassment, wrongful termination, failure to promote or hire, discrimination, and hostile-work-environment claims. ¹Company-reported. EPL product page description; the actual policy wording, defenses, and exclusions depend on the issuing insurer and the client's declarations.

Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. ⁶Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'.

Cowbell says EPL claims are the most common type of management liability claim overall, most frequently alleging discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, or retaliation for a legally protected activity such as filing a complaint or whistleblowing. ⁶Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'.

Role in This Line

Amelia Risk arranges EPL coverage for clients, describing and structuring the policy to protect the employer entity against employment-related claims, rather than underwriting it directly. ¹Company-reported. EPL product page as of 23 September 2026. Does not establish who issues a particular client's policy.

Employment practices liability (EPL) is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites. Zurich's own page names this module 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability,' broader than the plain 'EPL' shorthand Cowbell's FAQ uses. ^6,⁷Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.