---
title: "At-Bay vs Founder Shield Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance"
description: "At-Bay's MPL page names no insurer; Founder Shield says it places E&O only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-foundershield/professional-errors-omissions"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# At-Bay vs Founder Shield Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

At-Bay's MPL page names no insurer; Founder Shield says it places E&O only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate At-Bay and Founder Shield for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Founder Shield says it places Errors & Omissions Insurance only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry, though it doesn't name the specific insurer for a given placement. At-Bay's current MPL page also does not name an issuing insurer. [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite")

## What Is At-Bay Insurance?

At-Bay offers Cyber, Tech E&O, and miscellaneous professional liability insurance through its disclosed insurance agency and surplus lines broker. Its Stance security services have policy eligibility conditions, with managed detection and response sold separately. [1](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/ "Cyber, Tech E&O & Professional Liability Insurance") [2](https://www.at-bay.com/stance/ "At-Bay Stance")

[At-Bay profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/at-bay)

## What Is Founder Shield Insurance?

Founder Shield is a commercial insurance broker for venture-backed and growing businesses. Buyers can request coverage through its online portal and work with advisors on insurer selection, policy changes and claims reporting. [7](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [8](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [10](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/ "What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?") [11](https://foundershield.com/claims/ "Claims")

[Founder Shield profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield)

## What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?

Professional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, also called professional liability insurance, addresses claims that professional services or advice caused a client financial loss. What's covered depends on the services actually scheduled in the policy, not the product label alone. [14](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/commercial/pl-faq.html "FAQ: Professional liability insurance") [15](https://www.iii.org/article/professional-liability-insurance "Professional liability insurance") [16](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/launch-your-business/#business-insurance "Get business insurance") [17](https://www.hiscox.com/documents/pl-sample-policy-wording.pdf "Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance")

## Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

### Underwriter Versus Placement Broker

At-Bay names Miscellaneous Professional Liability (MPL) as one of its own insurance products, distributed through its disclosed producer, At-Bay Insurance Services LLC. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") [4](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/ "Licenses") Founder Shield describes its own role differently:

Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Errors & Omissions Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. [13](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line..)

### What Each Company Discloses About the Carrier

At-Bay's current MPL page does not name the insurer that issues the policy for a new quote. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") Founder Shield says it places policies, including this one, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, matched to the client's industry, though it does not name the carrier for any specific placement. [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

### How Coverage Is Packaged

At-Bay's MPL page lists specific insuring-agreement features on its own, separate from any other coverage line. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") Founder Shield says E&O is often packaged with technology E&O and cyber coverage since the two types of claims tend to intertwine. [12](https://foundershield.com/coverage/errors-and-omissions-insurance/ "Errors & Omissions Insurance")

## What to Confirm in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes

- Ask At-Bay directly for the insurer that would issue your MPL policy, since the product page does not name one. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite")
- Ask Founder Shield which specific A-rated carrier it plans to approach for your E&O placement. [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")
- Confirm whether Founder Shield would bundle your E&O with technology E&O and cyber, or place it as a standalone policy. [12](https://foundershield.com/coverage/errors-and-omissions-insurance/ "Errors & Omissions Insurance")
- Ask At-Bay for its published $5 million limit ceiling and any state restrictions on your business. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite")
- Ask Founder Shield for specific limit and premium figures, since none are published on its coverage page. [12](https://foundershield.com/coverage/errors-and-omissions-insurance/ "Errors & Omissions Insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | At-Bay Miscellaneous Professional Liability (MPL) Insurance | Founder Shield Errors & Omissions Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | At-Bay markets MPL as one of its own named insurance products, sold through its disclosed producer, At-Bay Insurance Services LLC, with the product page directed at "properly licensed insurance professionals" submitting business rather than at direct retail buyers. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") [4](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/ "Licenses") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Current MPL product page and license disclosures; this describes the distribution channel, not who bears the underwriting risk..) | Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Errors & Omissions Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. [13](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line..)<br><br>Founder Shield says E&O (professional liability) is often packaged with technology E&O and cyber coverage since the two types of claims tend to intertwine. [12](https://foundershield.com/coverage/errors-and-omissions-insurance/ "Errors & Omissions Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Errors & Omissions Insurance product page..) |
| Issuing Insurer | The current MPL product page does not name the insurer that issues the policy. A September 2023 press release named United Specialty Company in connection with MPL, but that historical reference does not establish the current issuing insurer for a new MPL quote. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") [5](https://www.at-bay.com/press_releases/at-bay-doubles-mpl/ "At-Bay Doubles Miscellaneous Professional Liability Appetite") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Reviewed MPL page as of 2026-09-23 and the September 2023 press release; restates the existing provider fact that MPL's current issuer is unresolved, distinct from the August 2023 Cyber/Tech E&O transition to At-Bay Specialty Insurance Company paper..) | Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield Errors & Omissions Insurance, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements..) |
| Who It’s For | At-Bay says it provides primary MPL for businesses of all revenue sizes with limits up to $5 million, subject to state restrictions and eligibility requirements detailed in a separate MPL appetite guide. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Current MPL appetite paragraph; the linked appetite guide's specific eligibility requirements were not independently opened for this record..) | Founder Shield markets E&O to venture capital firms, consultants, media and advertising agencies, SaaS marketplaces, and software developers who perform services for other parties. [12](https://foundershield.com/coverage/errors-and-omissions-insurance/ "Errors & Omissions Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Errors & Omissions Insurance product page..) |
| Coverage Features | At-Bay lists MPL coverage highlights including automatic coverage for acquired subsidiaries, claims-made-and-reported coverage, coverage for independent contractors, disciplinary-proceedings defense, a duty-to-defend contract, personal-injury coverage (including emotional distress), punitive damages where insurable, a professional-services definition written for each insured, and an 80/20 hammer clause. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page coverage-highlights list; an 80/20 hammer clause is a settlement provision where the insurer pays 80% and the insured pays 20% of costs after the insured declines a recommended settlement. The issued policy and declarations control actual wording, limits and exclusions..) | Founder Shield lists defense costs, defense against disciplinary or regulatory proceedings, lost-earnings coverage, and claims from errors by employees or contractors as what E&O responds to. [12](https://foundershield.com/coverage/errors-and-omissions-insurance/ "Errors & Omissions Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage..) |
| Limits and Retentions | At-Bay publishes an MPL limit ceiling of up to $5 million, with state restrictions that are not detailed on the product page itself. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Current appetite paragraph; this is an advertised ceiling, not a guaranteed available limit for any specific applicant..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| How to Apply | At-Bay directs MPL submissions to underwriting by email or through automatic quotes on its Broker Platform, which At-Bay describes as a workflow of creating a quote, customizing limits and retentions, and binding the policy. [3](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/ "MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite") [6](https://www.at-bay.com/brokers/platform/ "Broker Platform") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Current submission instructions and the general broker-platform workflow description; MPL-specific automation details were not separately confirmed..) | You request Founder Shield Errors & Omissions Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. [13](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form..) |

## Full Comparison

- [At-Bay vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-foundershield): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions): Professional E&O insurance addresses claims that a mistake in your advice or services caused a client financial loss.
- [At-Bay vs Founder Shield Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-foundershield/cyber)
- [Alliance Risk vs At-Bay Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-at-bay/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Founder Shield Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-foundershield/professional-errors-omissions)
- [At-Bay vs Beazley Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-beazley/professional-errors-omissions)
- [At-Bay vs CFC Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-cfc/professional-errors-omissions)
- [At-Bay vs Chubb Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-chubb/professional-errors-omissions)
- [At-Bay vs Coalition Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-coalition/professional-errors-omissions)

## Sources

### At-Bay

1. [Cyber, Tech E&O & Professional Liability Insurance](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/). At-Bay; Product cards and agency disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [At-Bay Stance](https://www.at-bay.com/stance/). At-Bay; Real Protection Against Real Threats; Endpoint, Email, MXDR; footnotes 1 and 3–6. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [MPL Insurance: Coverage Highlights & Appetite](https://www.at-bay.com/insurance/mpl/). At-Bay; MPL Coverage Highlights list; MPL Appetite paragraph; Send us your submissions; "material on this page is intended for use solely by properly licensed insurance professionals". Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Licenses](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/). At-Bay; Producer introduction; agency and surplus-lines footer naming At-Bay Insurance Services LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
5. [At-Bay Doubles Miscellaneous Professional Liability Appetite](https://www.at-bay.com/press_releases/at-bay-doubles-mpl/). At-Bay; September 28, 2023 release: final paragraph before Media Contacts. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Broker Platform](https://www.at-bay.com/brokers/platform/). At-Bay; How it works: Create a quote, Customize your quote, Bind your policy, Manage renewals; FAQs. Accessed 2026-09-16.

### Founder Shield

7. [Founder Shield](https://foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
8. [Quote Portal](https://apx.foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Public landing screen, Create Account and Sign In links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
9. [How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/). Founder Shield; FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite. Accessed 2026-09-23.
10. [What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/). Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: operational changes and coverage adjustments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
11. [Claims](https://foundershield.com/claims/). Founder Shield; Our Approach; How We Support Claims Management, steps 1–5; Make a claim link. Accessed 2026-09-15.
12. [Errors & Omissions Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/errors-and-omissions-insurance/). Founder Shield; What Is Errors & Omissions Insurance?; Who Needs Errors & Omissions Insurance Coverage?; What Does Errors and Omissions Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
13. [About Us](https://foundershield.com/about-us/). Founder Shield; “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Guide

14. [FAQ: Professional liability insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/commercial/pl-faq.html). Texas Department of Insurance; What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies. Accessed 2026-09-16.
15. [Professional liability insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/professional-liability-insurance). Insurance Information Institute; Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion). Accessed 2026-09-16.
16. [Get business insurance](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/launch-your-business/#business-insurance). U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
17. [Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/documents/pl-sample-policy-wording.pdf). Hiscox Inc. specimen; About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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