Coalition vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Coalition’s EPL is a named Executive Risks product; Heffernan brokers modular EPL and a 2016 article cites wage-and-hour sublimits of $100,000–$250,000.

What Is Coalition Insurance?

Coalition offers cyber insurance and technology E&O alongside cyber risk-management services. Its U.S. products are distributed through insurance producers, with separate admitted and surplus-lines routes and an executive-risk product suite. ^1,^2,^3,⁴

Read the Coalition profile

What Is Heffernan Insurance Brokers?

Heffernan Insurance Brokers is an independent, Walnut Creek–headquartered retail brokerage that arranges business insurance, employee benefits, and related services. Its technology practice markets to mid- and late-stage companies, including venture-funded and pre-IPO firms. ^6,^7,⁸

Read the Heffernan Insurance Brokers profile

What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Employment practices liability insurance addresses claims alleging workplace wrongdoing, such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. ¹³

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Who Underwrites Versus Who Places

Coalition designs EPL as one of four Executive Risks coverages. Heffernan shops and places EPL inside its business-insurance brokerage and does not underwrite the policy. ⁴ ⁸

Coverage Features Named in the Records

Coalition lists wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. In a 2016 article, Heffernan advisor Tanner Fornesi recommends that buyers request wage-and-hour coverage, a 100% hammer clause, and an immigration claim endorsement, with wage-and-hour sublimits then commonly $100,000 and sometimes $150,000 to $250,000. Coalition’s reviewed sources do not describe those endorsements. The 2016 sublimits are historical, not a current Heffernan quote. ⁴ ¹²

Intended Clients

Coalition’s eligibility is private and not-for-profit U.S. organizations with up to 1,000 employees. Heffernan lists EPL in its general business-insurance practice, home-care agency practice, and family-office and financial-firm practice. ⁴ ⁸ ⁹ ¹⁰

How You Reach Coverage

Coalition sells Executive Risks only through appointed brokers. Heffernan’s reviewed sources describe no EPL-specific online quote; buyers use the general brokerage contact route. ⁴ ⁸

What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes

Ask Heffernan for current wage-and-hour sublimits and whether a 100% hammer clause and immigration endorsement are available. ¹²
Ask Coalition whether wage-and-hour or immigration claims are granted. ⁴
Confirm Heffernan’s issuing insurer; Coalition names Zurich American for admitted Executive Risks. ⁸ ⁵
Ask how an EPL claim would be handled at Heffernan; its published claims-advocacy list does not include employment matters. ¹¹

Offering Details

Coalition vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Coalition Executive Risks — Employment Practices Liability (EPL)	Heffernan Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Role in This Line	Coalition designs and distributes EPL as one of four coverages in its Executive Risks product suite, sold through appointed brokers. ⁴Company-reported. Executive Risks product page as read on 2026-09-23.	Heffernan places employment practices liability (EPL) coverage as part of its corporate and executive-protection lineup within its general business-insurance brokerage. It shops and places the policy with insurers rather than underwriting it. ⁸Company-reported. Business Insurance Brokerage page listing; no policy form or dedicated EPL product page was found.
Issuing Insurer	Coalition's disclaimer names Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC 16535) as the admitted carrier for Executive Risks, and says Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. also places Executive Risks with unaffiliated insurers on a non-admitted basis, so the carrier for a specific EPL policy depends on the placement route. ⁵Company-reported. U.S. Disclaimers page as read on 2026-09-23.	The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or insurers that issue EPL policies Heffernan places. ⁸Not publicly disclosed. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23.
Who It’s For	Coalition says Executive Risks products, including EPL, are available to private and not-for-profit U.S. organizations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with up to $500 million in assets, up to 1,000 employees, and up to $500 million in plan assets. ⁴Company-reported. Executive Risks FAQ as read on 2026-09-23.	EPL appears in three separate parts of Heffernan's site: the general business-insurance page, the home-care agency practice, and the family-office/financial-firm practice, indicating it is offered to a range of business types rather than one narrow niche. ^8,^9,¹⁰Company-reported. Direct practice-page listings; the pages do not publish a minimum size or industry restriction for EPL specifically.
Coverage Features	Coalition says EPL coverage protects against claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. ⁴Company-reported. Executive Risks product page as read on 2026-09-23; exclusions and limitations apply per the page footer, and the issued policy controls actual terms.	In a 2016 article, Heffernan advisor Tanner Fornesi says EPL policies are modular and recommends buyers specifically request wage-and-hour coverage, a 100% hammer clause (so the insurer, not the policyholder, bears settlement costs above an offer the policyholder declines), and an immigration claim endorsement. ¹²Company-reported. 2016 educational article about EPL coverage generally, not a current Heffernan product specification; endorsement availability depends on the carrier and current market terms.
Limits and Retentions	Coalition says limits up to $10 million per coverage line may be available for Executive Risks products, including EPL, subject to exclusions and limitations. ⁴Company-reported. Executive Risks FAQ as read on 2026-09-23; not a quoted or bindable limit for any specific applicant.	The same 2016 article says wage-and-hour EPL sublimits were then commonly $100,000, with some carriers offering $150,000 to $250,000 for additional premium. ¹²Company-reported. Market commentary in a 2016 article, not a current quote or a limit Heffernan guarantees today.
Risk Services	Coalition says Executive Risks policyholders, including EPL buyers, get a customized risk assessment, a hotline for assistance with HR-related issues, employee training, and a handbook builder, which are specifically relevant to reducing employment-practices exposure. ⁴Company-reported. Executive Risks page and FAQ as read on 2026-09-23.	Not described in the reviewed sources.
How to Apply	Coalition distributes Executive Risks, including EPL, only through appointed insurance brokers rather than direct to buyers. ⁴Company-reported. Executive Risks product page as read on 2026-09-23.	The reviewed pages describe no EPL-specific application or online quote process; buyers reach the coverage through Heffernan's general business-insurance brokerage contact route. ⁸Not found in reviewed sources. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23.
Claims Support	Not described in the reviewed sources.	Heffernan's published claims-advocacy services cover workers' compensation, general liability, auto, and property claims; the page does not list employment-related claims handling as part of that service. ¹¹Not found in reviewed sources. Claims Advocacy page as read on 2026-09-23; does not establish that EPL claims receive no support, only that this page does not describe it.

Full Comparison

More Coalition vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Comparisons

Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Comparisons

Sources

Coalition

Tech E&O Insurance Coverage. Coalition; Who needs Technology Errors & Omissions coverage? (organizations that provide a technology product or service for a fee); Combine Technology Errors & Omissions coverage with Active Cyber Insurance; Coalition Advantage. Accessed 2026-09-16.
U.S. Producer Compensation. Coalition; Insurance Producers; Base Commission; Contingent Commission; Business Production Incentive Programs; Non-Insurance Products. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Are there any differences between Coalition’s admitted and surplus lines products? Coalition; Cyber insurance coverage offered by Coalition: Coverage availability; Coverage offering. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Executive Risks. Coalition; Product Offering: Employment Practices Liability (EPL) — protects against claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and more; FAQ: What type of businesses do you protect?, What limits do you offer?, What resources do you have for policyholders? Accessed 2026-09-23.
U.S. Disclaimers. Coalition; Admitted Executive Risk: insurance products offered by Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. acting on behalf of unaffiliated insurance companies and, on an admitted basis, on behalf of Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Heffernan Insurance Brokers

Our Story. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Headquartered in Walnut Creek; nationwide presence; founded 1988; employee owned; niche practices including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Technology Company Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Pre-IPO and venture-funded heading; mid to late stage specialization; global expansion copy; self-insurance strategies; Key Markets list; Why Heffernan broker history; Joseph Talmadge practice leader; FAQ. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Corporate and executive protection, such as employment practices liability, directors and officers liability, fiduciary responsibility, cyber liability, and kidnap and ransom are also available through our comprehensive business insurance programs. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Home Care Business Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; We offer comprehensive coverage for: Workers' Compensation Insurance, General and Professional Liability, Employment Practice Liability, Business/Owned Auto, Non-owned and Hired Auto, and more. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Family Office. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Coverage for Family Offices, Trustees & Financial Firms: Family office liability, D&O, Professional liability, Employment practices liability insurance, Workers' compensation, Employee benefits, Trustee liability, Property and auto, Fiduciary liability, Fidelity/financial institution bond, Cyber, Crime, General liability, Excess liability. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Claims Advocacy. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Services We Offer: Workers' Compensation Claims Expertise; Medical Triage Services; General Liability, Auto & Property Claims Support; Online Risk Management & HR Support; Streamlined Vendor Compliance. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Employment Practices Liability 101: What You Need to Know. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; May 18, 2016 article by Tanner Fornesi, Assistant Vice President, Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Wage and Hour coverage, 100% Hammer Clause, Immigration Claim Endorsement. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide

Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.