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

Cowbell distributes Zurich-written EPL to private companies under 250 employees through firms Zurich appoints to distribute the module. Lockton designs EPL programs for organizations that hire people and says typical policies cover defense costs and damages.

Cowbell's EPL is a Zurich module for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, and your broker must reach it through an appointed wholesaler. Lockton designs EPL for any size of employer, typically covering third-party, punitive and immigration claims, with wage-and-hour placed separately. ^1,^2,³

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

Small-Company Module vs a Program for Any Employer

Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus, where Zurich insures EPL as one module. It's limited to private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, and only appointed Zurich wholesalers can access it through Cowbell's platform. Lockton brokers EPL and designs programs for any organization that hires people, regardless of size, industry, location, union status or contractor use. Choose Cowbell's route if you're a small private company whose broker can reach it; choose Lockton if you're larger, unionized or use many contractors. ¹ ² ³

What Coverage Each Describes

Cowbell's FAQs cover discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment and similar claims, and Zurich's module name adds third-party discrimination. Lockton's typical placement adds defense in official employment investigations, punitive damages where insurable and immigration-related claims. Lockton also places standalone wage-and-hour cover because EPL usually excludes it; Cowbell doesn't mention wage-and-hour at all. ¹ ² ³

Claims Help

Lockton puts claims counsel on the broking team from the start, before any claim. Cowbell's materials don't describe claims support for EPL, so ask who you'll call. ³ ¹

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

Ask Lockton whether wage-and-hour would be a separate policy and whether immigration and punitive cover apply in your states. ³
Ask whether the Select Plus form covers official investigations and immigration claims. ¹ ³
Ask which Zurich company issues Select Plus, and which insurers Lockton would use. ² ³
Get limits from both quotes; neither publishes them. ¹ ³

Cowbell vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance Compared

Cowbell vs Lockton: Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability	Lockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage
Who It’s For	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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.	Lockton says any organization that engages people for hire, regardless of size, industry, location, union participation or use of independent contractors, faces employment-related risk and should consider EPL insurance. ³Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23.
Coverage Features	Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. ¹Company-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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'.	Lockton says a typical EPL policy it places covers legal defense costs for employee claims and official employment investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment claims from non-employees, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related employment claims. It separately offers standalone wage-and-hour coverage for claims like misclassification and unpaid overtime, since wage-and-hour claims are typically excluded from EPL policies. ³Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes typical policy features Lockton places, not a specimen form for any one client.
Role in This Line	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. ^1,²Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.	Lockton designs EPL insurance programs for clients as their risk advisor and broker; it does not underwrite the coverage it places. ³Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23.

Criteria

Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability

Lockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage

Who It’s For

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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.

Lockton says any organization that engages people for hire, regardless of size, industry, location, union participation or use of independent contractors, faces employment-related risk and should consider EPL insurance. ³Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23.

Coverage Features

Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. ¹Company-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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'.

Lockton says a typical EPL policy it places covers legal defense costs for employee claims and official employment investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment claims from non-employees, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related employment claims. It separately offers standalone wage-and-hour coverage for claims like misclassification and unpaid overtime, since wage-and-hour claims are typically excluded from EPL policies. ³Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes typical policy features Lockton places, not a specimen form for any one client.

Role in This Line

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. ^1,²Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.

Lockton designs EPL insurance programs for clients as their risk advisor and broker; it does not underwrite the coverage it places. ³Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23.