---
title: "Cowbell vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance"
description: "Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus EPL via wholesalers; Lockton designs EPL programs with typical third-party, punitive and immigration grants."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/employment-practices"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/employment-practices)

# Cowbell vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus EPL via wholesalers; Lockton designs EPL programs with typical third-party, punitive and immigration grants.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Cowbell and Lockton for Employment Practices Liability 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

Cowbell’s EPL is a Zurich Select Plus module on admitted paper for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, accessed only by appointed E&S wholesalers. Lockton brokers EPL for any organization that engages people for hire and says a typical placed policy covers official investigations, third-party claims, punitive damages where insurable and immigration claims, with wage-and-hour usually excluded and offered separately. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

## What Is Cowbell Insurance?

Cowbell is a specialty-insurance platform and agency focused on cyber risk for small and midsize businesses. Its U.S. catalogue also includes combined Technology E&O and cyber products and a Zurich management-liability offering distributed through appointed wholesalers. [1](https://cowbell.insure/ "Cowbell") [2](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf "Prime Tech Product Overview") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

[Cowbell profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell)

## What Is Lockton?

Lockton is a privately held insurance brokerage that arranges commercial risk, employee benefits and retirement programs. US pages describe a technology practice and intermediary placement with insurers, not Lockton as the policy’s insurer. [5](https://global.lockton.com/us/en "Lockton United States") [6](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/technology "Technology") [7](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/terms-of-business "US Terms of Business")

[Lockton profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton)

## What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Employment practices liability insurance addresses claims alleging workplace wrongdoing, such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. [9](https://www.iii.org/article/employment-practices-liability-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

## Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance

### Platform Versus Broker

Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus; Zurich underwrites the EPL module, which Cowbell and Zurich say is written on Zurich admitted paper. Only appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers access it through Cowbell’s API. Lockton designs EPL programs as risk advisor and broker and does not underwrite the coverage it places. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

### Who Each Side Describes

Cowbell targets private companies under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets. 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

### Coverage Features Each Side Names

Cowbell’s FAQs describe discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment and other employment-related issues. Zurich names the module “Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability.” Lockton says a typical EPL policy it places covers defense for employee claims and official employment investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related employment claims. Those are descriptions of a typical Lockton placement and of Cowbell’s FAQs, not matching specimen forms. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

Lockton separately offers standalone wage-and-hour coverage for misclassification and unpaid overtime, because those claims are typically excluded from EPL. Cowbell’s reviewed FAQs do not describe a separate wage-and-hour product. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

### Claims Staffing Lockton Describes

Lockton’s Professional & Executive Risk Claims team integrates insurance and claims counsel in the broking team from the start of the engagement. Cowbell’s reviewed Select Plus materials do not describe integrating claims counsel before a claim. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes

- Ask Lockton whether wage-and-hour would be a separate policy and whether immigration and punitive grants apply in your states. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Ask whether the Select Plus form includes official investigations and immigration wording Lockton treats as typical. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Confirm the entity named on Select Plus paper and which carriers Lockton would use; Lockton’s EPL materials do not name them. [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Get limits from both quotes; neither reviewed record publishes EPL figures. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability | Lockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPL product page as read 2026-09-23..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including EPL, are written on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this EPL module. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer..) | The EPL page does not name the insurance carriers Lockton places employment practices liability coverage with. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: EPL product page checked 2026-09-23..) |
| 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'..)<br><br>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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes typical policy features Lockton places, not a specimen form for any one client..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes EPL limit or retention amounts. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| How to Apply | This EPL module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Claims Support | Not described in the reviewed sources. | Lockton's Professional & Executive Risk Claims team integrates insurance and claims counsel within the broking team from the start of the engagement, which Lockton says is meant to prepare the claims strategy before an EPL claim arises. [8](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPL product page as read 2026-09-23..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Cowbell vs Lockton](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices): Employment practices liability insurance can help defend your business against covered claims of discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination.
- [Cowbell vs Lockton Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/crime)
- [Cowbell vs Lockton Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/cyber)
- [Cowbell vs Lockton D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/directors-officers)
- [Cowbell vs Lockton Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/fiduciary)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/employment-practices)
- [Alliance Risk vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-lockton/employment-practices)
- [Amelia Risk vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-cowbell/employment-practices)
- [Amelia Risk vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-lockton/employment-practices)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/employment-practices)
- [Beazley vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-lockton/employment-practices)

## Sources

### Cowbell

1. [Cowbell](https://cowbell.insure/). Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Prime Tech Product Overview](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf). Cowbell; PDF pp. 1–4: non-admitted combined Technology E&O and cyber for technology businesses up to $1 billion; up to $5 million; surplus lines in 50 states; edition PRIME TECH US0001 1025. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability). Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' and 'What is the most common management liability claim?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/). Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (EPL definition); FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?' (EPL claim types); Target industries list. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Lockton

5. [Lockton United States](https://global.lockton.com/us/en). Lockton; Opening description of independent insurance brokerage for risk, benefits and retirement; Ask an Expert link to contact-us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Technology](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/technology). Lockton; Industry introduction; cyber liability heading; dedicated technology team; listed services including claims advocacy, contract review, directors and officers liability, and international program design; 24/7 service model. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [US Terms of Business](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/terms-of-business). Lockton; Opening entity definition; Surplus Lines; Use of a Particular Insurer; Compensation Disclosure; servicing, claims handling and renewal language in Confidentiality section; Intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability). Lockton; What is EPL insurance?; Who should purchase EPL insurance?; What can I expect in a typical EPL insurance policy?; What is Wage and Hour coverage?; Claims management. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide

9. [Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/employment-practices-liability-insurance). Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. 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.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/employment-practices.md)
- [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers)
- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
- [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json)
- [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json)
- [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)