---
title: "Cowbell vs Lockton: Employment Practices Liability Insurance"
description: "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."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton/employment-practices"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
comparison-pair: "cowbell-vs-lockton"
provider-a: "cowbell"
provider-b: "lockton"
coverage-line: "employment-practices"
---

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

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of Cowbell and Lockton for Employment Practices Liability Insurance: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for Employment Practices Liability Insurance questions about Cowbell versus Lockton. For all lines together use the pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- Cowbell vs Lockton for Employment Practices Liability Insurance: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Employment Practices Liability Insurance, Cowbell or Lockton?
- What does Cowbell or Lockton publish about Employment Practices Liability Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Providers: Cowbell and Lockton.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}/{line}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date; last updated 2026-09-25.

**Related pages:**
- [Cowbell vs Lockton](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-lockton) — all coverage lines for this pair
- [Employment Practices Liability Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices) — how this coverage works
- [Cowbell profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell) — provider profile
- [Lockton profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton) — provider profile

# 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 Zurich-backed EPL is limited to private companies under 250 staff and reached only through wholesalers, while Lockton designs EPL programs for employers of any size with claims counsel from the start.

## Cowbell vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance Summary

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](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [2](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [3](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

## 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](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [2](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [3](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

### 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](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [2](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [3](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

### 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](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [1](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## 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](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Ask whether the Select Plus form covers official investigations and immigration claims. [1](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Ask which Zurich company issues Select Plus, and which insurers Lockton would use. [2](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [3](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Get limits from both quotes; neither publishes them. [1](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

## Cowbell vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance Compared

| 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. [1](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. [3](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. [1](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. [1](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. [3](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..) |
| 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](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [2](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. [3](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..) |

## About Cowbell and Lockton and Employment Practices Liability Insurance

- [Cowbell company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell) · [Cowbell customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell/reviews)
- [Lockton company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton) · [Lockton customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton/reviews)
- [What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices)

## Related Pages for Cowbell vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability

- [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): EPLI can address covered workplace claims from applicants and workers; claim timing, defense arrangements, limits and exclusions shape your protection.
- [Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell/employment-practices)
- [Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton/employment-practices)

## Sources for Cowbell vs Lockton

### Sources About Cowbell

1. [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.
2. [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.

### Sources About Lockton

3. [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.

Updated 2026-09-25. 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)
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