Cowbell vs Marsh Employment Practices Liability Insurance

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. ^4,3Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.

Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places employment practices liability insurance (EPLI); MMA also places EPL coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^9,10Company-reported. Marsh EPL page and MMA executive and professional liability page.

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. ^4,3Company-reported. Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer.

The reviewed pages do not name a specific EPLI insurer; the named endorsements appear to be Marsh-negotiated policy features rather than a Marsh-underwritten product. ^9,10Not publicly disclosed. Marsh EPL page and MMA executive and professional liability page as read on 2026-09-23.

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. ⁴Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.

Marsh says employers of all sizes face potential EPL liability, but its named endorsements target companies by size band: over 4,000 employees for the Global Leaders Endorsement and 250 to 4,000 employees for the Leaders Preferred Endorsement. ⁹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page.

Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. ⁴Company-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. ⁴Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'.

Marsh says EPLI can respond to allegations including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, failure to employ or promote, negligent evaluation, and violation of an employee's civil rights, brought by past, present or prospective employees or third parties. ⁹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page; illustrative policy description, not a specific policy form.

Marsh names two proprietary EPL endorsements: the Global Leaders Endorsement, built for large and multinational companies with more than 4,000 employees, and the Leaders Preferred Endorsement, for midsize companies with 250 to 4,000 employees. ⁹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page, Marsh's EPL services section.

Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes EPL limit or retention amounts. ^4,3Not publicly disclosed. Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

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. ⁴Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'.

Not described in the reviewed sources.