Cowbell vs Newfront: 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. Newfront brokers EPLI for private companies from seed stage through IPO, with growth-stage guidance and claims support.

Cowbell’s EPL is only for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, reached through wholesale brokers. Newfront is a broker that stays with you from seed stage to public company and negotiates claims across your executive-risk policies. ^1,³

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

Small Private Firms vs Seed Stage Through IPO

Cowbell targets private companies with under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets. Newfront serves private companies from seed through every funding round and says it has worked with over 500 public companies, with no EPL headcount cap. Once you pass 250 employees or go public, Cowbell no longer fits and Newfront still does. Choose Cowbell if you are a small private company whose broker uses Zurich’s wholesale channel; choose Newfront if you are venture-backed and growing fast. ¹ ³

Wholesale Platform vs Consultation With a Broker

Cowbell’s EPL module, underwritten by Zurich, is reachable only by appointed Zurich wholesale brokers through Cowbell’s platform, so your own agent has to go through one. Newfront starts with a consultation on its Executive Risk page and does not describe online quoting or name an insurer. ¹ ² ³

Claims Negotiation and a Dashboard vs No Described Service

Newfront says it negotiates claims and coverage across executive-risk lines, gives you 24/7 dashboard access to policies, certificates and billing, and adjusts coverage as you grow. Cowbell’s pages describe the EPL module and how common EPL claims are, but no claims workflow or client dashboard. ³ ¹

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

If you are near 250 employees or $50 million in assets, ask whether Cowbell will still renew you. ¹ ³
Ask Newfront which insurer it would use; Cowbell’s module is on Zurich’s state-regulated policy form. ³ ²
Ask Cowbell who handles your EPL claim and how. ¹
Get limits and retentions on both quotes. ³ ¹

Cowbell vs Newfront Employment Practices Liability Insurance Compared

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

Criteria	Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability	Newfront Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
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.	Newfront says it services private companies from seed round through every series of funding and has worked with over 500 publicly traded companies, without an EPLI-specific eligibility threshold. ³Company-reported. Here for the Long Run section; figures describe the executive-risk practice broadly, not EPLI specifically.
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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'.	You start an EPLI placement by requesting a consultation through Newfront's Executive Risk page. ³Company-reported. Executive Risk page call-to-action; no online quoting or binding described.
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?'.	Newfront lists Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) among its Executive Risk Key Coverages, and describes its management-liability work as "shielding D&Os from wrongful discrimination, termination, and other employment-related issues." ³Company-reported. Key Coverages list and Committed to Client Advocacy section; the quoted language frames EPLI around protecting leadership rather than describing named insuring agreements.
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.	Newfront's Executive Risk practice brokers EPLI coverage, negotiating placement for management-liability lines. Deirdre Finn, the Executive Risk Solutions Practice Leader, oversees the D&O, employment-practices and fiduciary book of business. ³Company-reported. Executive Risk offering page and Leadership section.