--- title: "Founder Shield vs Lockton: D&O Insurance" description: "Founder Shield brokers D&O for venture-backed, private and public companies, placing only with carriers rated A- or better. Lockton designs custom D&O programs and puts claims counsel inside your broking team from the start, so the people who placed the policy help fight the claim." canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-lockton/directors-officers" page-type: "line-comparison" updated-at: "2026-09-25" comparison-pair: "foundershield-vs-lockton" provider-a: "foundershield" provider-b: "lockton" coverage-line: "directors-officers" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, check_driving_insurance for source-backed rideshare and delivery requirements by state or province, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Reliability Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Reliability Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-lockton/directors-officers) ## Agent Guide **What this page is:** Focused comparison of Founder Shield and Lockton for D&O 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 D&O Insurance questions about Founder Shield versus Lockton. For all lines together use the pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide. **Questions this page answers:** - Founder Shield vs Lockton for D&O Insurance: how do they differ? - Which is better for D&O Insurance, Founder Shield or Lockton? - What does Founder Shield or Lockton publish about D&O Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)? **Key facts:** - Line: D&O Insurance. Providers: Founder Shield 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:** - [Founder Shield vs Lockton](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-lockton) — all coverage lines for this pair - [D&O Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers) — how this coverage works - [Founder Shield profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield) — provider profile - [Lockton profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton) — provider profile # Founder Shield vs Lockton: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance? Founder Shield places D&O for public and private companies with a three-part structure, while Lockton designs programs that can cover entities beyond the company. Founder Shield is a broker built around venture-backed companies whose term sheets require D&O, while Lockton designs custom D&O programs with claims counsel on your team from the start. ## Founder Shield vs Lockton D&O Insurance Summary Founder Shield brokers D&O for venture-backed, private and public companies, placing only with carriers rated A- or better. Lockton designs custom D&O programs and puts claims counsel inside your broking team from the start, so the people who placed the policy help fight the claim. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance "D&O Insurance") ## What Are the Key Differences Between Founder Shield and Lockton D&O Insurance? ### Startup-Focused Broker vs Custom Program With Claims Counsel Founder Shield says almost every institutional term sheet requires D&O, also serves businesses owing more than $1M to creditors, and describes a typical base layer of $5M to $10M. Lockton builds around market intelligence and emerging risks such as AI-related litigation, and says its claims counsel isn't run as a separate profit center. Choose Founder Shield if you're a venture-backed company that needs D&O to satisfy investors; choose Lockton if you want a program designed around unusual exposures and claims support built in from day one. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance "D&O Insurance") ### Who the Policy Can Protect Lockton says its programs can cover trustees, employees, contractors, committee members, volunteers, subsidiaries, spouses and estates, not just directors and officers. That matters if you're a nonprofit or run subsidiaries. Founder Shield explains Sides A, B and C but doesn't list who counts as an insured. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance "D&O Insurance") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") ## What Should You Confirm in Founder Shield and Lockton D&O Insurance Quotes? - Ask Founder Shield which carrier it chose and its AM Best rating at binding. [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") - Ask Lockton which insurers it will approach and the limit it recommends. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance "D&O Insurance") - Ask Founder Shield who handles your claim and how; its D&O pages don't say. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") ## Founder Shield vs Lockton D&O Insurance Compared | Criteria | Founder Shield Directors & Officers Insurance | Lockton Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance Brokerage | | --- | --- | --- | | Who It’s For | Founder Shield targets D&O at public and private businesses, venture-backed companies (it says almost every institutional term sheet requires the coverage), and businesses owing more than $1 million to creditors. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Directors & Officers Insurance product page..) | Lockton says D&O coverage it places can extend beyond directors and officers to trustees, employees, independent contractors, staff, committee members, volunteers, the corporate entity, majority-owned subsidiaries, spouses/domestic partners, and estates/heirs. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance "D&O Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: D&O product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes who can typically be covered under a program Lockton structures, not a guarantee for any specific client..) | | Coverage Features | Founder Shield describes a three-part structure: Side A pays individual directors/officers directly when the company cannot or will not indemnify them, Side B reimburses the company for indemnification it pays, and Side C provides entity coverage for the company itself. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage..) | Lockton explains a traditional D&O program in three parts it says it can structure: Side A (direct coverage to individual directors/officers when the company can't indemnify them), Side B (reimbursing the company for indemnifying its D&Os), and Side C (entity coverage, generally limited to securities claims for public companies but broader for private and nonprofit organizations). [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance "D&O Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: D&O product page as read 2026-09-23. General educational description of program structure, not a specimen policy form..) | | Role in This Line | Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Directors & Officers Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. [2](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line..) | Lockton designs and places D&O programs rather than underwriting them, saying effective coverage requires market intelligence, coverage-design precision and staying ahead of emerging risks like AI-related litigation and event-driven claims. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance "D&O Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: D&O product page as read 2026-09-23..) | ## About Founder Shield and Lockton and D&O Insurance - [Founder Shield company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield) · [Founder Shield customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield/reviews) - [Lockton company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton) · [Lockton customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton/reviews) - [What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers) ## Related Pages for Founder Shield vs Lockton D&O Insurance - [Founder Shield vs Lockton](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-lockton): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims. - [What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers): D&O insurance can protect leaders and, in some policies, the company from covered management claims; company coverage, defense costs and limits differ by quote. - [Founder Shield D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield/directors-officers) - [Lockton D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton/directors-officers) ## Sources for Founder Shield vs Lockton D&O Insurance ### Sources About Founder Shield 1. [Directors & Officers Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/). Founder Shield; What Is D&O Insurance; Who Needs D&O Insurance Coverage; What Does D&O Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23. 2. [About Us](https://foundershield.com/about-us/). Founder Shield; “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission. Accessed 2026-09-23. 3. [How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/). Founder Shield; FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite. Accessed 2026-09-23. ### Sources About Lockton 4. [D&O Insurance](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/d-and-o-insurance). Lockton; What is D&O insurance?; Side A/B/C coverage components; Who can be covered under a D&O program?; 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/foundershield-vs-lockton/directors-officers.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)