Gallagher vs Marsh: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance?

Gallagher builds D&O programs through its Executive and Financial Risk practice, while Marsh describes a three-part policy and focuses on public-company directors and officers.

Gallagher's Executive and Financial Risk practice specializes in SPACs and companies going public, with in-house attorneys who advocate on claims. Marsh places D&O for public, private and nonprofit companies, runs a separate middle-market team, and warns that ESG scrutiny is adding pressure on boards. ^1,^2,³

What Are the Key Differences Between Gallagher and Marsh D&O Insurance?

Going-Public Specialist vs Every Organization Type

Gallagher markets D&O placement and advice to SPACs around IPO and de-SPAC and to companies listing by IPO or direct listing, and benchmarks Side-A-only towers (coverage just for individuals) for them. ¹ Marsh's financial and professional liability practice covers public, private and nonprofit companies, and Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) handles middle-market clients. It notes public-company directors face more securities suits, while private and nonprofit boards more often face employment claims. ² ³ Choose Gallagher if you're a SPAC or planning an IPO or direct listing; choose Marsh if you're a private, nonprofit or middle-market company whose main D&O risk is employment claims. ¹ ²

ESG and Side C

Marsh lists the ESG topics drawing scrutiny: carbon emissions, renewable-energy use, labor practices, board diversity and executive pay. It explains that Side C (cover for the company itself) is usually limited to securities claims for public companies. ² Gallagher's page doesn't address ESG. ¹

What Should You Confirm in Gallagher and Marsh D&O Insurance Quotes?

Ask Gallagher how it would benchmark Side-A-only layers for your SPAC or IPO tower. ¹
Ask Marsh whether Marsh or MMA would handle you, and which insurer would issue. ² ³
Ask both how the proposed policy treats ESG-related claims against your board. ² ¹
Neither names insurers or publishes limits, so get both in writing. ¹ ²

Gallagher vs Marsh D&O Insurance Compared

Gallagher vs Marsh: D&O Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Gallagher Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance	Marsh Directors and Officers Liability (D&O) Insurance
Who It’s For	Gallagher specifically markets D&O placement and advisory support to special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) around their IPO and de-SPAC process, and to companies going public through an IPO or direct listing. ¹Company-reported. Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page, SPAC and IPO subsections.	Marsh says public company directors and officers typically face more securities-lawsuit exposure from shareholders and regulators, while private and non-profit organizations more often face employment-practices claims from customers, vendors or regulators; directors and officers of all organization types can face cyber-related liability exposure. ²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, common risks FAQ.
Coverage Features	Gallagher says its D&O team constructs policies addressing lawsuits from shareholders, employees, competitors, suppliers and government bodies, and can evaluate an existing D&O program against the market. ¹Company-reported. Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page; a service description, not a specific policy's insuring agreement.	Marsh says D&O insurance typically has three coverage sides: Side A protects directors' and officers' personal assets when the organization cannot or will not indemnify them; Side B reimburses the organization for indemnifying directors and officers; Side C offers balance-sheet protection when the entity itself is named, generally limited to securities claims for public companies. ²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page FAQ; illustrative policy structure, not a specific policy form. Marsh says ESG-related stakeholder scrutiny, covering areas such as carbon emissions, renewable-energy use, labor practices, board diversity and executive compensation, can add regulatory, legislative or litigation pressure on directors and officers beyond traditional D&O exposures. ²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, What other risks do directors and officers face? section.
Role in This Line	Gallagher's Executive and Financial Risk practice places D&O liability insurance and advises on program design; it does not underwrite the policy, which is issued by a carrier selected during placement. ¹Company-reported. Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page.	Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places D&O insurance for public, private and non-profit companies; MMA also places D&O coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^2,³Company-reported. Marsh D&O page and MMA executive and professional liability page.

Criteria

Gallagher Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance

Marsh Directors and Officers Liability (D&O) Insurance

Who It’s For

Gallagher specifically markets D&O placement and advisory support to special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) around their IPO and de-SPAC process, and to companies going public through an IPO or direct listing. ¹Company-reported. Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page, SPAC and IPO subsections.

Marsh says public company directors and officers typically face more securities-lawsuit exposure from shareholders and regulators, while private and non-profit organizations more often face employment-practices claims from customers, vendors or regulators; directors and officers of all organization types can face cyber-related liability exposure. ²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, common risks FAQ.

Coverage Features

Gallagher says its D&O team constructs policies addressing lawsuits from shareholders, employees, competitors, suppliers and government bodies, and can evaluate an existing D&O program against the market. ¹Company-reported. Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page; a service description, not a specific policy's insuring agreement.

Marsh says D&O insurance typically has three coverage sides: Side A protects directors' and officers' personal assets when the organization cannot or will not indemnify them; Side B reimburses the organization for indemnifying directors and officers; Side C offers balance-sheet protection when the entity itself is named, generally limited to securities claims for public companies. ²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page FAQ; illustrative policy structure, not a specific policy form.

Marsh says ESG-related stakeholder scrutiny, covering areas such as carbon emissions, renewable-energy use, labor practices, board diversity and executive compensation, can add regulatory, legislative or litigation pressure on directors and officers beyond traditional D&O exposures. ²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, What other risks do directors and officers face? section.

Role in This Line

Gallagher's Executive and Financial Risk practice places D&O liability insurance and advises on program design; it does not underwrite the policy, which is issued by a carrier selected during placement. ¹Company-reported. Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page.

Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places D&O insurance for public, private and non-profit companies; MMA also places D&O coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^2,³Company-reported. Marsh D&O page and MMA executive and professional liability page.