Gallagher vs 
USI Insurance Services: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance?
Gallagher's Executive and Financial Risk practice builds D&O programs, while USI Insurance Services brokers for small and midsize businesses through local advisors.
Gallagher targets SPACs and companies going public with in-house claims attorneys; USI serves small and midsize businesses plus technology companies from seed through IPO. 1,2,3
What Are the Key Differences Between Gallagher and USI Insurance Services D&O Insurance?
Which Book They Describe
Gallagher and USI both broker D&O rather than underwrite it. Gallagher markets the line to SPACs around IPO and de-SPAC and to companies going public through an IPO or direct listing. USI targets small- and medium-sized businesses for ExecuSafe, while its Technology practice places D&O for software, hardware and communications clients from seed stage through IPO. 1 2 3
An SMB ExecuSafe inquiry is a different book from a Gallagher SPAC tower. A software company heading toward IPO could be quoted by USI’s Technology practice or by Gallagher’s listing practice. 1 2 3
How You Start
USI directs ExecuSafe inquiries to a named Select Business mailbox and routes Technology and Business Services inquiries to a named PC-inquiries mailbox or a local office. Gallagher’s Executive and Financial Risk practice is the intake for its D&O work. 2 3 4 1
How They Benchmark Limit
USI’s Technology practice cites a case study where benchmarking showed a software company was buying more D&O limit than peers, and says the resulting change saved more than $100,000 per year in D&O premium. Gallagher describes quantitative benchmarking of Side-A-only D&O use. Both are talking about how much limit to buy, measured two different ways. 3 1
What Should You Confirm in Gallagher and USI Insurance Services D&O Insurance Quotes?
- Ask USI whether your placement would be ExecuSafe or Technology practice, and which insurer would issue. 2 3
- Ask Gallagher which carrier it would approach and how Side-A-only benchmarking would apply. 1
- Ask USI how the $100,000 premium-savings example was measured. 3
- If you are listing, ask Gallagher how pre- and post-IPO D&O would sit with related lines. 1
Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services D&O Insurance Compared
Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services: D&O Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Gallagher Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance | USI ExecuSafe Directors & Officers Liability Program |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | USI targets small- and medium-sized businesses for ExecuSafe, saying many either skip D&O coverage or buy insufficient limits because their brokers do not help them identify the exposure. Its Technology practice separately places D&O for software, hardware and communications clients from seed stage through IPO. 2,3Company-reported. ExecuSafe article eligibility framing and Technology practice client description. |
| 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. | USI says D&O insurance is meant to protect a company's leadership from personal loss in a lawsuit, since the corporate veil does not shield directors and officers from personal liability for the business's actions and debts. It lists breach of contract, breach of duty, misrepresentation, unfair competition, misappropriation of trade secrets, securities lawsuits and creditor lawsuits as common claim types the coverage responds to. 2Company-reported. ExecuSafe article's description of D&O purpose and claim types; actual insuring agreements and exclusions are set by the issued policy. |
| 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. | USI is a broker for D&O coverage. It says it helps clients identify D&O exposures, review any existing management liability policies for gaps, and place coverage, including through its own named endorsement package, ExecuSafe. 2Company-reported. ExecuSafe article's "How USI Can Help" section. |
| Risk Services | For SPACs and IPOs, Gallagher describes bundling D&O coverage before and after the IPO with related lines such as representations and warranties, E&O, cyber, tax and contingent liability coverage, plus risk-management and claims support at each stage. 1Company-reported. Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page, SPAC subsection. | USI's Technology practice cites a case study where its benchmarking analysis showed a software company was buying more D&O limit than peers with similar risk profiles, and says the resulting change saved the client more than $100,000 per year in D&O premium. 3Company-reported. Single case study on the Technology practice page; company-reported outcome, not independently verified. |
