Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs 
Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Lockton describes typical EPL features including standalone wage-and-hour; Heffernan’s 2016 article discusses wage-and-hour sublimits and hammer clauses.
What Is Heffernan Insurance Brokers?
Heffernan Insurance Brokers is an independent, Walnut Creek–headquartered retail brokerage that arranges business insurance, employee benefits, and related services. Its technology practice markets to mid- and late-stage companies, including venture-funded and pre-IPO firms. 1,2,3
What Is Lockton?
Lockton is a privately held insurance brokerage that arranges commercial risk, employee benefits and retirement programs. US pages describe a technology practice and intermediary placement with insurers, not Lockton as the policy’s insurer. 8,9,10
What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?
Employment practices liability insurance addresses claims alleging workplace wrongdoing, such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. 12
Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Current Typical-Form Description Versus 2016 Commentary
Lockton and Heffernan both place EPL. Lockton's product page describes features it says a typical placed policy covers: defense for employee claims and official investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related employment claims, plus standalone wage-and-hour because those claims are typically excluded. Heffernan's comparable detail is a 2016 article that treats EPL as modular and tells buyers to request wage-and-hour, a 100% hammer clause, and an immigration endorsement, citing sublimits then often $100,000. The article is not a current Heffernan product sheet. 11 7
Universal Hiring Risk Versus Named Niches
Lockton says any organization that engages people for hire, regardless of size, industry, location, union status or independent contractors, faces employment risk. Heffernan lists EPL on general business, home-care agency, and family-office/financial-firm pages rather than stating that universal rule. Neither firm's reviewed pages name the issuing insurer. 11 3 4 5
Claims Counsel
Lockton's Professional & Executive Risk Claims team embeds insurance and claims counsel in the broking team from the start. Heffernan's published claims-advocacy services cover workers' compensation, general liability, auto and property, and do not list employment-related claims on that page. Heffernan also describes no EPL-specific online quote. 11 6 3
What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes
- Ask Lockton whether wage-and-hour is a separate policy and whether third-party, punitive and immigration grants are included. 11
- Ask Heffernan which current markets will write those same items and a 100% hammer clause, rather than relying on 2016 figures. 7
- Confirm how each broker will staff an EPL claim; Heffernan's published advocacy list does not include that line. 6 11
- If you are a home-care agency or family office, ask how Heffernan's practice placement differs from Lockton's any-employer framing. 4 5 11
Offering Details
Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Heffernan Employment Practices Liability Insurance | Lockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Heffernan places employment practices liability (EPL) coverage as part of its corporate and executive-protection lineup within its general business-insurance brokerage. It shops and places the policy with insurers rather than underwriting it. 3Company-reported. Business Insurance Brokerage page listing; no policy form or dedicated EPL product page was found. | Lockton designs EPL insurance programs for clients as their risk advisor and broker; it does not underwrite the coverage it places. 11Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| Issuing Insurer | The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or insurers that issue EPL policies Heffernan places. 3Not publicly disclosed. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23. | The EPL page does not name the insurance carriers Lockton places employment practices liability coverage with. 11Not publicly disclosed. EPL product page checked 2026-09-23. |
| Who It’s For | EPL appears in three separate parts of Heffernan's site: the general business-insurance page, the home-care agency practice, and the family-office/financial-firm practice, indicating it is offered to a range of business types rather than one narrow niche. 3,4,5Company-reported. Direct practice-page listings; the pages do not publish a minimum size or industry restriction for EPL specifically. | Lockton says any organization that engages people for hire, regardless of size, industry, location, union participation or use of independent contractors, faces employment-related risk and should consider EPL insurance. 11Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| Coverage Features | In a 2016 article, Heffernan advisor Tanner Fornesi says EPL policies are modular and recommends buyers specifically request wage-and-hour coverage, a 100% hammer clause (so the insurer, not the policyholder, bears settlement costs above an offer the policyholder declines), and an immigration claim endorsement. 7Company-reported. 2016 educational article about EPL coverage generally, not a current Heffernan product specification; endorsement availability depends on the carrier and current market terms. | Lockton says a typical EPL policy it places covers legal defense costs for employee claims and official employment investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment claims from non-employees, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related employment claims. It separately offers standalone wage-and-hour coverage for claims like misclassification and unpaid overtime, since wage-and-hour claims are typically excluded from EPL policies. 11Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes typical policy features Lockton places, not a specimen form for any one client. |
| Limits and Retentions | The same 2016 article says wage-and-hour EPL sublimits were then commonly $100,000, with some carriers offering $150,000 to $250,000 for additional premium. 7Company-reported. Market commentary in a 2016 article, not a current quote or a limit Heffernan guarantees today. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| How to Apply | The reviewed pages describe no EPL-specific application or online quote process; buyers reach the coverage through Heffernan's general business-insurance brokerage contact route. 3Not found in reviewed sources. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Claims Support | Heffernan's published claims-advocacy services cover workers' compensation, general liability, auto, and property claims; the page does not list employment-related claims handling as part of that service. 6Not found in reviewed sources. Claims Advocacy page as read on 2026-09-23; does not establish that EPL claims receive no support, only that this page does not describe it. | Lockton's Professional & Executive Risk Claims team integrates insurance and claims counsel within the broking team from the start of the engagement, which Lockton says is meant to prepare the claims strategy before an EPL claim arises. 11Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. |
Full Comparison
More Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Lockton Comparisons
Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Heffernan Insurance Brokers
- Our Story. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Headquartered in Walnut Creek; nationwide presence; founded 1988; employee owned; niche practices including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology Company Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Pre-IPO and venture-funded heading; mid to late stage specialization; global expansion copy; self-insurance strategies; Key Markets list; Why Heffernan broker history; Joseph Talmadge practice leader; FAQ. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Corporate and executive protection, such as employment practices liability, directors and officers liability, fiduciary responsibility, cyber liability, and kidnap and ransom are also available through our comprehensive business insurance programs. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Home Care Business Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; We offer comprehensive coverage for: Workers' Compensation Insurance, General and Professional Liability, Employment Practice Liability, Business/Owned Auto, Non-owned and Hired Auto, and more. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Family Office. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Coverage for Family Offices, Trustees & Financial Firms: Family office liability, D&O, Professional liability, Employment practices liability insurance, Workers' compensation, Employee benefits, Trustee liability, Property and auto, Fiduciary liability, Fidelity/financial institution bond, Cyber, Crime, General liability, Excess liability. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Claims Advocacy. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Services We Offer: Workers' Compensation Claims Expertise; Medical Triage Services; General Liability, Auto & Property Claims Support; Online Risk Management & HR Support; Streamlined Vendor Compliance. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Employment Practices Liability 101: What You Need to Know. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; May 18, 2016 article by Tanner Fornesi, Assistant Vice President, Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Wage and Hour coverage, 100% Hammer Clause, Immigration Claim Endorsement. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Lockton
- Lockton United States. Lockton; Opening description of independent insurance brokerage for risk, benefits and retirement; Ask an Expert link to contact-us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology. Lockton; Industry introduction; cyber liability heading; dedicated technology team; listed services including claims advocacy, contract review, directors and officers liability, and international program design; 24/7 service model. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- US Terms of Business. Lockton; Opening entity definition; Surplus Lines; Use of a Particular Insurer; Compensation Disclosure; servicing, claims handling and renewal language in Confidentiality section; Intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance. Lockton; What is EPL insurance?; Who should purchase EPL insurance?; What can I expect in a typical EPL insurance policy?; What is Wage and Hour coverage?; Claims management. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
