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E&O / Professional, in plain English.

Covers claims that your professional work or advice caused a client financial loss. It is the exposure general liability explicitly excludes.

What it covers

  • Claims that your professional work or advice caused financial loss
  • Defense costs for negligence allegations
  • The exposure GL explicitly excludes

When you need it

  • You're paid for expertise, advice, design, or services
  • Client contracts increasingly require it outright

Common gaps

  • Retroactive dates that orphan past work when you switch policies
  • Contractual-liability assumptions beyond the policy's scope
  • Letting a claims-made policy lapse without tail coverage

Who it's for

  • Consultants, technology firms, design professionals
  • Anyone whose mistake costs a client money rather than blood or property

This page is general information, not advice about your specific situation, and not a quote, binder, or contract of insurance. Actual coverage is governed solely by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the issued policy.

Who usually needs it

See E&O / Professional in your industry.

Related reading

Understand it before you buy it.

Professional liability

E&O: when the work itself is the risk

GL covers injury and property damage. E&O covers the financial harm your work or advice can cause — and defends you when you're accused.

Read · 3 min →
Cyber

Cyber: the risk that keeps rising

You don't need big data to be a target — a bank account and an inbox will do. What the coverage does, and why the application is half of it.

Read · 3 min →
Underwriting

Why we ask for supplemental applications

The clearer the picture we paint for underwriters, the better your coverage and pricing. Vague submissions get defensive quotes.

Read · 2 min →

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