Law Firms Advised To Brace For “EPL” Claims

A study of employment practices liability claims against law firms found that more than half involved discrimination claims. The “big four” in this category are disability, gender, age, and race, explained Paul Corbin, Senior Vice President and Executive Director for Aon Risk Solutions in Kansas. Aon conducted the study by parsing hundreds of employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) claims made by law firms between 2005 and 2017. Of the claimants, more than 60 percent were law firm staff, 75 percent were attorneys, and more than 70 percent were women. The data for 2017 is incomplete and does not cover a time when the MeToo movement was gaining momentum, but based on conversations with professionals Corbin predicts an increase in claims for gender and sexual orientation discrimination and for sexual harassment claims. He has some suggestions regarding how firms can minimize their chances of having to field such a claim.