Foundershield vs Lockton: Representations and Warranties Insurance

Founder Shield places R&W only with carriers rated at least A-; Lockton places RWI through former M&A lawyers and cites dedicated claims experts after a policy is bound.

Kearny Risk organizes these comparisons for firms whose advice, content or technology creates professional exposures.Research updated 2026-09-25

Areas of coverage

Founder Shield

  • role: Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Representations and Warranties Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Founder Shield markets R&W insurance to private equity and other financial sponsors, strategic buyers, corporate sellers divesting a business unit, and family-owned businesses being sold. Representations and Warranties Insurance product page.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Founder Shield lists financial-statement misstatements, undisclosed tax liabilities, legal or regulatory non-compliance, and undisclosed contracts or leases as the kinds of seller misrepresentations the policy can cover, mostly on the buyer side. Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: Founder Shield's page does not publish specific limit figures; it says premiums are typically a percentage of the negotiated policy limit, which is set per transaction. Representations and Warranties Insurance product page, checked 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗
  • insurer: Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield Representations and Warranties Insurance, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: You request Founder Shield Representations and Warranties Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗

Lockton

  • role: Lockton's RWI Practice is staffed with former M&A lawyers and transaction advisors who Lockton says use a Partner/Associate model on every deal to provide 24/7 coverage; Lockton places RWI policies rather than underwriting them. RWI product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Lockton describes RWI as a policy used to replace or bolster a seller indemnity or escrow in an M&A transaction, under which an insurer indemnifies the buyer for losses from an unknown breach of a representation or warranty in the deal agreement. RWI product page as read 2026-09-23. General description of how the product functions, not a specimen policy.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Lockton frames RWI benefits separately for sellers (faster access to sale proceeds, reduced post-closing exposure, avoiding a guarantee) and buyers (broader protection, faster negotiation, avoiding conflicts in deals with meaningful seller participation), meaning both sides of an M&A transaction are the intended buyers of the product. RWI product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • claims: Lockton says it provides dedicated transaction liability claims experts after a policy is bound, and cites having helped clients settle hundreds of millions of dollars of RWI claims to date. RWI product page as read 2026-09-23. Aggregate claims-settlement figure is company-reported and not independently verified.company-reportedSource ↗
  • insurer: The RWI page does not name the insurers underwriting the representations and warranties policies Lockton places. RWI page checked 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗

What Are the Key Differences Between Founder Shield and Lockton Representations and Warranties Insurance?

Deal Lawyers and Post-Closing Claims Help vs an Insurer Rating Floor

Both are brokers. Lockton staffs each deal with a partner and an associate from former M&A lawyers and transaction advisors, available 24/7, and says dedicated transaction-liability claims experts stay with you after binding; it reports helping clients settle hundreds of millions of dollars of RWI claims. Founder Shield, part of The Baldwin Group, places R&W only with insurers rated A- or better by AM Best, matched to your industry, and describes no post-closing claims desk. Choose Lockton if you expect to rely on your broker when a breach claim comes; choose Founder Shield if insurer financial strength is your main screen. [7] [5] [4]

Concrete Breach Examples vs Escrow Replacement

Founder Shield lists what the policy typically pays for, mostly on the buyer side: misstated financials, undisclosed tax, legal or regulatory non-compliance, and undisclosed contracts or leases. Lockton frames RWI as replacing or topping up a seller indemnity or escrow, and splits benefits: sellers get proceeds sooner, buyers get broader protection and faster negotiations. [6] [7]

What Should You Confirm in Founder Shield and Lockton Representations and Warranties Insurance Quotes?

  • Ask both which insurer they propose, and whether Lockton’s choice is rated A- or better. [5] [7]
  • Ask whether the policy replaces escrow and whether it names specific breach types. [7] [6]
  • Ask Founder Shield who helps you if you need to file a claim after closing. [5] [7]
  • Get premium as a percentage of limit and the retention from both. [6] [7]

Lockton is the stronger choice for claim-time support: former M&A lawyers staff each deal around the clock, and dedicated claims experts stay after closing. Founder Shield’s edge is a stated floor of AM Best A- or better for every insurer it uses.

Sources reviewed

  1. 01
    Mergers & Acquisitions

    Beazley · Product overview: buyer and seller protection for inaccuracies in representations or warranties · accessed 2026-09-16

  2. 02
    Transaction liability insurance | Representation and indemnities insurance

    CFC · What are representations and warranties?; Who should buy representation and warranty insurance?; Available to buyers & sellers; Limited seller security; Is transaction liability insurance available to sellers · accessed 2026-09-16

  3. 03
    Transactional Risk Insurance

    Coverdash · Transactional risk insurance; representations and warranties coverage; buy-side policies; tax and contingent liability products · accessed 2026-09-16

  4. 04
    About Us

    Founder Shield · “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission · accessed 2026-09-23

  5. 05
    How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?

    Founder Shield · FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite · accessed 2026-09-23

  6. 06
    Representations and Warranties Insurance

    Founder Shield · What Is Reps & Warranties Insurance?; Who Needs Reps & Warranties Insurance Coverage?; What Does Reps & Warranties Insurance Cover? · accessed 2026-09-23

  7. 07
    Representations & Warranties Insurance | Lockton USA

    Lockton · The Certain Solution for Transactional Risk; Why clients consider RWI versus traditional indemnity; Seller/Buyer benefits; Claims · accessed 2026-09-23

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