Upon receipt of a claim, the risk manager or in-house counsel should coordinate with the company’s insurance broker to make sure notice is submitted to the insurer. However, even earlier, in anticipation of claims, counsel should review the terms of the relevant insurance policies and develop an understanding of the defense cost coverage provisions.

An insurance company’s obligation to pay defense costs incurred by its insured in response to a claim typically falls into one of two categories: (1) a duty to defend or (2) a duty to advance defense costs. The duty to defend is most often included in general liability (GL) policies while the duty to advance is more likely to be included in directors’ and officers’ liability (D&O) policies. Policy forms can vary, however, and a GL or D&O policy may contain either type of defense obligation. In addition, specialty insurance policies covering, for example, employment practices or pollution liability risks may contain either a duty to a defend or duty to advance clause.