2009-11-11 15:59:02 -

When attorneys leave their law firms to become in-house counsel, they usually expect the same level of malpractice coverage they had at their law firms. Without that protection, in-house attorneys could be uninsured against lawsuits arising from any erroneous legal advice they might give their employers.

To fulfill this need for coverage, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. now offers a

professional liability policy specifically for staff attorneys. The Hartford Employed Lawyers Choice Liability Policy SM is designed for small and midsize companies looking to provide comprehensive coverage for their in-house counsel.

“In-house attorneys can face lawsuits stemming from a variety of areas, including employment practices, contract drafting, mergers and acquisitions. Lawsuits due to errors in those areas can result in significant defense costs and settlement payments,” said Will Demers, director of financial products underwriting for The Hartford. “We designed this policy to address gaps in coverage for these types of exposures, which can be substantial for staff attorneys who aren’t protected with a liability policy.”

Key coverage features of The Hartford Employed Lawyers Choice Liability Policy include.

- Coverage for disciplinary proceedings and potential disbarment proceedings.


- Coverage for failure to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley section 307.


- Defense costs for claims brought by the employer or named entity against its attorney.


- Non-rescindable Side A coverage, which protects insured persons when they aren’t indemnified by their employer or the named entity.


- Coverage for legal and notary services.


- Optional coverage for securities violations.

The Hartford’s policy also offers optional coverage for attorneys doing pro bono work and moonlighting – two key activities that could generate legal malpractice claims, but are not covered by traditional directors and officers (D&O) liability policies. D&O policies typically contain professional services exclusions and do not cover in-house attorneys in their legal advisor capacity.

“It’s not uncommon for an in-house attorney to be tapped by a colleague or acquaintance for assistance with a legal matter, such as drafting a pre-nuptial agreement,” said Demers. “If that pre-nuptial agreement were to be found defective during divorce proceedings, the attorney could be sued based on the alleged error.”

The Hartford’s policy is designed for public or privately held companies or non-profit entities with revenues up to $350 million. Deductibles begin at $5,000 with aggregate limits ranging to $5 million.

To learn more about The Hartford Employed Lawyers Choice Liability Policy, visit www.hfpinsurance.com : .

Brokers and agents should contact their local Hartford representative.



About The Hartford

Celebrating nearly 200 years, The Hartford is an insurance-based financial services company that serves households, businesses and employees by helping to protect their assets and income from risks, and by managing wealth and retirement needs. A Fortune 500 company, The Hartford is recognized widely for its service expertise and as one of the world’s most ethical companies. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com : .

HIG-PC

Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

The description herein is a summary only. Coverage is provided by The Hartford companies, Hartford, CT, and may not be available in all states.



The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.Media Contact:Pamela

Rekow, 860-547-8990 Pamela.rekow@thehartford.com : mailto:Pamela.rekow@thehartford.com