Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance for California Leadership

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What D&O Insurance Is

When board members or executives of California companies or nonprofits make decisions that stakeholders dispute, directors’ personal assets can be at risk. D&O insurance provides financial protection for those individuals and for the organization when allegations of mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty or compliance failures arise.

Why It Matters for Your Organization

Whether you’re a tech startup in San Francisco, Bay Area scaling toward a funding event, a non-profit organization in the Bay Area or a private company with external investors, the risks for leadership are growing. Lawsuits or regulatory investigations targeting executives have increased—even smaller firms face exposure. A well-designed D&O policy helps attract and retain board talent, and protects your company’s credibility in the marketplace.

Our D&O Strategy

Our team at Shepherd & Associates evaluates your corporate structure, stakeholder agreements and board composition to design appropriate D&O protection. We advise on entity coverage (when the company itself is involved in a claim), coverage for volunteer board members (common in non-profits), and ensure your program is aligned with other coverage like EPLI or fiduciary liability as needed.

D &O FAQs

  • Does D&O protect the company or just individuals?

    Primarily it protects individual directors/officers, but many policies include entity coverage as well—especially for claims involving the company itself.

  • Do small firms need D&O?

    Yes—even smaller businesses with a board or investors can face lawsuits. It’s vital to protect leadership to keep your organization strong.

  • What isn’t covered by D&O?

    Intentional fraud or criminal acts are excluded; bodily injury and property damage fall under other lines like general liability or property.

  • How is D&O different from property or liability insurance?

    It focuses on management decisions, governance and fiduciary exposures—not physical injuries or damage.

Protect Your Leadership Team

Let us help you review your management-liability exposure and build a D&O program that fits your California organization, whether for-profit or non-profit.

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