R&D Consultant Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a r&d consultant business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for independent research and development consultants. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability (Consultant E&O) | Covers flawed methods, conclusions, and missed deliverables. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers client-site and lab premises exposure. | Core | |
| IP / Trade Secret Defense | Covers misappropriation and inventorship claims E&O excludes. | Prevalent | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers loss of client research data. | Prevalent | |
| Contractual Liability | Covers client indemnity and confidentiality obligations. | Prevalent | |
| Extended Reporting Period | Covers IP disputes that surface years later. | Prevalent | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers lab chemical or biological releases. | Situational | |
| Life Sciences Products Liability | Covers involvement in human studies or regulated products. | Situational | |
| Property / Inland Marine | Covers instruments and samples. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers lab staff. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by R&D consultants is IP disputes. Standard consultant E&O usually excludes infringement, misappropriation, and ownership disputes, yet those are the claims researchers most often face. Buy an E&O form with an IP or trade secret defense carve-back, and tighten the assignment language in every contract.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your r&d consultant coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: R&D Consultant Insurance · R&D Consultant Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a r&d consultant business need?
The core coverages for a r&d consultant business are Professional Liability (Consultant E&O), General Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my r&d consultant coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.