Commercial Legal Expenses

Insurance

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Commercial Legal Expenses Insurance for Business

CLE Insurance covers disputes with clients, suppliers, contractors, employees, and regulators. It also provides access to legal advice when you need it most. Coverage is subject to policy terms, limits, and insurer consent, including per-claim limits and policy excesses.

CLE Insurance safeguards businesses against legal costs from everyday disputes, including:

  • Unpaid invoices or debt recovery
  • Contract disagreements
  • Lease or property disputes
  • Employment issues (for staff, subject to policy terms)
  • Regulatory or tax investigations

Optional endorsements may cover intellectual property disputes, statutory notices, or cross-border disputes. CLE is not a replacement for other business insurances but complements PII and MLI.

Please refer to the Insurer’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or Policy Wording when deciding if this product is right for you.

Disclaimer: Coverage under Commercial Legal Expenses (CLE) Insurance is subject to the full policy wording, terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions. Not all disputes or legal costs may be covered. Please review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before purchasing..

Commercial Legal Expenses (CLE)  vs Professional Indemnity (PII) vs Management Liability (MLI)

CLE Insurance – Covers legal costs for everyday business disputes (contracts, debt recovery, employment disputes, regulatory investigations). Does not cover fines or penalties.

Professional Indemnity (PII) – Covers claims arising from professional services, such as negligence, errors, or breach of duty. Does not cover routine business disputes or debt recovery.

Management Liability (MLI) – Covers management and governance risks, including directors/officers liability, statutory liability, and employment practices for senior staff. Does not cover everyday business disputes.

Business Insurance vs CLE Insurance

Standard business insurance protects assets and property but does not cover legal disputes.

Typical Business Insurance Covers:

  • Physical asset damage (fire, theft, machinery breakdown)
  • Public or product liability
  • Business interruption (loss of income from insured events)

Business Insurance Does Not Cover:

  • Contract or client disputes
  • Debt recovery or unpaid invoices
  • Employment disputes (unless endorsed)
  • Regulatory investigations or notices
  • Legal advice for routine business matters

CLE Insurance Covers:

  • Contract disputes with clients, suppliers, or contractors
  • Debt recovery (e.g., unpaid invoices)
  • Employment disputes (staff only, subject to policy terms)
  • Regulatory or tax investigations
  • Lease or property disputes
  • Legal advice hotline for everyday business questions

CLE coverage is subject to insurer consent, policy limits, and terms. It helps businesses reduce upfront legal costs, resolve disputes efficiently, and access proactive legal advice.

In Summary

  • Business insurance protects your assets
  • PII protects your professional services
  • MLI protects management decisions and directors/officers
  • CLE Insurance protects your legal risks

Together, they provide comprehensive protection, helping businesses manage disputes, debt recovery, and legal challenges with confidence.

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Hear Directly from Our Clients

Don’t take our word for it, see what other business owners and clients have to say.

PINA SERNIO
Wouldn't go anywhere else! We have been in the building industry for over forty years and have used other companies to handle our insurances and it was a nightmare. CGIB has been responsive, efficient and pleasure to do business with. They have handled our claims in a speedy manner and stayed on top of things, sending ME friendly reminders to help me stay on top of things. We have been with them for what could be over 15 years and highly recommend them.
Peter Clapham
Very easy to work with. Nothing a problem Caroline exception to deal with always obliging.
Cheryl Griffiths
We have used CGIB for many years. Caroline is very easy to deal with. Communication is always punctual & polite.
Todd Hampson
Thank you, CGIB has been an easy company to work with and was able to find me a competitive insurance offering.
Carl
Very knowledgeable and helpful. My hat off to Sarah and the team. So friendly and she goes out of her way to help as much as possible.
Anthony
Our family has been working with Joe and his team for over 15 years and we couldn’t be happier with the service. From day one, they’ve been hardworking, trustworthy, and genuinely committed to looking after our needs. What really sets them apart is how they stay on top of current insurance developments and proactively keep us informed. Joe and his team take the time to understand our situation and always provide clear, honest guidance. They’re not just our insurance brokers—they’re trusted advisors we rely on completely. We can’t recommend CGIB highly enough.
Kate Campbell
Efficient and wonderful service and experience. Thank you Andrea
Anthony Nelson
Once again Caroline has been amazing to deal with, her experience and knowledge is second to none, I would not insure with anyone else.
Martin Freney
Caroline Cori at CGIB has provided excellent service over many years. I particularly appreciate her thorough approach in making sure the insurance cover is genuinely suited to my needs, not just off-the-shelf, while also getting me a great price.
Kristen Heinrich
Caroline Cori has been absolutely fantastic to deal with, she has always been prompt, professional and knowledgeable with her responses and feedback. Highly recommend to any individual or Business seeking insurance advice!

Key Notes:

  • Fines & penalties: Not covered by CLE—only legal costs
  • Pre-existing disputes: Excluded
  • International disputes: Usually excluded unless endorsed
  • Consent: Insurer approval required before appointing lawyers or incurring major legal costs

Keep Up To Date On News And Insights From The Blog

Providing you with great insurance products to protect what’s most important to you is a given. But we also believe in keeping you up to date with the day to day risks that businesses face. Check out our blog for the latest.

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