Complete Equity Markets

What Complete Equity Markets does

Complete Equity Markets, Inc. (CEM) is a privately held insurance agency founded in 1967 and headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois. The company designs, develops, and administers specialty professional liability and related insurance programs for professionals, professional associations, businesses, and individuals. Its core operating model is the placement of hard-to-find professional liability coverage for niche professional categories — including criminal defense attorneys, district attorneys, public defenders, immigration lawyers, arbitrators, mediators, polygraphists, fire protection engineers, forensic consultants, handwriting analysts, legal nurse consultants, judges, and psychotherapists — that mainstream commercial insurers typically avoid or underprice. CEM does not underwrite risk itself; rather, it acts as an intermediary and program administrator, leveraging long-standing affinity partnerships with associations such as NDAA, NACDL, AACJ, NDRN, SFPE, APA, AAPP, FEWA, ABA/SDR, ACR, and AFCC, and administering coverage through purchasing groups including the NASPPG organized under the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986.

CEM's product portfolio is organized into four families: (1) Attorneys Professional Liability (NDAA, public defenders, NACDL, AACJ, employed lawyers, immigration, limited practice); (2) Legal Services Professional Liability (legal aid organizations, disability rights networks, lawyer referral services, paralegals); (3) Additional Professional Liability (arbitrators/mediators, safety professionals, polygraphists, FEWA forensic consultants, legal nurse consultants, SFPE fire protection engineers, handwriting analysts, architects/engineers, psychotherapists, judicial liability, parenting coordinators); and (4) Business Operations Insurance (cyber/media liability, property/general liability, fidelity/crime/surety bonds, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, D&O, employment practices, special events, commercial general liability). Pricing is quote-based and varies by profession, coverage limits, and deductible; example policy data shows judicial liability annual premiums ranging from $1,020 to $2,400, mediator/arbitrator liability limits from $100,000/$300,000 to $1,000,000/$1,000,000, and immigration lawyer liability limits up to $2,000,000/$2,000,000.

The business model is sales-led and relationship-driven, combining direct online applications, dedicated account executives reached via an 800 number, and association-gated affinity channels. Distribution is exclusively domestic (United States) and the firm operates without any disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investor involvement. CEM is led by Lawrence T. P. Molloy as President, Chairman, and CEO, with account executives averaging more than 20 years of tenure, indicating an institutional, relationship-based operation. No revenue, funding, M&A, or AI/technology platform activity is disclosed; the firm's competitive position rests on 57 years of accumulated underwriting expertise, association relationships, and switching friction embedded in claims-made policy structures.

Name

Complete Equity Markets

Legal name

Complete Equity Markets, Inc.

Website

https://cemins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Complete Equity Markets is a privately held, US-based insurance agency founded in 1967 that designs and administers specialty professional liability and business insurance programs for niche professional categories — including attorneys, arbitrators, polygraphists, forensic consultants, and legal aid organizations — primarily through affinity partnerships with professional associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Liability Insurance

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Liability (E&O) (FSAJAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Embedded Insurance & Affinity Distribution Platforms (FSAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Professional liability insurance
• Specialty insurance programs
• Insurance brokerage services
• Affinity insurance partnerships
• Commercial insurance products

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheeling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: Complete Equity Markets generates revenue through insurance premiums collected from policyholders. The company designs, develops and administers insurance programs for professionals, associations, businesses and individuals. Premiums are collected on annual or multi-year basis depending on policy terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Complete Equity Markets designs, develops, and administers specialized insurance programs — primarily professional liability coverage — for attorneys, legal services organizations, safety and forensic professionals, dispute resolution specialists, businesses, and individuals. The company delivers its offerings through affinity partnerships with professional associations, direct online and phone sales, and risk purchasing groups that enable cost-effective group coverage.

Product overview

Complete Equity Markets is an insurance company that designs, develops, and administers insurance programs for professionals, associations, businesses, and individuals. Founded in 1967, the company offers a broad portfolio of insurance products organized into four main categories: (1) Attorneys Professional Liability covering district attorneys, public defenders, criminal defense lawyers (NACDL, AACJ), employed lawyers, immigration lawyers, and limited practice attorneys; (2) Legal Services Professional Liability for legal aid organizations, disability rights networks, lawyer referral services, and paralegals; (3) Additional Professional Liability for arbitrators, mediators, safety professionals, polygraphists, forensic consultants, legal nurse consultants, fire protection engineers, handwriting analysts, architects, engineers, psychotherapists, and judges; and (4) Business Operations Insurance including cyber/media liability, property/general liability, fidelity/crime/surety bonds, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, directors and officers, employment practices insurance, and commercial general liability. Several products are offered as affinity partnerships with professional associations (NDAA, NACDL, AACJ, NDRN, SFPE, FEWA) requiring membership. The company also offers supplementary products including environmental consultant packages, disability insurance, health insurance, and voluntary group term life coverage. Coverage is available through online applications and PDF forms, with claims-made policy structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Attorneys Professional Liability Professional liability insurance for various categories of attorneys including district attorneys, public defenders, criminal defense lawyers, employed lawyers, immigration lawyers, and limited practice attorneys. Coverage includes professional liability, personal injury liability, and disciplinary proceedings costs.
• Legal Services Professional Liability Professional liability insurance for legal services organizations including legal aid services, disability rights networks, lawyer referral services, and paralegals. Coverage extends to attorneys, paralegals, law students, and clerical staff.
• Additional Professional Liability Professional liability coverage for various specialized professionals including arbitrators, mediators, safety professionals, polygraphists, forensic consultants, legal nurse consultants, fire protection engineers, handwriting analysts, architects, engineers, psychotherapists, and judicial officials.
• NDAA District Attorney Insurance Professional liability insurance for district attorneys and municipal attorneys, offered as a benefit of National District Attorneys Association membership. Covers disciplinary proceedings, costs of defense, and injunctive relief.
• Public Defenders / Assigned Counsel Insurance Cost-effective professional liability program for public defenders and assigned counsel offered through the National Association of Salaried Professionals Purchasing Group. Covers attorneys, paralegals, law students, and clerical staff with punitive damages coverage available.
• NACDL Criminal Defense Lawyers Insurance Professional liability insurance for members of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, designed for attorneys devoting at least 70% to criminal defense work. Includes professional liability, personal injury liability, disciplinary proceedings costs, and data security breach coverage.
• AACJ Criminal Defense Insurance Professional liability insurance for members of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, designed for practices with at least 70% criminal defense work. Includes professional liability, personal injury liability, disciplinary costs, and data security breach coverage.
• NDRN National Disability Rights Network Insurance Professional liability insurance sponsored by National Disability Rights Network for lawyers providing disability rights services. Offers limits up to $3,000,000 per claim and includes management errors and omissions, employment practices, and criminal defense coverage.
• SFPE Fire Protection Engineers Insurance Professional liability and commercial general liability insurance for members of Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Requires SFPE membership in good standing.
• FEWA Forensic Consultants Insurance Professional liability insurance for members of Forensic Expert Witness Association. Provides $1,000,000 per claim/$1,000,000 aggregate coverage for forensic litigation consultants.
• Immigration Lawyers Professional Liability Professional and personal injury liability insurance for immigration lawyers with limits ranging from $100,000/$300,000 to $2,000,000/$2,000,000. Includes optional disciplinary proceedings cost endorsement.
• Arbitrators and Mediators Professional Liability Professional liability insurance for arbitrators, hearing officers, mediators, and parenting coordinators. Multiple limit options available from $100,000/$300,000 to $1,000,000/$1,000,000. Covers prior acts, staff, and provides costs of defense for alleged wrongful acts.
• Legal Nurse Consultants Professional Liability Professional liability coverage for legal nurse consultants providing $1,000,000 per claim/$2,000,000 aggregate with minimum deductible of $1,500. Covers damages from negligent acts in professional services.
• Judicial Liability Insurance Comprehensive judicial liability insurance with four coverage parts: professional/managerial liability, civil rights attorney's fees awards, judicial disciplinary proceedings, and employment practices liability. Annual premiums range from $1,020 to $2,400.
• Polygraphists Professional Liability Professional liability insurance for polygraphists offering $1,000,000 per claim / $2,000,000 aggregate with a minimum deductible of $1,000. Prior Acts Coverage available.
• Cyber / Media Liability Insurance Insurance coverage for cyber liability and media exposures protecting businesses against data breaches, cyber attacks, and media-related risks.
• Property and General Liability Insurance Comprehensive property and general liability package including coverage for property, computer equipment, valuable papers, and business income loss prevention.
• Fidelity, Crime, and Surety Bonds Insurance coverage for fidelity bonds, crime insurance, and surety bonds to protect against employee dishonesty, theft, and contractual obligations.
• Unemployment Compensation Insurance Unemployment compensation insurance for governmental entities, legal services offices, and non-profit corporations with 501(c)(3) tax status to manage unemployment tax liabilities.
• Workers' Compensation Insurance Workers' compensation coverage for businesses to protect employees against work-related injuries and illnesses.
• Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Directors and officers liability insurance protecting corporate leadership against claims related to management decisions and governance.
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance Coverage for employment-related claims including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and other workplace violations.
• Commercial General Liability Insurance Commercial general liability insurance for various professional classes including safety consultants, polygraphists, arbitrators, fire protection consultants, and forensic consultants.
• Environmental Consultants Insurance Package Package insurance containing General Liability, Contractors Pollution Liability, and Professional Liability for environmental consultants requiring pollution coverage, mold, or asbestos coverage, with multiple carriers.
• Disability, Health, and Group Life Insurance Supplementary personal and group insurance products including Disability Insurance, Health and/or Major Medical Insurance, and Voluntary Group Term Life Coverage, available to individuals and employer groups.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NDAA - National District Attorneys AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets provides exclusive professional liability insurance programs for NDAA members including district attorneys, municipal attorneys, and their staff. The program includes disciplinary proceedings, costs of defense coverage, and injunctive relief coverage. Membership in NDAA is required.
• NACDL - National Association of Criminal Defense LawyerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets offers professional liability insurance protection to NACDL members designed for practices with at least 70% criminal defense work. Coverage includes Professional Liability, Personal Injury Liability, Disciplinary Proceedings Costs, Contempt Defense, Criminal Defense, Discovery Demand Defense Costs, and Data Security Breach Coverages.
• AACJ - Arizona Attorneys for Criminal JusticecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets provides professional liability insurance to AACJ members designed for attorneys practicing at least 70% criminal defense work. Coverage includes Professional Liability, Personal Injury Liability, Disciplinary Proceedings Costs, Contempt Defense, Criminal Defense, and Data Security Breach Coverages.
• NDRN - National Disability Rights NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets offers sponsored professional liability insurance for NDRN members. Coverage includes Professional Liability, Personal Injury Liability, Management Errors and Omissions, Employment Practices, Criminal Defense, Contempt Defense, and Discovery Defense Costs with limits up to $3,000,000 per claim.
• SFPE - Society of Fire Protection EngineerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets provides exclusive professional liability and commercial general liability insurance as a benefit of SFPE membership. Members must be in good standing with the Society to purchase this insurance.
• American Polygraph Association (APA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets offers professional liability insurance through the National Association of Salaried Professionals Purchasing Group for APA members. Coverage includes $1,000,000 per claim / $2,000,000 aggregate with disciplinary proceedings coverage.
• American Association of Police Polygraphists (AAPP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets provides professional liability insurance programs for AAPP members through purchasing group arrangements.
• FEWA - Forensic Expert Witness AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets offers professional liability insurance coverage for FEWA members, forensic litigation consultants, and expert witnesses. Coverage includes $1,000,000 per claim / $1,000,000 aggregate for damages from negligent acts, errors, or omissions.
• NASPPG - National Association of Salaried Professionals Purchasing GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete Equity Markets administers insurance through NASPPG, a risk purchasing group organized under the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. This enables legal services organizations, public defenders, and other professionals to purchase cost-effective group coverage.
• ABA/SDR - American Bar Association Section of Dispute ResolutionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation partner for mediators and dispute resolution professionals providing access to professional liability insurance programs.
• ACR - Association of Conflict ResolutionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation partner providing professional liability insurance access for ACR members including mediators and conflict resolution professionals.
• AFCC - Association of Family and Conciliation CourtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation partner for family court professionals and parenting coordinators providing access to specialized professional liability coverage.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency: Specialty insurance agency focused on professional liability and malpractice insurance for lawyers, accountants and other professionals. Closely mirrors CEM's model of designing and administering niche professional liability programs for specific professional categories.
• Professional Liability Insurance Services: Specialty broker focused on professional liability and E&O coverage for lawyers, accountants and consultants. Comparable to CEM in both target customer (licensed professionals) and product emphasis (errors and omissions / malpractice).
• Woodruff Sawyer: Independent insurance brokerage with a dedicated professional liability practice serving law firms, financial services firms, and other professional services organizations. Comparable to CEM in core professional liability distribution, though larger and more diversified.
• Professional Solutions Insurance Company: Specialty carrier focused on professional liability for healthcare professionals and other licensed practitioners. Comparable to CEM in target customer profile (licensed professionals) and specialty E&O underwriting, but operates as a carrier rather than a program administrator/broker.

Broad incumbents

• RPS (Risk Placement Services): Large specialty insurance wholesale broker and program administrator placing professional liability, E&O, and other specialty lines. Comparable to CEM in the specialty distribution and program administration business model but at significantly greater scale and breadth.
• Amwins: Largest US specialty insurance wholesaler with deep professional liability and E&O capabilities across niche professions. Comparable to CEM in specialty distribution, but operates as a broad incumbent with many lines and offices rather than a focused niche program administrator.
• Burns & Wilcox: Specialty insurance wholesale broker and managing general agent distributing professional liability, E&O, and other specialty lines through retail agents. Overlaps with CEM in professional liability placement, though at larger scale and broader industry coverage.
• Hiscox: Global specialty insurer with a strong professional liability and small commercial E&O franchise, often serving niche professional categories. Comparable to CEM in target segments and product focus, but Hiscox underwrites risk directly while CEM distributes and administers programs.
• Beazley: Specialty insurer with dedicated professional liability and lawyers' professional liability divisions targeting niche professions and complex risks. Comparable to CEM in its focus on professional liability for specialized categories, though Beazley underwrites risk as a carrier.
• Brown & Riding Insurance Services: Specialty wholesale insurance broker with strong professional liability and E&O placement capabilities. Comparable to CEM in specialty E&O distribution, though Brown & Riding is a broad incumbent operating across many lines and industries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/complete-equity-markets-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Complete Equity Markets