Chaz Churchwell

Founder & Principal

Chaz is a ~20 year industry veteran and U.S. Army Reserve veteran. He holds membership with the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, and is regularly asked to speak internationally on insurance coverages/trends for public companies. With a BA from the University of North Texas and an MA in Apologetics from BIOLA University, his commitment to excellence is evident. Establishing Churchwell Insurance Agency in 2014, Chaz and team are now serving over 1,200 clients.

Specializing in executive liability insurance, he’s on track for the prestigious ExecPLP designation. Chaz and his team prioritize personalized solutions, adeptly navigating complex financial scenarios. Beyond work, he values investing time in family, fitness, and faith. He loves supporting his daughter’s basketball pursuits and continues to hope for a Cowboys’ Super Bowl return, despite renewed disappointment every season. Chaz’s favorite charity is The Mighty Oaks Foundation that fights veteran suicide, by bringing veterans who are suicidal and their spouse in to a no-cost program to find purpose and save that vet’s life. A portion of agency profits goes to fight for the lives of those who risked their lives to fight for us.

Oct. 21, 2025

Why D&O Insurance Prices Have Dropped 60% Since 2021

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Chaz breaks down why D&O insurance pricing has plummeted nearly 60% over the past nine quarters and why the market looks so different today compared to the 2021 peak. He explains how a flood of new insurance carriers entered the market post-2021, doubling the number of firms writing public D&O insurance from ~32 to ~65 by the end of 2022. With increased competition and new entrants unburdened by legacy claims reserves, carriers were able to aggressively lowe...

Guest: Chaz Churchwell

Listen to the Episode

Sept. 29, 2025

Custom D&O Coverage Protects SPAC and De-SPAC Companies

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Chaz, founder of Churchwell, explains why D&O insurance is highly customizable and why wording matters more than most sponsors realize. He shares real-world examples of how missing a single phrase, like “reverse merger,” has led carriers to deny SPAC-related claims. Chaz also describes how his firm works with clients post-de-SPAC, leveraging top D&O coverage attorneys to audit policies, uncover deficiencies, and fix them without raising costs. For SPAC spon...

Guest: Chaz Churchwell

Listen to the Episode

Sept. 23, 2025

Delivering for Small-Cap Clients Overlooked by Big Firms

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Chaz, founder of Churchwell, explains what sets his firm apart from the big-name insurance agencies like Lockton, Marsh, and Aon. While large agencies focus their attention on billion-dollar companies, Churchwell specializes in small- to mid-cap public companies, the very clients who often feel overlooked despite spending millions in premiums. Chaz shares how Churchwell’s attorney-led approach ensures policy wording is negotiated precisely, preventing carrie...

Guest: Chaz Churchwell

Listen to the Episode

Aug. 21, 2025

Determining D&O Insurance Needs with Real Market Data

In this SPAC Podcast Spotlight, Chaz Churchwell, President of The Churchwell Agency, explains how he helps clients determine the right level of D&O insurance coverage. Rather than relying on vague estimates, Chaz emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging sources such as Stanford Law Review, Cornerstone Research, and peer analytics to assess litigation trends and coverage benchmarks. He describes how factors like market cap, industry segment, and peer data can guide companies—especially thos...

Guest: Chaz Churchwell

Listen to the Episode

Aug. 9, 2025

Why D&O Insurance Prices May Be on the Rise Again

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, we sit down with Chaz Churchwell, Founder & Principal of Churchwell Insurance Agency, to discuss the shifting landscape of public Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance. With nearly two decades in the insurance industry and a reputation for guiding clients through complex coverage needs, Chaz shares why current D&O pricing levels may not be sustainable — and what market forces could be pushing costs upward. From the role of reinsurance companies like Trans Re,...

Guest: Chaz Churchwell

Listen to the Episode

July 23, 2025

SPAC Sponsors & D&O Coverage: What You Need to Know

As securities litigation involving SPACs continues to rise, SPAC sponsors are increasingly finding themselves named in lawsuits. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Mike Blankenship and Chaz Churchwell break down what sponsors need to know about D&O (Directors & Officers) insurance in this shifting legal environment. Chaz shares recent litigation trends—including the fact that 96% of SPAC-related securities lawsuits in 2024 named the sponsor team—and emphasizes the importance of specific endor...

Guest: Chaz Churchwell

Listen to the Episode

July 22, 2025

SPAC Guest Spotlight: Chaz Churchwell

🎙️ SPAC Guest Spotlight — Meet Chaz Churchwell From the U.S. Army to the boardrooms of public companies, Chaz Churchwell has spent nearly two decades helping leaders manage risk with precision and integrity. A U.S. Army Reserve veteran and founder of Churchwell Insurance Agency, Chaz brings an unwavering sense of purpose to executive liability insurance — protecting what founders, officers, and directors work so hard to build. Since founding his agency in 2014, Chaz and his team have served ov...

Guest: Chaz Churchwell

Listen to the Episode