• Duty to pay is a term used to describe the nature of an insurer’s obligation to protect under directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (D&O) and employment practice (EPLI) policies. Forms containing duty to pay (or no duty to protect) clauses only require that the insurer reimburse the policyholder for the costs the policyholder has spent defending the claim. In contrast, policies containing “responsibility to protect” provisions require the insurer to take control of the claims defense process, including the selection of an attorney and the payment of legal bills.