Description:
Job Summary:This officer position is primarily responsible for providing comprehensive legal services to the Financial Lines Business Unit. The individual is an operational and legal expert in professional liability, with the ability to assume accountability for the businesses being served. Responsibilities include (i) maintaining a strategic partnership with senior level business leaders to ensure effective implementation of strategic objectives; (ii) identifying priorities to support business initiatives and transactions; (iii) managing highly complex legal matters; and (iv) providing expert legal advice and guidance. The role also will oversee a diverse team of lawyers providing legal and product development support to the Specialty business units.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines.
- Provides strategic and tactical legal counseling to Specialty underwriting and operational teams.
- Provides product development guidance and support.
- Partners with Financial Lines business leaders and manages and mitigates legal, compliance, and regulatory risks that may arise relevant to the unique business operations focusing upon large financial institutions, hedge funds, community banks and life agents.
- Provides timely and accurate responses to all levels of the business regarding related legal, regulatory and transactional issues by conducting research and analysis, interpreting contractual provisions, and documenting legal opinions and recommendations.
- Provides leadership to lawyers supporting Specialty business units and ensures that the team members provide proactive, protective and timely legal services to the businesses.
- Leads, directs and manages staff in the area of responsibility with an emphasis on talent management.
- Reviews external communication materials, marketing collateral, presentations, and training materials.
- Facilitates business partner learning by developing and delivering training.
- Maintains current Financial Lines business-specific knowledge base with respect to legislative, regulatory and compliance developments and proactively ensures compliance with state/local/federal requirements.
- In collaboration with regulatory counsel, participates in market conduct exams and investigates and reviews responses to DOI consumer complaints.
- Drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts with third party service providers. Works on special projects, as needed.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
- Demonstrated leadership and change management skills.
- Significant experience working within the insurance industry and exposure in several diverse disciplines of related contract law, litigation, regulatory compliance and reporting requirements.
- Champions A Customized Business Insurance Company through an in-depth understanding of the company's ability to serve as a differentiator in the Financial Lines professional liability marketplace regarding A Customized Business Insurance Company products and services, as well as a working knowledge and understanding of competitor products and services.
- Demonstrated ability to partner with and support the growth and development of the Specialty business.
- Experience working as a trusted advisor with internal business clients and sophisticated leadership team.
- Ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels of external and internal business partners, and a demonstrated ability to succinctly present complex topics through an approachable and relatable presence.
- Demonstrated problem solving mindset with critical thinking skills and the ability to effectively evaluate and resolve ambiguous and challenging business problems.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret, negotiate and draft complex contracts. Ability to prioritize, manage, and delegate assignments, and be a champion of change.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and other business-related software.
- Ability to model A Customized Business Insurance Company leadership behaviors and value diverse opinions and ideas through effective working relationships with cross-functional teams.
Education and Experience:
JD and a license to practice law in at least one jurisdiction required. A minimum of fifteen years of related legal work experience in key specialties. Prior experience managing a sizeable team strongly preferred.
