Senior Claims Coverage Counsel (Claims)

Job Summary

The Senior Claims Coverage Counsel will advise the business on general claims legal matters and support the Manager, Claims Coverage Counsel and internal clients across the enterprise on claims coverage involving matters of moderate to high complexity and/or financial consequence. The Senior Claims Coverage Counsel works independently and will act as a resource person and consultant on issues within area of specialty.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Continuously exhibit and uphold Core Values of Integrity, Accountability, Communication and Teamwork, Innovation and Customer Service
• Perform multi-jurisdictional legal research and analyze insurance policy language under multiple lines of commercial insurance to provide coverage opinions and claims strategy
• Review time and policy limit demands to provide legal advice on extra-contractual risk exposure and claims-handling
• Review complaints from insureds and claimants and draft responses to same
• Provide support and legal assistance to underwriting in drafting of policy forms and endorsements
• Remain abreast of case law updates in order to accurately and promptly assess coverage issues
• Provide training and presentations to claim staff on coverage and good-faith claim-handling practices
• Manage a caseload of litigated coverage matters and declaratory judgment actions involving high complexity and/or financial consequence
• Manage outside counsel with respect to defense of James River Group's underwriting companies in designated coverage disputes
• Manage and oversee of all aspects of coverage litigation, including development of litigation and resolution strategies
• Review pleadings and motions
• Manage discovery requests
• Attend depositions, mediations and trials, as necessary
• Engage in verbal and written communication with brokers, claimants, and policyholders
• Review and evaluate exposure and determine strategies for resolution
• Ensure that state claims handling requirements are met, and internal guidelines are followed
• Handle claims in accordance with James River Claims best practices
• Settle claims in accordance with policy provisions and within authority level

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of the theories, principles, practices and procedures of claims and litigation management within an insurance organization
• Continuous learning style
• High level of initiative and motivation
• Self-starter who works well independently and in a team environment
• Ability to organize complex information, pay close attention to detail and handle multiple tasks
• Ability to present information and advice in a clear, concise, logical, and well-organized manner to enable clients to make informed, well-reasoned business decisions
• Ability to deliver and share feedback to others in a respectful and constructive manner
• Strategic thinker with creative problem-solving abilities
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in making critical decisions
• Ability to take appropriate risks and challenge assumptions when appropriate
• Ability to identify and make process and procedure improvement recommendations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Skilled in active listening
• Proven ability to provide exceptional customer service
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Experience and Education

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Juris Doctorate Degree required
• State Bar Admission required
• Minimum of five to seven years of experience as an attorney and/or claims professional handling complex coverage issues on high exposure claims in a law firm or at an insurance carrier preferred
• Prior experience providing coverage opinions, analyzing extra-contractual exposures, litigation management and coverage litigation under commercial lines insurance policies strongly preferred