Associate General Counsel, Risk Transfer Solutions (“AGC RTS”) is a legal resource within the Markel Claims Department, providing legal coverage and litigation support to the claims professionals, specifically with respect to transferring, evaluating, accepting and/or recovering tendered risk.
AGC RTS provides specialized legal advice for multiple insurance lines of business, with specific emphasis on risk transfer issues. AGC RTS assists with providing detailed analysis and rendering legal coverage opinions and guidance that support good-faith claims handling practices; provides advice and assists in reviewing, and drafting and filing declaratory judgment actions on behalf of the Company. AGC RTS is a critical thinker in coverage and claims handling matters; engages in independent analysis and evaluation of risk transfer issues; reports to AGC Casualty Coverage unit and works collaboratively with the AGC Coverage and Claims Counsel teams, Claims leadership, Claims professionals, and outside coverage counsel, to provide consistent interpretation and application of the policy coverages and contracts in line with up-to-date laws; and makes recommendations to the Claims Leadership on cases requiring elevated review and approval.
The primary role of AGC RTS is to provide coverage advice and act as a strategic partner to claims professionals with regards to coverage issues arising out of additional insured status and contractual indemnification. AGC RTS will assist multiple insurance lines by advising on both the acceptance or rejection of tenders of coverage, as well as actively pursuing risk transfer and, where appropriate, recovering through litigation those coverage or contractual rights owed to insureds. The ideal candidate must be an excellent writer and communicator, a strategic thinker, have strong analytical skills, significant experience with the review of commercial contracts (specifically Insurance and Indemnity provisions), comfort communicating with other insurers and drafting lawsuits, and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
Responsibilities:
- Reviewing first- and third-party policies, specifically with regards to additional insured and insured contract provisions, as well as priority of coverage
- Reviewing insureds' contracts to assess Insurance and Indemnity obligations owed to and by the insured
- Providing legal advice to claims associates on tenders of coverage to insureds' policies, particularly as it pertains to whether or not such parties are additional insureds or contractual indemnitees
- Drafting correspondence both in response to tenders of coverage to insureds' policies and seeking coverage for insureds where risk transfer as an additional insured or indemnitee is appropriate
- Pursing appropriate recovery for coverage owed for the defense or indemnity of an insured in its capacity as an additional insured under a policy or contractual indemnitee under contract
- Managing disputes and litigation over the duty to defend and/or duty to indemnify parties as potential additional insureds and contractual indemnitees
- Researching and keeping apprised of changes in the law, specifically regarding Anti-Indemnity Statutes
- Drafting and litigating actions seeking coverage owed to insureds in their capacity as additional insureds or contractual rights owed to the insureds as contractual indemnitees
- Mediating, negotiating, or litigating the recovery of defense and indemnity owed to the insured, as well as priority of coverage issues
- Working minimally with outside coverage counsel to advance risk transfer objectives
- Participating in strategic discussions on coverage matters involving multiple insureds and insurers
- Providing training on coverage issues to the Claims Department
- Communicating with defense counsel, coverage counsel, and other insurers to effectuate risk transfer and priority of coverage
- Communicating with our Underwriting partners regarding policy, contract and risk transfer assessment
- Preparing white papers on topics of interest (coverage related) as requested
- Preparing quarterly reports to Claims Management communicating key performance metrics, identifying action plans for training as needed, and identifying trends relating to risk transfer coverage issues
- Attending mediations, or settlement conferences on behalf of the Company
Education:
- J.D. Degree and active license to practice law in at least one state
Work Experience:
- 4 to 8 years of recent coverage practice in a law firm or with an insurer with an emphasis and understanding of risk transfer, contractual interpretation, additional insured provisions, and priority of coverage or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience litigating and drafting lawsuits
- Understanding of coverage issues/law in multiple jurisdictions is a must
Skill Sets:
- Extensive working knowledge of both admitted and surplus lines policies
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with little oversight
- Ability to analyze and summarize complex issues; recognize alternative approaches and develop action plans both orally and in written form
- Ability to provide advice and interact with all business partners
- Travel required as necessary (approximately 10%)
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-SY
US Work Authorization
US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.
Pay information:
The base salary offered for the successful candidate will be based on compensable factors such as job-relevant education, job-relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, geographic location, and other factors. The national average salary range for the Associate General Counsel is $116,080 - $159,610 with 25% incentive.
