Coverage Counsel

Company Details

Carolina Casualty is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines insurance writers in the United States. We specialize in liability, physical damage, cargo and other insurance solutions for the commercial auto markets including trucking, public transportation and others.

We maintain some of the lowest claim adjuster pending claim counts in the industry. Our adjusters are part of a culture that emphasizes inclusion, collaboration, innovation, and team. Our culture is one where your work is recognized and appreciated. If you want to contribute to an organization where you matter and where you can make a difference, then search no further.

The company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

The com#LI-Hybrid

Responsibilities

This is an internal, insurance coverage attorney role. Coverage Counsel works in collaboration with Claims Department, other company units, and external stakeholders to avoid and mitigate coverage, bad faith, and extra-contractual related risk by providing guidance on issues related to insurance coverage, bad faith, policy forms (analysis, guidance, interpretation, drafting and revision), litigation strategy, fair claims handling compliance, training, fraud, and others. The position will research and render legal opinions on coverage issues, set strategy, and oversee and manage coverage and extra-contractual litigation. The role will also be heavily involved with coverage training, ensuring product knowledge across the company, insurance fraud investigations, and fraud litigation.

Key functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Full responsibility for all coverage, bad faith, extra-contractual exposure, and potential exposure, many that involve complex legal, contractual and factual issues.
• Assign and manage panel counsel for litigated coverage matters and ensure outside coverage attorneys perform optimally on assigned matters. Interact, manage and collaborate with outside counsel and evaluate their progress and compliance with guidelines. Coordinate responses to subpoenas for documents and information.
• Investigate coverage and bad faith issues. Research coverage issues and case law countrywide.
• Provide guidance to company professionals relating to coverage, bad faith, extra-contractual exposure and policy limit demand issues.
• Review coverage letters for accuracy and compliance with state specific law. Review and provide guidance related to all incoming and outgoing tenders. Draft disclaimers, reservation of rights, recessions, coverage letters, etc. Review, assess and revise form claim letters to ensure language is appropriate for compliance and good faith claim handling.
• Draft coverage opinions.
• Provide insurance coverage technical guidance, assistance and training to claim and underwriting staff. Design coverage training programs for claim adjusters, underwriters and new employees.
• Ensure company meets all coverage and bad faith reporting requirements related to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provides drafting support on form/endorsement development.
• Conducting insurance regulatory compliance research and providing advice and assistance in connection with the preparation and submission of product filings with state regulators, including responding to regulatory criticisms.
• Conduct legal research.
• Lead special projects to identify threats to the company and its clients.
• Support the development of new insurance products.
• Assess and draft responses to all DOI inquiries and complaints.
• Acts as a leader, mentor, and positive influence on others in the Claims Department.
• Develop solutions and new strategies to mitigate coverage, bad faith, extra-contractual and other related risk.
• Handle special projects as assigned by management and other duties as assigned by Chief Claims Officer.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
• Active Legal License in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant insurance coverage, coverage litigation, bad faith experience, preferably with commercial insurance policies and liability policy experience.
• High level of integrity and honesty.
• High level of legal skill, and knowledge of insurance policies/products, coverage issues, bad faith matters and related laws.
• Dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation. Self-motivated, operate independently, executing plans under minimal supervision.
• The ability to offer sound advice on complex issues to business professionals at every level of the organization.
• Proven organizational skills and the ability to solve problems, exercise influence and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Enthusiasm for working in a team-oriented, collaborative, dynamic environment and a strong service-oriented disposition.
• Excellent academic background.
• Superior legal research, writing and communication skills.
• Experience handling all phases of the litigation process including drafting pleadings and motions, conducting discovery and appeals.
• Policy form analysis, revision, drafting, creation experience a plus.
• Experience assessing, analyzing, revising claim correspondence.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience negotiating high exposure coverage and bad faith claims.
• Sound legal analysis and judgment.
• Ability to influence manage internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent reflective listening and interpersonal skills, keen attention to detail.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office products, and Westlaw.

Additional Company Details

Sponsorship Details