Hybrid Director – Senior Counsel, Complex Claims

at Markel

• Job title: Director – Senior Counsel, Complex Claims
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: $136,800 - $188,100 per year
• Degree requirement: Professional Certificate
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Plano, United States

About the role

• Director & Senior Counsel managing high exposure claims at Markel. Leading strategies for Casualty Claims with significant autonomy and support to underwriting business partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage a full case load of the most complex/high exposure claims within Casualty Claims with minimal oversight and direction
• Analyze coverage, communicate coverage positions and manage related coverage litigation
• Proactively manage outside counsel to control legal strategy and expense spend
• Perform various legal functions such as jury verdict research, negotiations and coverage analyses to reduce the reliance on outside counsel for monitoring and overage
• Conduct, coordinate, and direct investigation into underlying litigation and come up with strategy for resolution
• Evaluate information on coverage, liability, and damages to determine the extent of insured's exposure and set/propose reserves in line with analysis
• Negotiate and settle claims, where appropriate or provide supported recommendations for trying claims, where appropriate
• Prepare reports as required for underwriting, claims and senior management
• Assist in training and mentoring of claims examiners and managers in Casualty Claims
• Support underwriting by advising on contractual wordings and legal issues related to policy issuance
• Regularly present to underwriting and claims on pertinent topics regarding developments in coverage and the US litigation landscape
• Serve as technical resource to subordinates and others in Markel Claims
• Participate in special projects or assists other team members as requested
• Work with other departments within Markel including Claims Vendor Management, Actuarial, Underwriting, Finance, IT and Risk Management as an official representative from Casualty Claims
• Travel to mediations, trials, and conferences as required
• Manage more junior associates on the Casualty Claims team, where required
• Adheres to Fair Claims Practices regulations and internal Claims Quality Performance Objectives

Requirements

• Law degree preferred
• Must have or be eligible to receive claims adjuster license
• Admitted to practice law in at least one state
• Minimum of 10+ years of claims handling and management experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Superior claims technical skills and a strong understanding for product lines being directed
• Strong understanding of insurance policy types across product lines, with a particular expertise in Casualty wordings and coverages
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Ability to deliver outstanding customer service to both internal and external customers
• Ability to work collaboratively and in a team environment
• Ability to work autonomously and requiring minimal direction/oversight
• Ability to take initiative and think strategically and creatively
• Ability to excel under pressure and in high-intensity situations
• Leadership abilities and a willingness to assist in the development and mentoring of other associates in Casualty Claims
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office products (Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Word)

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Optional life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) with employer match contributions
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Paid time off
• Corporate holidays
• Floating holidays
• Parental leave