Claims Counsel

Description:

An Insurance Company in North Carolina, formed by Strickland Insurance Group (SIG) in 1983 and acquired by Auto-Owners Insurance Group in 2016, maintains an A.M. Best rating of A+. ACIC has been certified a “Great Place to Work” for the last 3 years and on Fortune's “Best Place to Work” list of the top 100 best small and medium companies to work.
With offices in Goldsboro, NC; Hartford, CT; Scottsdale, AZ; Richmond, VA; An Insurance Company in North Carolina has authority in fifty states and Washington, DC. We value our employees and believe embracing diversity of thought aides in fostering a culture of belonging; where all are seen, heard, and valued. At An Insurance Company in North Carolina, we are family! We care about our associates physical, emotional, and professional health and emphasize wellness benefits, charity, and training programs offered. We offer employee development opportunities through Cornerstone Learning Management System, Franklin Covey, the Institutes and Pluralsight.
Summary: Manage litigation on behalf of the company, complete contract reviews and negotiations, handle Department of Insurance complaints for the company, and respond to subpoenas. Provide legal advice and work directly with the Litigation Director, claims department, and other departments throughout the company to assist with case law research, responses to Civil Remedies and other legal documents, and assist with other legal matters as they arise.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice to departments throughout the company.
• Manage and direct attorneys assigned to defend the company and/or prosecute declaratory judgment actions. Ensure outside counsel handles all matters within established company guidelines.
• Write, review, and/or approve responses to DOI Complaints.
• Coordinate discovery requests and responses including preparation of witnesses for deposition and Subpoena responses.
• Assist with case law research.
• Respond to Civil Remedies and other legal documents. Respond on the company's behalf to legal matters as they arise for departments throughout the company.
• Complete New York Certificates of Conformity.
• Issue Legal-Holds as needed.
• Contract review in coordination with parent company AO.
• Provide legal assistance and counsel to avoid litigation and minimize risk. Remain abreast of developments in the law which impact ACIC business.
• Read and interpret insurance contracts.
• Assist with training and development of staff.
• Work directly with executives, directors, and department managers throughout the company.
• Have contact with auditors and government/regulatory agencies.
• Furnish appropriate weekly and monthly reports / results to Litigation Director.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information, company information and policies.
• May manage the litigation and claims clerical staff as needed.
• Perform other similar or related duties as assigned.

Required Education/Experience:
A JD from an accredited institution is required along with a license to practice law and membership in good standing with the State Bar in at least one state where ACIC does business. Knowledge of and adherence to the state laws and regulations governing the handling of property and casualty claims and issuing insurance policies in the states where ACIC does business. A basic understanding of accounting principles, policy underwriting, regulatory law, and employment law. Ten to twelve years of successful legal experience in the insurance industry including advanced skills in litigation and coverage. Multi-state legal experience is a plus. Excess and Surplus lines experience is a plus. Advanced communication skills are required to understand, interpret and convey information. Excellent time management skills. Knowledge of the litigation process and procedures.
Mental Requirements:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions in written or diagram form. Reasoning; dealing with problems involving a few variables in standard situations.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle controls and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, sometimes as much as 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

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