Senior Surety Counsel

Description
Liberty Mutual Surety™ is seeking an experienced Sr. Surety Claims Counsel to support our Core Contract East Claims team, which is primarily responsible for managing domestic contract surety claims within the eastern half of the United States. This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial and analytically-minded attorney with significant prior surety experience, including the management of highly complex claims involving multiple bonds.

As Sr. Surety Claims Counsel, you will be responsible for contributing to technical processes that optimize planned business results by working independently and within a team. In this role, you will apply advanced level knowledge of contract surety claims to a portfolio of cases varying in size and scope, with a significant focus on the largest and most complex claims in the region. You will investigate, evaluate and settle claims in a fair and efficient manner. You will also negotiate, analyze, resolve and manage surety claims, ensuring customer satisfaction and loss mitigation.

• Demonstrate and exercise an understanding of surety bonds and the surety industry, including the structure, terms, and conditions of Liberty Mutual's obligations under bonds and applicable laws and regulations, by investigating and negotiating claims; analyzing financial data and contractual obligations; making reserve recommendations; determining an appropriate course of action and managing the case to successful resolution.
• Investigate, negotiate, analyze, resolve, and manage surety claims cases to ensure customer satisfaction and loss mitigation.
• Direct claims and recovery efforts, both directly and through assignment to outside consultants, accountants, financial advisors, construction engineers and legal counsel.
• Claim duties may include some or all of the following:
  • investigating defaults and making strategy recommendations,
  • setting accurate reserves and recommending adjustments as warranted,
  • implementing default strategies, and
  • analyzing recovery prospects and implementing appropriate action.
• Draft and review legal documents (e.g., contracts, insurance policies, leases) involving surety claims; manage outside counsel in connection with litigation; represent the Company before regulatory and administrative bodies; provide advice regarding the implications of new laws substantially impacting the company's business; and anticipate legal issues and encourage practices to prevent problems from arising.
• Identify and escalate potential high exposure claims and provide recommendations.
• Stay abreast of state statutes and regulations regarding surety claims. Maintain current knowledge of legal issues and developments in the law.
• Maintain appropriate communication with key internal stakeholders, including underwriting and legal.
• Participate in operational, development, training projects, initiatives, and presentations as requested or assigned.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned.

• Completion of Law School and an active bar membership in at least one jurisdiction require
• A minimum of 5 years of claims experience or equivalent surety claims experience expected (usually greater than 10 years) in managing complex surety claims preferred
• Exercises a high level of autonomy in handling, managing and reviewing assigned cases and transactional requests
• Must be knowledgeable of private, state, and federal laws that are applicable to surety claims and transactional matters
• A full working knowledge of surety claims operations and procedures as well as the ability to communicate effectively is required

• California
• Los Angeles Incorporated
• Los Angeles Unincorporated
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco