Counsel

If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you!

Nationwide Financial’s Corporate Solutions busines unit consists of a portfolio of businesses that serve other businesses through a broad range of unique products and solutions. This role will sit on a team of attorneys and a paralegal that support Corporate Solutions’ Nationwide Business Solutions Group ("NBSG") and Securities-backed Lending (“SBL”) business lines. NBSG helps businesses protect against financial loss of key employees and helps them attract, reward, and retain key talent through Corporate and Bank Owner Life Insurance (COLI/BOLI).  SBL helps to protect client investment strategies by offering a consumer lending solution designed to position financial advisors and firms to meet client liquidity needs.

Both NBSG and SBL are highly focused on continued growth and top-line initiatives and this role offers the opportunity to support these efforts via the delivery of advice and counsel on topics such as:

• Product development (e.g., ideation, drafting, filing at state and federal levels);
• Operations (e.g., pre- and post-issue life insurance, death claim resolution, asset retention, trust reviews, and pre-litigation);
• Distribution and sales support (e.g., new business, underwriting, distribution and marketing agreement drafting and negotiation, marketing material review); and
• Regulatory support (e.g., advocacy support, market conduct/examination, and regulatory implementation).

An ideal candidate will have prior experience advising on relevant areas of the financial services industry applicable to NBSG and/or SBL (e.g., state insurance law/regulation, federal securities law/regulation applicable to variable insurance products, or state and federal consumer lending law/regulation applicable to securities-backed lines of credit) **Any prior experience advising on state and federal consumer lending law/regulation, executive benefits, or private placements/private funds will be viewed as a differentiator.**

This Counsel role must be willing to develop cross-functional acumen outside their primary area of responsibility. This cross-functional development is critical for the Corporate Solutions Legal Team to efficiently manage upticks in regulatory changes; new businesses being onboarded; and/or unexpected demands driven by litigation, projects or other matters. This Counsel role will be expected to flex into other matters/projects/issues.

This position can be filled at the H2 Counsel level or H4 Counsel depending on experience.

Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support business objectives of a Fortune 100 insurance and financial services company? If you have legal talent and great interpersonal and communication skills, we want to know more about you!

We provide legal expertise that reflects our commitment to innovative thinking, effective collaboration and a proactive approach to our work. As Counsel, you'll provide expert advice and build strong relationships with fellow team members and business leaders across many levels. We'll count on you to recommend risk management strategies by actively identifying and assessing risks in unique and complex situations that have potential for significant impact to the company.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provides advice and expertise on a broad range of legal matters with minimal direction within a specific area of responsibility. Attends business partner meetings to better understand business processes and needs. 

• Identifies and assesses risks in unique or complex business situations. Creates risk management/mitigation recommendations demonstrating sound risk assessment and legal skills.

• Addresses situations of high exposure or risk; understands business risk tolerance and considers it in the context of risk management strategies and actions. Has input into or influence on company decision-making. 

• Builds creative, practical and effective solutions to issues with no established precedent. May interact with persons outside of the company on behalf of the organization. 

• Leads matters that are complex and/or strategic in nature. Understands the business partner's goals, objectives and needs. Advises senior leaders on case law, legislative and regulatory matters. Considers the long-term business and strategic consequences of potential outcomes. Demonstrates strength with clients by clearly communicating legal requirements and cautionary counsel. Effectively responds to challenges and collaborates to achieve risk-mitigated outcomes. 

• Builds and maintains a wide network of positive relationships at many levels within the OCLO and with business partners, including at leadership levels. 

• Works independently and may also lead teams on group/client tasks, projects or assignments. 

• May mentor less experienced attorneys or paralegals on business and legal issues. 

May perform other responsibilities as assigned. 

Reporting Relationships: May report to Vice President/Associate Vice President/Managing Counsel. May have the opportunity to supervise up to three legal associates.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education: JD from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.

License/Certification/Designation: Associates reporting within Nationwide’s Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) who are functioning in attorney roles must be fully licensed in accordance with OCLO policy, in good standing and in compliance with all continuing legal education requirements at all times in the state(s) in which they practice.
 

Experience: Typically, six or more years of relevant legal experience. Has demonstrated business knowledge. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Has proven experience with or knowledge of an area of law, complex legal practices and procedures. Considered a specialist on a specific product, service or legal specialty (employment, finance, regulatory, real estate, securities, tax, etc.). Possesses sound business knowledge with respect to area of legal support. Strong verbal and written communication skills for interacting with associates and business partners. Skilled at interpreting statutes, regulations, insurance policies and other contracts. Decision-making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations. Ability to initiate, prioritize and coordinate complex projects and/or cases that cross functional or business lines. Takes the lead role in complex and/or strategic negotiations. Supervisory skills helpful, as this role may have the opportunity to supervise a small group of legal resources within an area of law. 

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence. 

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional or regular travel, depending on role. 

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential responsibilities the of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process.