Legal Counsel

Starr Insurance; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Starr Insurance is seeking a Legal Counsel to support its UK, Europe, Middle East and Bermuda insurance operations. The role involves handling regulatory and commercial matters, drafting and negotiating contracts, and advising underwriting teams on coverage and product development.

You will collaborate with the Governance and Company Secretarial teams and work with Starr’s global legal department, including exposure to emerging AI legal frameworks.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with experience in a law firm, insurer or in-house legal team.
• Experience or interest in commercial contracts, insurance law and regulatory matters.
• Knowledge of commercial insurance regulation and corporate law.
• Understanding PRA/FCA frameworks; Lloyd’s knowledge ideal but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support for Starr’s regional insurance business, autonomously and with the Legal Team.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements with brokers, outsourcing, confidentiality and standard-form agreements.
• Assist underwriting teams on coverage issues and product development; draft policy language as needed.
• Collaborate with Governance and Company Secretarial on corporate governance activities and attend senior governance committees.
• Support disputes and litigation management; monitor regulatory developments and update policies.
• Assist in trainings on topical legal issues and collaborate with Starr Group legal department and external counsel.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Insurance law

Regulatory compliance

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

Join Starr, a global leader in commercial insurance with over a century of expertise. We empower our employees to innovate, make impactful decisions, and build lasting client relationships worldwide. At Starr, you’ll work in an entrepreneurial culture alongside accessible leaders, leveraging our financial strength and vast industry experience to deliver solutions for our clients, no matter how complex. Grow your career with a rapidly growing company that invests in its people and their ability to drive real progress.

Role Purpose

The Legal Counsel will support Starr’s insurance operations in the United Kingdom (both Lloyd’s and Company markets), Europe, Middle East and Bermuda region as a key member of the regional Legal team. The role will formally report to the regional Head of Legal for Commercial Insurance but will also be involved in in Legal and Regulatory matters relating to our growing Retail business.The role also give the successful canddate the opportunity gain experience across a wide range of jurisdictions, with exposure to insurance law, Lloyd’s, commercial/contractual, transactional, regulatory and governance considerations. The successful candidate will also demonstrate an interest in and willingness to learn other specialist areas including for example techology contracts, employment, and privacy matters. This is also an excellent opportunity for a lawyer to play a pivotal role in developing legal frameworks and processes (including in relation to emerging legal AI tools) and establishing key precedents.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide legal support for Starr’s insurance business conducted in the region, both autonomously and in support of other members of the Legal Team.

• Identify, research and analyse legal issues, draft key documents, and prepare summaries, reports and recommendations. Demonstrate the confidence and ability to present those recommendations directly to business colleagues in non-legal terms.

• Assist in the drafting, review and negotiation of commercial agreements for a variety of transactions, including commercial contracts, distribution and services agreements with brokers, outsourcing, confidentiality, and standard-form agreements.

• Alongside senior lawyers in the team, provide legal guidance and support to our Underwriting teams for all lines of business, including addressing inquiries regarding coverage issues; assisting with drafting insurance policy language and related product development and the compilation and structuring of our multinational offerings.

• Collaborate with and assist the Governance and Company Secretarial team on corporate governance activities as appropriate. The role will include opportunities to attend, present at and support senior governance committees.

• Support the management of disputes and litigation matters.

• Remain current on, and provide targeted communications to, colleagues around the risks and opportunities presented by regulatory developments and trends impacting Starr’s business, advising on adjustments/enhancements of processes and protocols as needed. Assist in the implementation of regulatory change projects and help maintain relevant policies and procedures.

• Assist in developing and providing trainings on topical legal issues.

• Collaborate closely with the wider Starr Group legal department globally and with colleagues in the organisation’s international locations.

• Support the Compliance function with advice on interpretation of laws, including sanctions (UK, EU, UN and OFAC), data protection and financial crime matters.

• Interact with and help to manage external counsel as required, driving value from law firm relationships.

Knowledge and Experience

• Qualified solicitor with gained within a law firm, insurance company or in-house legal team. Qualified paralegals or legal executives with a track record of relevant experience are also welcome to apply.
• Experience or demonstrable interest in commercial contracts, insurance law and regulatory matters.
• Knowledge of commercial insurance regulatory laws and general corporate laws.
• Understanding of the regulatory environment within which Starr operates, including the PRA and FCA regulatory frameworks. Knowledge or experience of Lloyd’s would be ideal but not essential.

Starr is an equal opportunity employer, which means we’ll consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We offer first class training and development opportunities to all employees. Our aim is to grow our own talent and bring out the best in people.