Legal Counsel

Crossell; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global insurance provider is seeking a Legal Counsel to join their Corporate Solutions team in London. The role involves providing legal support for transactions related to credit and surety insurance. Candidates should possess a law degree and a minimum of six years' experience in relevant fields outlined in the job description. The position requires strong drafting, negotiation skills, and a proactive mindset. The company's hybrid working model allows flexibility while ensuring collaboration with a global team.

Qualifications

• Six years of experience in a law firm or financial institution.
• Proven ability to identify and mitigate legal risks.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support for transactions in finance and insurance.
• Draft and negotiate insurance policy documentation.
• Conduct legal reviews of credit and surety transactions.
• Advise on licensing aspects of international transactions.
• Monitor legal trends affecting the business.

Skills

Credit insurance knowledge

Legal drafting

Negotiation skills

Regulatory understanding

Ability to manage priorities

Strong communication skills

Education

Law degree with minimum six years' experience

Job description

Job Summary

This is a legal counsel role in the Corporate Solutions Credit & Surety legal team. We are a small, global legal team providing dedicated transactional, regulatory and legal support to the Credit & Surety business unit which underwrites insurance in areas such as trade finance, project & infrastructure finance, commodity finance, political risk insurance and surety.

Key Eligibility Areas

• Credit insurance (including applicable documentation, insurance regulation, and underwriting market standards), alternatively other areas/lines of (re)insurance including advisory or contentious experience relevant to primary insurance or reinsurance;
• Surety bonds/guarantees;
• Banking/finance, particularly in the areas of structured finance, securitizations and/or portfolio transfers or significant risk transfers.

Experience of working in funded and unfunded regulatory capital relief deals is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide global legal advice and support for transactions primarily in the following areas: bank trade finance & infrastructure, surety, structured finance, credit and political risk insurance and significant risk transfers.
• Draft and negotiate insurance contract documentation – including (re)insurance policy wordings, risk participations, bond forms, indemnity agreements.
• Conduct legal and regulatory reviews of credit and surety transactions.
• Advise on cross-border enforceability of contracts.
• Advise on licensing and regulatory aspects in relation to international surety transactions.
• Facilitate the closing of transactions and supporting underwriters during implementation, restructuring and unwinding of transactions.
• Provide legal support for internal group projects and strategic initiatives.
• Foster and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external clients and outside counsel (as needed).
• Monitor legal and regulatory trends affecting relevant business areas.
• Support internal group projects and strategic initiatives, as required.
• Conduct internal presentations and trainings on legal topics.

About the Team

This is a full time position in a legal team that provides legal support to the global Credit & Surety insurance business at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. This is a largely transactional role providing legal support to underwriters, product managers, risk managers, and claims specialists in a highly commercial way. Our client is a global business team, committed to delivering value and innovative solutions in the primary insurance space. In our team, you will be close to decision makers and directly see the results of your work.

About You

You're a proactive legal professional who thrives in a fast-paced global environment. You combine technical excellence with commercial awareness, enabling you to provide pragmatic solutions that balance legal risk with business objectives. Your strong communication skills allow you to explain complex legal concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders, and you're energized by working in an international setting.

Requirements

• Law degree with minimum six years' experience in a law firm or international financial institution/insurance company, with experience in one of the following areas: credit insurance, surety bonds/guarantees, or banking/finance
• Experience and understanding of regulatory and licensing topics in cross-border scenarios
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and influencing abilities
• Proven ability to identify legal risks and provide sound judgment beyond the dimensions of laws and regulations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• "Can-do" mindset with dedication to continuous learning and development
• Comfort working independently while collaborating with a global team

Preference

• Experience working with funded and unfunded regulatory capital relief deals
• Experience in structured finance, securitizations, and/or portfolio transfers
• Additional language skills beyond English

Hybrid Work Model

Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office at least three days per week.

About Swiss Re

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 14,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.