Senior Legal Counsel – Insurance

The Ardonagh Group; London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to lead a dynamic team in navigating complex legal matters within the insurance sector. This role offers the opportunity to provide commercially focused legal advice while managing a small team, ensuring efficient handling of routine legal tasks. The company prides itself on fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture, offering flexibility to suit individual needs. With a commitment to professional development and a supportive environment, this position is ideal for a proactive lawyer ready to make a significant impact in a thriving business.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 10%

Life Assurance at X4 of base salary

Private Medical Insurance

Generous Annual Leave entitlement

Good work-life balance

Qualifications

• UK qualified solicitor with substantial insurance experience (min. 7 years PQE).
• Expertise in insurance law and regulation, particularly London Market focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team of lawyers and paralegals managing legal matters.
• Act as escalation point for complex legal queries from the business.

Skills

Insurance Law

Team Management

Commercial Awareness

Cross-Border Jurisdiction

Analytical Skills

Education

Qualified Solicitor (UK)

Law Degree

Job description

This is a Permanent , Full Time vacancy that will close in 4 days at 23:59 BST .

The Vacancy

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel

Location: London/Hybrid (Typically 2/3 days in the office)

Type: Full time – Permanent (If you are a job share partnership, work reduced hours, or any other way of working flexibly, please do still get in touch)

At Ardonagh Specialty, we provide much more than just a workplace. We are dedicated to fostering skill development and knowledge within a team that is passionate about their work, values their Employees, and truly celebrates diversity.

Working at Ardonagh Specialty means you’ll be part of The Ardonagh Group. We are proud of our innovative environment offering many opportunities for growth across the wider group. Employees regularly move between our united teams, andwe encourage you to make your role your own.

Our offices are lively and exciting places to be, but we understand that life needs flexibility and offer a genuinely flexible approach to working. If you are looking to join a thriving, energetic business with exciting plans, this role could be an ideal fit for you.

What we can offer:

We offer much more than just an inclusive culture with apprenticeships, study support, participation in our annual Spotlight Awards, Community Trust, Sports Teams, office socials, events and so much more. All of this with a supportive management team as well as working alongside some of the industry’s top talent.

You’ll have access to wellbeing programs, fantastic discounts across many big-name businesses including supermarkets, gym memberships, restaurants, and healthcare cash plans etc.

Further perks of working with us (Fixed benefits):

• Employer pension contribution of 10% (providing you, the Employee provides 5%).
• Good work life balance - flexibility to suit you.
• Life Assurance at X4 of your base salary.
• Group Income Protection.
• Generous Annual Leave entitlement.
• Private Medical Insurance.

This isan exciting opportunity for a Senior Legal Counsel to lead a small team of lawyers and paralegals in Ardonagh Specialty, managing day to day business legal matters, while acting as an escalation point for the team for more complex issues.

The aim of the role will be to lead and manage the team partnering the insurance and reinsurance business of Ardonagh Specialty trading as Price Forbes, with technically accurate and commercially focused advice, and to minimise and appropriately manage legal risk and reputational damage to the business.

Reporting to the General Counsel of Ardonagh Specialty, the successful candidate’s responsibilities will include:

• Support and management of small team of lawyers and paralegals partnering the insurance and reinsurance broking business, ensuring the smooth handling of business-as-usual legal tasks while providing guidance on escalated matters.
• Act as escalation point for more complex legal queries from the business and the team, both of UK and cross-border origin
• Ensure the efficient handling of routine legal matters, including improving legal processes and workflows to optimise efficiencies
• Liaising with Group stakeholders, including the Group legal function, where matters require escalation and further reporting
• Working with other functions, including on project work as required
• Liaise with external legal counsel where necessary, ensuring cost effective and high-quality legal support
• Participating in the Ardonagh Group-wide Cross-Platform working groups.
• Where required, work closely with and coordinate with other senior lawyers within the legal team on escalated matters or projects requiring broader input.

This is an overview and not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Experience:

This is a great opportunity for a UK qualified solicitor with substantial insurance experience gained in private practice and most likely also in-house (likely a minimum of 7 years PQE). We are looking for someone who has/is:

• A pragmatic, commercially minded lawyer who can lead on and manage a wide range of insurance related legal matters efficiently, including cross border jurisdiction.
• Expertise in insurance law and regulation, particularly with a London Market focus.
• Some experience in dealing with E&O claims against insurance brokers and/or other insurance professionals would be useful.
• Prior leadership or team management experience is desirable but not essential.

Person Specification:

• This is an opportunity for an insurance lawyer with strong interpersonal skills, as you will need to manage a team and develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels. Particularly you need to be comfortable with dealing with senior executives and with building rapport so as to become a trusted adviser.
• Technically knowledgeable and able to communicate clearly and effectively, demonstrating your ability to create legal arguments and proactive strategies. Sound judgment, analytical skills, attention to detail and the ability to absorb and react to information quickly whilst adopting a hands-on can-do attitude are vital.
• A problem solver who can balance commercial and legal considerations in day-to-day operations with initiative, a proactive attitude and the flexibility to advise, engage and negotiate with all levels of the business, and adapt priorities according to time constraints and needs of the business.
• Comfortable working autonomously, and in leading a team and handling escalations where required, with an inclusive and open approach.
• Role can be fulfilled on hybrid working basis. Office is London based, with home working very much part of the team and business culture
  

Think you don’t meet every requirement?

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can thrive. If you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t perfectly match what we are looking for, please apply anyway. You might just be the right fit for the job, or other opportunities we may have within the wider Group.

Interview Process:
At Ardonagh Specialty, we have a straightforward interview process to ensure the best fit for both you and the company:

• Submit your application with your CV, emphasising your skills and experience related to the job.
• Our Talent Acquisition team will then arrange a call where they can tell you more about the role and the team. We want to learn about your motivation and goals, what you can bring to Ardonagh Specialty, and answer any immediate questions.
• If successful, you will generally be invited to engage in a 1-hour interview with the Hiring Manager and selected team members, via teams or in person. We will discuss our technologies, key skills, and team dynamics and provide further opportunity to ask any questions. This is your chance to voice your thoughts on the role and we will outline our expectations and ensure this role aligns with your ambitions for the future.
• Depending on the role, you may be invited to attend a second stage interview with further members of the team.

If successful or unsuccessful, we always try and move quickly in presenting an offer or providing feedback.

The Ardonagh group
Why not check us out on LinkedIn to find out what life’s really like at Ardonagh.

The Ardonagh Group is one of the UK’s largest independent brokers with over 9000 dedicated and passionate professionals across the country, and worldwide, facing and dealing with our clients’ challenges, offering an enviable range of products, services and solutions to their clients. We are progressive, passionate and proud of the work we do, across all sectors of the business.

So, if this sounds like you, and you are looking for a new challenge where you can learn and develop your career, then this could be a great opportunity for you.

We truly value the diversity of our teams and as a Group, we are committed to supporting and welcoming individuals from all backgrounds, as we appreciate every perspective is a significant part of our success. Should you require any reasonable adjustment throughout the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let a member of the Talent team know.

#AS

The Company

Ardonagh Specialty Holdings Ltd incorporates Bishopsgate Insurance Brokers Ltd, Price Forbes & Partners Ltd,Ed Broking, Besso and Piiq. Together, these leading brands offer independent expertise and truly global reach across an unrivalled breadth of markets and client needs.