Associate General Counsel

palig; New Orleans (LA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work opportunities

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) and tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG) in New Orleans, LA seeks an experienced Associate General Counsel to provide strategic legal guidance on ERISA, state insurance regulations, and employee benefits. This hybrid role partners with executives to align regulatory compliance, product development, and risk management with business objectives.

The ideal candidate has a J.D., 10+ years of relevant experience, and can operate across corporate, regulatory, and transactional matters while

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• 10+ years of recent legal experience in insurance, employee benefits, healthcare, or financial services.
• Active Bar admission and ability to register as in-house counsel in Louisiana.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred (or professional proficiency).

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic legal advisor to PALIG and subsidiaries.
• Provide business-focused legal guidance on regulatory matters, contracts, and risk management.
• Partner with executive leadership to align legal strategy with business goals.
• Support governance, transactional matters, and outside counsel management as needed.

Skills

J.D. (in-house focus)

10+ years experience

Insurance/employee benefits

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG) is seeking an experienced Associate General Counsel to join our legal team in New Orleans, Louisiana. This hybrid role (3 days per week in office) will serve as a key legal advisor supporting the Company's group health, employee benefits, and insurance operations, with a primary focus on ERISA, state insurance regulations, and related employee benefit matters. The Associate General Counsel will partner closely with executive leadership and business teams to provide strategic, business-focused legal counsel on regulatory compliance, product development, commercial agreements, and risk management, while also supporting broader corporate, litigation, governance, and transactional matters as needed. The ideal candidate combines strong insurance law expertise with sound business judgment and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where legal strategy directly supports business growth and operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Legal Counsel & Business Advisory

• Serve as a strategic legal advisor to business leaders across PALIG and its subsidiaries.
• Provide practical, business-focused legal guidance on insurance operations, corporate initiatives, regulatory matters, and strategic transactions.
• Partner with stakeholders to identify legal risks and develop solutions that support organizational objectives.

Maintain familiarity with the various regulatory agencies and legal issues affecting the Company's business interests. Develop proficiency in the following subject matters:

• ERISA (notice obligations, mandated benefits, excepted benefits; COBRA)
• HIPAA
• Affordable Care Act
• Employment law (e.g., anti-discrimination statutes for benefits based on age/gender)
• Service Contract Act/Davis Bacon
• State insurance law (50 states)
• Taxation of group benefits
• DOL regulations with respect to administration of self-funded plans
• Transactions within a Holding Company System
• NAIC Corporate Amendment Filings/Processes
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• DOL regulations regarding Employee Benefits Plans
• Escheat

Commercial Contracts, Corporate Documents Transactions

Review and draft contracts, policies documentation and a variety of commercial agreements. Below are some examples:

• Managing General Underwriter Agreements, Third Party Administration Agreements, Producer Agreements, Reinsurance Agreements, other Service Provider Agreements
• S pecific and Aggregate Stop Loss Policy Forms
• Excepted Benefits Policy Forms (Accident, Supplemental Coverage, Hospital Indemnity Coverage, Dental/Vision Coverage)
• Merger/Acquisition agreements
• Proposed changes to governance documents; employee benefit plan documents.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Partner with Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) teams to ensure adherence to applicable federal, state, and international regulatory requirements.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess their potential impact on business operations.
• Provide proactive guidance on compliance strategies, risk mitigation, and governance best practices.
• Support regulatory examinations, filings, and inquiries as needed.

Litigation & Outside Counsel Management

Manage the Company's use of outside counsel to provide the optimization of the Company's resources and obtain the most effective representation on all legal matters affecting the Company.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
• 10 plus years of recent legal experience, preferably within the insurance, employee benefits, healthcare, or financial services industries.
• Current admission to the Bar of any state and the ability to register as in-house counsel in Louisiana.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred (or some level of professional proficiency)

PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS

• Able to quickly gain credibility and respect with peers, subordinates and superiors.
• Professional demeanor with the ability to affectively represent the Company to outside parties, various other state and federal regulatory agencies, outside legal counsel and other business and professional representatives.
• Unquestioned integrity with the necessary skills and abilities to serve as a contributing member of the legal team.
• Excellent communication skills with outstanding persuasive abilities.
• Outstanding business acumen with the ability to provide legal expertise to the Company with an appreciation for the best business interests of the Company.
• Sound and practical business judgment and a keen interest in deeply understanding the businesses represented.
• Capable of providing consistent, high-quality legal service in a dynamic business environment.
• Ability to travel, if needed.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package (base salary & bonus)
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, 401(k), paid time off, and tuition reimbursement
• Medical and dental coverage effective the first of the month following 30 days of service
• Hybrid work opportunities

About Us

Pan-Americ