Corporate Lawyer II

Zurich North America; Schaumburg (IL); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Zurich North America is hiring a Corporate Lawyer II to join our Legal team in Schaumburg, IL. The attorney will manage a portfolio of complex litigation and arbitration matters from inception through resolution, developing case strategy and overseeing outside counsel.

The role requires a JD, 7+ years of experience, and bar admission. You will advise senior leadership, manage budgets, and ensure timely updates on risk exposure and strategic options.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and bar admission are required.
• 7+ years of experience in legal roles, with litigation background.
• Knowledge of NILS, Lexis or Westlaw.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of complex business, commercial, and bad faith litigation, arbitration, and pre-litigation disputes.
• Develop and execute litigation strategy, including risk analysis and discovery planning.
• Select, retain, supervise outside counsel and align with budgets and company objectives.
• Provide practical legal advice to internal stakeholders on litigation risk and outcomes.
• Maintain timely matter reporting and escalation notices to senior leadership.
• Oversee discovery, document preservation, and trial-related activities.
• Mentor paralegal staff.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Litigation management

Negotiation

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Bar admission

Tools

NILS

Lexis

Westlaw

Job description

Zurich North America is hiring a Corporate Lawyer II to join our Legal team! We are open to hiring talent in our Schaumburg, IL headquarters locations.

Job Summary

An experienced litigation attorney to manage complex litigation and arbitration matters from inception through resolution. The attorney will be responsible for developing case strategy, managing outside counsel, assessing legal and business risk, controlling litigation spend, and keeping internal stakeholders timely and clearly advised of material developments, strategic options, exposure, and recommended next steps.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of complex business, commercial, and bad faith litigation, arbitration, threatened litigation, and pre-litigation disputes involving significant financial, regulatory, reputational, operational, or business risk.
• Develop and execute litigation strategy, including early case assessment, risk analysis, discovery strategy, motion practice, settlement posture, trial preparation, appeal considerations, and resolution planning.
• Select, retain, supervise, and evaluate outside counsel; ensure counsel performance aligns with matter strategy, budgets, reporting expectations, and company objectives.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice to internal stakeholders and senior leaders regarding litigation risk, exposure, likely outcomes, settlement opportunities, and strategic alternatives.
• Keep stakeholders advised through clear, timely, and concise communications, including matter updates, risk assessments, escalation notices, executive briefings, and recommendations for decision-making.
• Oversee discovery, document preservation and collection, legal holds, witness preparation, subpoenas, expert engagement, mediation, arbitration, and trial-related activities.
• Identify and **escalate** matters involving significant exposure, recurring fact patterns, systemic issues, reputational risk, regulatory implications, senior management involvement, or sensitive stakeholder concerns.
• Effectively manage litigation budgets, and legal spend, and drive cost-effective resolution of disputes while maintaining appropriate defense quality.
• Prepare and maintain accurate matter reporting, including exposure analysis, status updates, reserves or financial inputs where applicable, and reports required for internal governance or external disclosure processes.
• Support continuous improvement by developing litigation management practices, templates, guidance, training, and lessons learned from significant matters.
• Supervise and mentor paralegal staff as necessary.

Basic Qualifications

• Juris Doctor and 7 or more years of experience in the Legal area AND
• Member of the Bar
• Knowledge of NILS, Lexis or Westlaw

Preferred Qualifications

• Insurance Industry experience
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills

Your pay at Zurich is based on your role, location, skills, and experience. We follow local laws to ensure fair compensation. You may also be eligible for bonuses and merit increases. If your expectations are above the listed range, we still encourage you to apply—your unique background matters to us. The pay range shown is a national average and may vary by location. The proposed Salary range for this position is $175,000.00 - $200,000.00, with short-term incentive bonus eligibility set at 20%.

We offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefits for employees and their families. [Learn more about Total Rewards here.]

Why Zurich?

At Zurich, we value your ideas and experience. We offer growth, inclusion, and a supportive environment—so you can help shape the future of insurance. Zurich North America is a leader in risk management, with over 150 years of expertise and coverage across 25+ industries, including 90% of the Fortune 500®.

Join us for a brighter future—for yourself and our customers.

Zurich in North America does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer disability/vets.

• 1033.

Location(s): AM - Schaumburg

Remote Working: Hybrid

Schedule: Full Time

Employment Sponsorship Offered: No